A cMT-series HMI can connect directly to a Maple Systems Micro or Modular PLC using the dedicated Maple Systems driver in EasyBuilder Pro, rather than using Modbus. This driver is designed specifically for Maple PLCs and provides native communication between the HMI and controller.
With this setup, the HMI communicates directly with the PLC using Maple’s internal addressing structure. Instead of referencing Modbus register numbers, the HMI directly accesses PLC memory areas (such as data registers, bits, timers, and internal variables) using their native address format. This simplifies configuration and improves clarity when working within the Maple ecosystem.
The connection is typically established over Ethernet:
- The PLC is assigned an IP address (or Serial cable configuration is matched with PLC settings)
- The Maple Micro or Modular PLC driver is added in EasyBuilder Pro
- The HMI is configured to communicate with the PLC using that IP, or via Serial communication
Once configured, HMI objects can directly reference PLC addresses without needing Modbus translation.
Key advantages of using the Maple driver include:
- Native addressing: no need to convert to Modbus register ranges
- Simpler configuration: faster setup within EasyBuilder Pro
- Tighter integration: optimized communication between Maple devices
In practice, this allows the HMI to read and write PLC data, display real-time values, and control machine operation just like with Modbus but with a more streamlined and Maple-specific workflow.
Overall, using the Maple Micro / Modular driver provides a more direct and efficient connection between a cMT HMI and a Maple PLC by leveraging native communication instead of a general-purpose protocol.