Getting Started with the Banner’s SD50 Status Display with IO-Link
When I first started working with the Banner SD50P300WKQP display, I wanted to see what it could do using IO-Link, without jumping straight into a PLC setup. I chose the DXMR110-8K IO-Link master, which includes internal logic capabilities, which means I can control IO-Link devices like the SD50 without needing a PLC, making it an easy way to get the display up and running.
Parts List:
- SD50P300WKQP - SD50 with IO-Link
- DXMR110-8K - Programmable IO-Link Master
- STP-M12D-406 - Ethernet converter Cable
- PSD-24-4 - Power supply
- IO-Link Configuration Software
- IODD Zip File
To begin, I gathered the essentials: the SD50 display, the DXMR110-8K master, a PSD-24-4 power supply, and an Ethernet adapter cable (STP-M12D-406) to connect everything to my PC. I also downloaded Banner’s free IO-Link Configuration Software, found under the software section on Banners website for the DXMR110-8K.
Physically connecting everything was pretty straightforward. I plugged the power supply into the DXMR’s Pi port, connected the Ethernet cable to one of the network ports, and then hooked the SD50 into one of the IO-Link ports — any of the eight will work.
Once everything was wired up, I installed and launched Banner’s IO-Link Configuration Software and hit “Connect.” I selected Ethernet as the connection type and scanned for devices. Since I had manually set my PC’s IP to 192.168.0.2, I chose the 192.168.0.* subnet. The DXMR110-8K showed up right away, and I was able to connect without any issues.
Tech tip: If the SD50 doesn’t appear in the scan, double-check that it’s powered, properly connected to the IO-Link port, and that your PC’s IP settings match the subnet. Setting my IP to 192.168.0.1, causes a conflict.
At this point, it should detect that there is no IODD (IO Device Description) file loaded for the SD50P300WKQP. IOLink Configuration Software has a search function to find and load the IODD info automatically, but because I didn’t have internet access during the demo, I had to load it manually. I had already downloaded the IODD from Banner’s website and unzipped the files, so I navigated to the folder, and loaded it into the software.
Note: The IODD (IO Device Description) is a standardized file that contains all the information needed for an IO-Link device. IODD files can also be found at https://io-link.com/community/services/ioddfinder, and will need to be unzipped before use.
Once the IODD was loaded, the software recognized the SD50 and opened a tab labeled with the part number and port. Under the “Process” tab, I started experimenting with the display settings, animations, colors, brightness, speed, and even custom text. It was cool to see how many options were available. One thing to note: changes don’t take effect until you hit “Write,” so I had to remember to do that each time I made an adjustment.
I also explored the “Parameters” tab, where you can dive deeper into customization. After clicking “Read Params,” a long list of settings appeared, including display behavior and text formatting. Again, any changes here need to be confirmed with the “Write Params” button.
Overall, this setup gave me a great start toward understanding how to control the SD50 display using IO-Link, all without needing a PLC. It’s a solid foundation for exploring more advanced automation workflows or integrating with PLCs down the line.