How to Control a Bosch Rexroth EFC5610 with ctrlX PLC Engineering (Full Ladder Logic Tutorial)

Learn how to build a complete PLC program from scratch to control a Bosch Rexroth EFC5610 inverter drive over EtherCAT using ctrlX PLC Engineering.
In this step-by-step tutorial, I walk you through downloading the software, creating a project, selecting PDOs, building ladder logic, mapping variables, and creating a full control + status visualisation on the ctrlX Core X3.

Whether you’re getting started with ctrlX AUTOMATION or integrating the EFC5610 into a real application, this guide shows every stage of the process clearly and in real time.

📌 What you’ll learn in this video

✅ How to install ctrlX PLC Engineering
✅ How to connect to a ctrlX Core X3
✅ How to scan and select EtherCAT PDOs for the EFC5610
✅ How to build a ladder logic program from scratch
✅ How to create and use STRUCTs for the Control Word and Status Word
✅ How to convert 16-bit EtherCAT data into useful variables
✅ How to send control commands and frequency references
✅ How to build a clean, functional visualisation (HMI)
✅ How to map PLC variables back to the EtherCAT channels
✅ How to download, start, and test the PLC application on the X3

▶️ Watch the full ctrlX CORE X3 EtherCAT tutorial series
   • Bosch Rexroth ctrlX CORE X3 Masterclass — ...  

This video is part of a complete series covering:
✅ ctrlX CORE X3 hardware setup
✅ App installation & licensing
✅ EtherCAT configuration
✅ PLC programming
✅ Real-time communication with inverter drives

📘 Chapters

00:00 – Intro
00:24 – Recap
00:36 – Requirements and overview
01:06 – Installing ctrlX PLC Engineering
01:47 – Create a new Project
02:17 – Connect to the X3
02:55 – Select the EtherCAT PDOs
03:59 – Organise with a dedicated folder
04:12 – Add a new Ladder Logic Program
04:34 – Point the old program at the new program
05:06 – Add STRUCT for Control Word
05:42 – Add STRUCT for Status Word
06:02 – Add variables for STRUCTs
06:30 – Add a Rung to process Status Word
09:10 – Add a Function Clock to process Error Code
10:21 – Add a Rung to process Setting Frequency
12:02 – Add a Rung to process Control Word
13:47 – Add a Rung to process Frequency Command
15:03 – Map the Variables to the data from the EFC5610
16:17 – Create a Visualization
16:40 – Add Buttons to set Control Word
18:51 – Add Rectangles to display Status Word
21:03 – Add a Potentiometer for Frequency Command
21:52 – Add a Meter for Setting Frequency
22:31 – Transfer the PLC program to the X3
23:01 – Try it out!
24:12 – Wrap-up and what’s next

🧰 Hardware & Software Used

Bosch Rexroth EFC5610 with Multi-Ethernet option
ctrlX CORE X3 (firmware 2.6)
ctrlX PLC Engineering
EtherCAT Master + PLC Apps installed and licensed