How to Create a New Spider System
A test in EDM requires hardware to run. This hardware is represented as a Spider system, which consists of one or more Spider modules. This article walks through connecting your Spider modules and creating a new Spider system in EDM.
Prerequisites
- One or more Spider modules, powered on and connected to the PC's network.
- All modules must be on the same subnet as the PC. See How to Connect the Spider System to the PC for IP configuration details.
- The first module must be set as the “master” (flip the switch to “M”); all other modules are “slaves.”
Steps to Create a Spider System
- Click Hardware in the top toolbar, or navigate to Setup > Select Hardware.
- Choose Select 1 module or Select system (1+ modules).
- Click New system.
- In the Detected modules section, select each module to add to your system.
- Set the first module as the master, and all other modules as slaves.
- Click OK.
How to Swap the Spider System for the Current Test
If a test is already loaded, you don't need to create a new test to use a different Spider system — you can swap the hardware assigned to the current test using either of the following methods.
Method 1: From Recent Tests
- Go to Recent Tests.
- Find the current test, then either:
- Click the down arrow next to the test's system name, or
- Right-click the current test's system name.
- Select Switch System.
- Choose the replacement system from the list.
Method 2: From Select Hardware
- Click Hardware in the top toolbar, navigate to Setup > Select Hardware, or click the circle “i” button in the Control Panel (shown when the system is Offline).
- On the Select system (1+ modules) tab, choose the replacement system from the predefined systems list (instead of clicking New system).
- Click OK to connect the current test to the selected system.
Managing Spider Systems
To manage existing Spider systems, go to Tools > Spider Configuration. If this option is disabled, disconnect from the current Spider system first.
The Spider System Configuration window allows you to:
- Create new Spider systems.
- Rename or delete existing systems.
- Set default systems for tests.
- Configure IP addresses.
- Set up digital I/O.
- Synchronize the Spider's datetime clock with the PC.
- Import and export Spider system configurations as SSK files.
Troubleshooting
If the PC does not detect your Spider modules:
- Confirm all modules and the PC share the same subnet (first three numbers of the IP address must match).
- Verify connectivity with the ping command in the Command Prompt (e.g.,
ping 172.0.0.100). - Disable other network adapters, or raise the network priority of the Spider adapter.
- Check that Ethernet cables/ports are functioning and power adapters are supplying adequate power.
For a full walkthrough of IP setup and troubleshooting, see How to Connect the Spider System to the PC.