The "Master Monitor"—a graphical Windows application of the Berlin company Kithara Software—allows the visualization and management of EtherCAT topologies. The software works hand in hand with the EtherCAT Master, which was also developed by Kithara Software and is part of the product range »RealTime Suite«.
By means of the Master Monitor the user obtains an intuitive environment to visualize EtherCAT topologies attached to an EtherCAT Master down to every single data variable in order to uncover their secrets. It is possible to save the scanned structure of attached slave devices in a special XML file, to be able to automatically validate the actual structure for accordance with the file later. Likewise, it is possible to build up the file manually from discrete building blocks.
The configuration of the several EtherCAT slaves can be viewed and changed by the user directly with the Master Monitor. It is also possible to fully access slaves in a “live” run and to read and write their variable values. The time for setting up the application reduces tremendously and developers do not have to search for important parameters.
The Master Monitor is an intuitive, interactive tool and already integrated into the Kithara EtherCAT Master. The user can program comprehensive real-time automation applications with more clarity and perspective and reaches the readiness for start of production even faster.