Entries for the 'PLC' Category

Overview  This blog is an instruction guide to installing the necessary Comfort Panel HMI software for interfacing with a Siemens RFID card reader. Additionally, the guide will demonstrate the necessary setup elements in the PLC project, as well as instructions for getting started with user administration and auto-login. Definitions UID - Unique Identifier, tied to an individual card SOAP - Simple Object Access Protocol, Protocol specification for exchanging structured in...

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With most modern PLCs, all you need to start programming or troubleshooting is to plug in your laptop with a plain old ethernet cable. Older PLCs, however, tend to use a myriad of different cables and protocols. With a large number of legacy systems, the original programming cables and software are often long lost by the time you want to make updates or need to troubleshoot an issue. One of the most popular series of PLCs from the 1990s to mid-2000s is the Allen-Bradly SLC 500 series: SLC 5/0...

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If you use Inductive Automation's Ignition server software designed for total system integration, you might encounter instances when your script doesn’t run correctly the first time. Here are a few tools to help you find the bug. Tool One - Gateway Script If you're running a gateway script, the first place you should navigate to is the Status Page of the gateway. Then, locate the Gateway Scripts page. There, you will be able to see a...

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Recently, I worked on a project that used a Siemens S7-300 PLC to control several Yaskawa VFD's over PROFIBUS. Although Yaskawa provides documentation to accomplish this, reading through manuals can be time-consuming. For someone only seeking basic speed control of the drives, I've prepared a step-by-step process on how to quickly setup and control any Yaskawa VFD over PROFIBUS using the Basic Data message package. Step 1: Setup Your Hardware Configuration Download the Y...

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Ignition is a modern HMI/SCADA based software platform from Inductive Automation that closes the gap between production and IT with unlimited, web-based monitoring and central control of an entire facility via a single central server. There are tons of features to use Ignition's independent modules for including Real-Time Status Control, Alarming, Reporting, Data Acquisition, Scripting, Scheduling, MES, and Mobile support. Sometimes, there are tweaks you might want to make th...

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Version 1.6 has just been released for the Siemens Open Library. This includes a Portal V14 SP1 release, including WinCC Pro and WinCC OA support. Explore and download the Siemens Open Library at openplclibrary.com. V14 SP1 contains the following updates: Added Tested Faceplates for WinCC Professional Updated PID to utilize Data Block Parametrization Fixed bug with fcSwapWords Updated Example Project Added User Submitted Modbus RTU/TCP Library Ported Modbus library t...

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With the release of Siemens TIA Portal V14, and even more recently V14 SP1, DMC has been able to develop larger, more complex applications within one development environment which used to require two or more development environments (ex. TIA Portal with SIMOTION SCOUT for motion control applications). While many improvements have been made recently to allow for more technically sophisticated controls systems to be developed exclusively within TIA Portal, DMC has run into some limitations. ...

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PackML, or Packaging Machine Language is a programming standard defined by the Organization for Machine Automation and Control (OMAC) and by the International Society of Automation's Technical Report 88. It is meant to be a convenient project template that can be used in the discrete manufacturing of many products, from bottled drinks to wrapped candy. I thought it would be helpful to assemble this guide of PackML basics for anyone who is getting started with this standard. PackML has ...

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Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at the 2017 SITEC National Conference. I shared my experience as the lead developer on the Siemens Open Library and demonstrated how to utilize and contribute to the Open Library. Per Siemens, the SITEC Conference aims to keep engineers and specialists up-to-date on the latest products and technologies from Siemens by providing, "specific, effective and customized training along with a certification path to ensu...

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OMAC is hosting its annual PackML workshop on May 22 at the Chicago Marriot O’Hare. The Organization for Machine Automation and Control (OMAC) helps manufacturers and suppliers work together to identify new and innovative ways to increase the effectiveness of their production operations.  Siemens will be offering a hands-on PackML Programming and Installation workshop, led by experts in PackML implementation on the Siemens platform. DMC’s David Sestrich will be there al...

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TwinSAFE is a module of Beckhoff’s TwinCAT programming software that allows a programmer to set up safety logic for Beckhoff Safety PLC’s. I've picked up a few tips and tricks in my time working with TwinSAFE, and I hope you will find them useful. 1. SafeAND – Use A Standard Bool As you develop your safety program, you’ll notice that most of your inputs will be required to safety bool input. However, when using a SafeAND block, your first input (and only your fi...

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Every year, we look forward to sharing industry innovations and best practices at the Siemens Automation Summit. The 2017 Siemens Automation Summit will be held from June 26-29 at the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Hundreds of automation professionals will take advantage of networking and training sessions focused on interacting with the latest Siemens solutions and products. We're proud to be among the many presenters at this year's summit. If ...

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Back in 2011, DMC attained the most Siemens Certified Engineers in the United States when eight of our employees passed the Siemens Global Certification or Recertification exams. We have grown as a company since then, and so have the number of Siemens experts at DMC!  DMC is proud to continue to have the most Siemens Certified engineers in the United States. Thirty-one DMC engineers have met all of the requirements for the Global Technical Certification in the SIMATIC Technology areas...

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DMC has often encountered a scenario where a customer wants to have a motor drive follow the position of an external encoder. However, a regular 1500 PLC does not allow you to directly gear to an external encoder; this functionality requires a 1500T PLC. The T-series processors allow much more complex motion control, but are also more overhead for simpler projects. As it turns out, with a little creativity, it is possible to gear to an external encoder using a regular 1500 PLC. While you can&...

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DMC recently provided remote support for one of our customers. We made critical updates to their PLC code as they were commissioning their machine internationally. Unfortunately, our client didn’t have TIA Portal software available at the time. They were afraid that this made it impossible to download the new version of the code to the PLC in the field. Fortunately, Siemens offers the SIMATIC Automation Tool as a free download (just sign up for an account first) on the...

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RSLogix 5000 is very intuitive and easy to use PLC programming software used for Allen-Bradley PLCs. There are a few tips and tricks that are very useful to know starting out, especially if coming from a different PLC programming language. These will help increase efficiency, improve code structure, and avoid time-consuming downloads when commissioning. Set up Quick Keys for the Ladder Editor  Clicking around to build the Ladder code for PLCs can be time consuming. Rockwell has k...

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Look at you! You’re enterprising and a real go-getter! You’ve been working on an S7-1500 and can’t get your project to connect and download, but it’s not a problem. You know that all you need is a quick factory reset and you should be good to go.  Only this time, the factory reset doesn’t work.  Updating Firmware No fear. You notice that there is some new firmware available on the Siemens Industry Support Website. Way to go! No need to freak ...

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Version 1.4 has just been released for the Siemens Open Library. This includes a V13 SP1 update and also contains a Portal V14 beta release. Explore and download the Siemens Open Library at openplclibrary.com. V13 SP1 Update 9 contains the following updates: Added dynamic fonts to all HMI faceplates for variable size HMIs Updates to several Supplementary blocks Added official blocks for SIMOCODE and SIRIUS Soft Starter Resolved bug in fbIO_AnalogInput when using RTDs Fixed ...

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Indusoft is an HMI/SCADA platform that can be used with a variety of different PLCs. At DMC, we’ve used Indusoft with several PLC platforms, including Beckhoff, Omron, and Mitsubishi. Below, I’ve outlined a few tips and tricks that I’ve used to accelerate Indusoft development.   Indusoft Tip 1: Refer to the PLC Make sure that your driver sheet I/O addresses refer to something in the PLC. If you are using symbolic tags, the tag must exist in the PLC or Indusoft wil...

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Have you ever wanted to read current, torque, or power data from your Siemens variable frequency drive (VFD) without having to change your telegram or communication configuration? Well, you are in the right place! The guide below will walk you through how to acyclic read or write any drive parameter with your Siemens PLC.  Acyclic communication to a Siemens drive may seem like an impossible, obscure language, so the goal of this article is to translate it into something more understandab...

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