Connect and control multiple ORCA™ motors directly from an Allen-Bradley PLC using ORCA-EIP™. ORCA-EIP is a deterministic industrial EtherNet/IP motor interface built specifically for ORCA™ motors, supporting the EtherNet/IP protocol and Rockwell Automation platforms. This tutorial walks through connecting and powering the ORCA-EIP, configuring its network settings, adding it to Studio 5000 Logix Designer, and establishing communication with up to four ORCA motors.
| What You'll Need |
| ✓ ORCA-EIP |
| ✓ One or more ORCA motors |
| ✓ 12-60 VDC power supply |
| ✓ EtherNet/IP network connection |
| ✓ Studio 5000 Logix Designer |
| ✓ ORCA-EIP EDS file - available on the downloads page |
| ✓ IrisControls, if configuring the IP address over USB |
| 1. Connect the ORCA-EIP to your EtherNet/IP network and power supply |
| Connect your EtherNet/IP network to Ethernet port A or B on the ORCA-EIP. Then connect a 12–60 VDC power supply through the terminal block. |
| 2. Configure the IP address |
| By default the ORCA-EIP is configured for DHCP. To assign a static IP address using IrisControls, connect the ORCA-EIP over USB and select it from the COM port menu. Under Network Configuration select Static, enter the desired IP address and netmask, then click Apply. The ORCA-EIP will reboot using the new network settings. The IP address can also be configured through the web server. |
| 3. Connect your ORCA motors |
| Connect up to four ORCA motors to the motor ports on the ORCA-EIP. The onboard LED indicators provide a quick indication of connection status and motor errors. |
| 4. Add ORCA-EIP to Studio 5000 |
| Install the supplied ORCA-EIP EDS file using the Device Description Installation Tool in Studio 5000 Logix Designer. Once installed, right-click your Ethernet network, select New Module, and search for ORCA-EIP. Import the supplied UDT and AOI files into your project, then add the AOI to your ladder logic. |
| 5. Interface with your motors |
| Add the required rungs to your project to command and monitor the connected ORCA motors. |
| 6. Confirm the EtherNet/IP connection |
| Download the project to the PLC and confirm that the EtherNet/IP connection has been established. The corresponding ORCA-EIP LED indicators will turn green when communication is active. Your ORCA-EIP is now connected and ready to control and monitor multiple ORCA motors from your PLC. |