CX_Luigi

It is not bad coding, but a necessity from the relatively limited hardware resources which the FB compiler is gonna allocate. The following topic sums the question quite nicely and cleanly: recursive instructions in ST FB problem

these cards are meant to communicate only through HostLink protocol and do not support free mode serial communication. If your 200HS though has a serial port, you may use this to communicate with your barcode, through instructions TXD/RXD.

i guess you tried to use the statement same way you would do in a computer software,continuously checking a logic condition, but the iterative instructions in STL needs to handle directly the condition variables within their cycles, otherwise they will hang PLC and/or simulator. It took me a great deal of attempts and the final help from the forum to get the hang of it, although Omron could have been a little clearer in their documentation.

in the past weeks I have worked extensively with Programmer and Designer, and as such I had often to switch between the two looking after symbols names. When specifying the addresses for the various elements in Designer Symbol table, it is possible to copy/drag&drop from Programmer the usual manner, but it is still a manual operation and as such prone to mistakes. It would be better if Omron revamps the "CX-Server file for linked symbols" moving away from the old closed . cdm binary format to the common Excel-format file. I can recall only NTST (the software used to program the old NT touchscreens) used Server symbol file to get the addresses it needed, but I have not seen any other CX-One softwares using it. Keeping a central file, automatically generated and populated as program is written (as of now you have to manually specify for every symbol if you want to save it on the list) where all the symbols/addresses/data areas can be shared by all programs would bolster considerably CX-One, allowing for example automatic entry of symbols name from word processors or from external non-Omron programs such as electrical CADs, facilitating the generation of project documentation, and improving the workflow if as it happens in my case, more people are working on the same project at the same time. And speaking about working in team...i am starting to appreciate the usefulness of revision control software. Now we are using Mercurial, but this type of software lumps all the binary files such as cxp and thus ends eating a lot of mass memory since for even the slightest change, the full file need to be saved. It would not be bad if Omron could put some kind of revision control in the next versions of CX-One, this would allow for a more streamlined project creation and management, for instance allowing the rapid creation of a project with chosen features from the main full featured projects.

i am writing an ST function block for a simple calculation, however no matter I tried by simulator or actual hardware, i get always cycle time error (ie watchdog) every time I try to run the program. I understood that the problem lies in the WHILE-DO loop, but so far I haven't been able to get it works. Reading FB documentation does not give me any clue, so I am asking if someone has had similar problems and how it were solved. Attached is the actual bare bone test i am using right now. Thanks for any suggestions project_test_FB.cxp

actually I did just as you suggested to make ends meet, but still bugs me not being able to use iterative constructs such in this case WHILE-DO. I can see two possibilities here: a) the iteration instruction works, but for some reason I am using it in a wrong way; b) the WHILE-DO construct cannot be used in a structured text block or with this particular PLC (a CJ1G-CPU42H) I have already written some structured text blocks, and always failed to get this particular instruction working (and always going back to IF-THEN instructions). This time would really like to understand what's going on and where I am doing wrong.

i am afraid the only reference you will find is the manuals about RM201 card. As said before the protocol is proprietary and I doubt there is any reference about it you may obtain from Omron. By the way, do you mind give some more details about the scope of your project? Maybe your concerns can be more effectively solved without resorting to producing a dedicated card, if I understood well what you said.There were products in the past that used Sysmac Bus as communication interface, mainly by Japanese companies such as valve isles and the such, but that was about late 90s/00s.

the protocol used is referred as Sysmac Bus in Omron literature, and it is a proprietary one as well as obsolete/out of support. Omron currently supports DeviceNet for its PLCs, if the RM201 is in a rack with a C200HS CPU you may consider upgrading such network to DN and design your module accordingly.

i am sorry for the OT, but I smiled when I read this post. From the name of the poster I guess he's from India, and having worked a fair share here I found his situation pretty common. Let's say you commission a system and train the maintenance engineers on all its aspects, often including basics on PLC programming, only to be informed after a certain period (months usually but weeks are not infrequent) that one or more of those engineers quit the company, often taking with them material such as manuals, programming software and in some extreme cases, the full PLC software and documentation for the machine. At this point you are forced to do assistance, often in remote to a newbie, mostly nervous and already under big pressure from his managers, that has to quickly troubleshoot and reduce downtime on a equipment he just saw, and this is a recipe for a lot of troubles on both sides. I understood that since pay is meagre, any further opportunity to earn more money is quickly exploited and that results in a generally high downturn in personnel. I also noticed how, compared to other countries, front-line engineering personnel is poorly prepared and often nothing more than a generic worker, with few tools available and specific tasks to execute, such as wire placing and connection, while people with some knowledge usually remain all day locked in their small offices, sipping tea and playing on computers. What I do not understand and often questioned during discussions, is the way these companies look at their engineering people, it seems they are thinking that since people costs "a dime a dozen" they can be interchangeable and replaceable, and any pay rise given to worthy individuals is afterall wasted money, so better squeeze the juice for more closer friends, kins, associates, whatever their abilities and their worth is (and from what i've seen in Indian companies there are many of those). I sincerely hope for Indra that the CX-Programmer manual is the only missing item he's need.

while evaluating a project requiring simple positioning of a trolley i found references in Omron site to this product, 3G3MV-P10CDT(3)-E, basically a PLC card expansion for a 3G3MV inverter. It seems no documentation is available yet, guess it's just a newly introduced product, can someone point me to places where i can find more info, or better else if you already had the chance to use it, share your experience? thanks

I am trying to put icons in touchbuttons to do away with many translations, so putting image lamps besides them is not what i would like. I tried all yesterday to impose an image lamp on a touch button, and although it works, when the touch is pressed the area around the image lamp remains "black", i.e. not evidenced. Considering I am working on an old machinery with NT20 installed this is perhaps the best I can get from such hardware and probably what I will end using. Thanks for your hints about a part of software that I was definitely underusing so far.

with NTST installation comes a pretty complete library of symbols, accessible through Symbol Manager under Windows menu. I'd like to use these symbols as label for a touch button or for a lamp, but apparently this is not allowed. I also tried pasting a symbol in a screen and then drawing the object around, but the final display is far from ideal. Is there a way to use these symbols the way I described, or they are intended to be used just as static pictures?

thanks for the image lamp procedure, for me however it would be more useful inserting these symbols into touch buttons, as a way to keep panels' software as standard as possible. So far it seems to me that I only can have text or marks, and cannot paste symbols as marks.

for Siemens is available Step 7 Lite, as far as I know is free to download and only requires registration. Limited to standalone PLCs and no networking functions, although is possible to upgrade to the full Step 7 package. Download link For Omron your best bet is getting hold of training kits (usually PLC+HMI+cables+software), at a price however.

i have to wire a DeviceNet network and customer propose to use CAT5 for connections in lieu of usual Belden cable, mainly for time reason (that is, CAT5 is readily available at the moment at the site). It is advisable and/or safe to use such a cable? Total network length is around 120-160 meters. Also since there are total 6 panels with assorted I/O inside, is it possible to use each panel power supply for powering communication and modules instead of daisychaining all modules with same supply starting from DRM?

thanks anyone for their reply. I went to ODVA site and downloaded cable spec, and will not accept customer's choice of connections.

My main problem is that customers are often continents away and thus air travel is almost mandatory, so to avoid paying extortionate fees for "overweight" i am forced to travel with a pouch containing essential set of screwdrivers, most useable size wrenches, adjustable spanner and a Fluke 189. Big inconvenience for this is reduced space on the luggage for clothes and other personal items as well as a noticeable increase in luggage weight, usually around 25 to 30 kgs, very near the limits currently enforced by most airlines. For heavy works such as extensive machinery modifications and erections my company follows BudMan's advice and ships an almost complete toolbox that afterwards remains at customers' disposal (i have anyway yet to see a complete toolbox some times after the job is completed). I'd like to work with as much tools and instruments as possible, and not much fond of either making/asking/buying tools on the spot, besides in some places the maintenance department often is a guy with some rusted wrenches, a hammer and broken screwdrivers and ends using my tools regularly, so I am thinking about traveling with a toolbox with almost all the tools i need for service and installation. All the previous toolboxes i owned broke down due to wear and tear within two years of continuous use, so I am trying to find a trolleyed one rugged enough to withstand at least 3 to 5 years of continuous traveling, easy to lug around and with enough inside space to keep all the most necessary tools. Any suggestion about brands or types will be highly appreciated.

many thanks for the link. I've downloaded and tried the program, it fits almost exactly my needs

is there any preliminary documentation available yet, such as presentation brochures, programming and/or operation manuals? And regarding CX-One, there will be issued a new version or it will be possible to upgrade the existing installation in some way (my guess is, being a new hardware with new capabilities it will be impossible to use existing programming)?

Omron sells different learning kits comprising PLCs, HMIs and programming software at a very competitive price. The software itself, CX-One is a collection of programming and configuration software for any of their PLCs from the smallest compact to the heavy duty processing intensive units at the top end. Regarding Codesys, i've evaluated it in the past with other colleagues, while it has some merits, it's bloody expensive (licenses apply to modules rather than product, so if you use the ladder engine and you want to use HMI module that's two licenses you have to buy) and it runs on a range of hardware so wide that versions have to be made purposefully, so i doubt it would be easy or cost effective to switch configurations and keeping the same software. Besides, is of german origin and in my experience i found german software to be bloated, slow and often unreasonably priced, so I always try to find cheaper, leaner alternatives; From the tone of your posts my impression is that you've been forced to use Omron products in lieu of alternatives you deemed more worthy, or maybe you were given an unrealistic deadline working on systems you did not know and that takes some time to get the hang to. You may have to choose between two approaches, stick to your opinions, refuse all cooperation and be prepared to face the probably not amusing consequences in terms of self-satisfaction, stress and lost productivity, or try to have a proactive approach and get the best in your predicament (if you haven't noticed, few weeks ago there was a post in this post from an AB guy that what tasked with the modification of an Omron based machinery. The way he solved the problem and the attitude he displayed all along make a very interesting and refreshing reading for anyone involved in machinery and automation). In both cases smearing never replaces a proper technical analysis, as any brand has its own strenghts and weaknesses, and none of them offers the ultimate solution to any conceivable problem.

in my opinion Apple Macs are, and have been since long time, among the top manufacturers of quality notebooks, together with IBM and HP. Until now I had to keep a Windows notebook for work. Currently it's a ThinkPad T42 and will never have enough praise for its reliability and overall construction quality. I owned in the past also Acers, HPs and Dells, and the latter have been an absolute disgrace in my eyes. Lots of faults, poor construction quality and (in my case at least) very poor customer service. I swore never to use another Dell. In the past Apple has marketed its hardware as targeted to people in the arts and graphic communities, and this has resulted in a enduring bias towards their machines, seen as unfit for other uses. Thanks to their decision to migrate to Intel processors they now have a line of machines that are perfectly fit for any use in any field. I installed CX-One in my Mini at home through Parallels, and it works a charm without any glitch. Even working online through Ethernet is perfectly fine. Overall when the T42 will start to lose its steam (hopefully as late as possible), i plan to get an MacBook as my field workstation

should you choose the Apple path, best bet is to enable BootCamp on your Mac. It will then become a normal Windows notebook, with the added benefit of switching between Windows and OSX, both running natively. I've had running various versions of Omron software in Apple's operative systems under either Virtual PC and now recently both Parallels and VMWare, and although as above stated Omron does not guarantee proper working of its software under emulation I haven't found any problem, even working online, with the exception of late versions of Virtual PC (that is going to be discontinued anyway) Instead of using USB converters, a PCMCIA or PC-Express serial card would be a better choice, if only for the fact that Windows can use a standard device driver.

for programming sequences i've always used the MLPX function. Basically you define your sequence as a packet of DMs let's say, DMx: command code + as many other DMs as "datas" associated to your command code, then process your command through MLPX executing the function you want to perform with your command. I've done a lot of sequences some also fairly complex, in this way.

one thing to remember about the conversion is that variable name of the type "n"+IO number will be generated, because of LSS naming structure. This for me at least is an inconvenience because I made comments in LSS formatted as variable names using underscores and thus I have to pass all the IO comments through Excel to change them to variables. I would welcome a change on File Conversion Utility that in presence of comments structured with underscores will convert them to variable names (I don't think someone would use names such as "myvariablename" in place of "my_variable_name" in CX-P projects)

thanks to everyone for the infos