How do I configure Explicit Messages to pull data from the FLIR AX8 or A310 camera?

Here is an example of how to create a loop that constantly pulls data from the FLIR AX8/A310 cameras over Ethernet/IP using Explicit Messages.

In this case the PLC is pulling the Alarm status of Alarms 1, 2, and 3. The same concept can be applied using the different resources described in the EIP Library from the download page. All the resources described on pages 30–60 can be accessed in a similar fashion.

BT_GetAlarm activates the routine. Each MSG function is pulling the Alarm data from the camera (page 43 of the EIP library), not from the Input Assembly map. TON combined with the Examine Off (TIMER.DN) function creates a loop to pull the Alarm status every 1000 ms.

You should configure each MSG function as follows. The Instance is equivalent to the Alarm ID, from 1 to 8. So to get Alarm1, use Instance 1:

  
Also indicate the path (select the camera):

You have to create MSG variables for each of the MSG functions you are going to use.

As you may have noticed, there is also a variable for Destination Element. This variable should be SINT. In this case, I created a SINT array. You have to use a separate SINT unit for each MSG.

How the results are displayed: