Nibroc

I am currently configuring a CJ1W-EIP21 unit to communicate with some third party E/IP devices. Are third party eds files FULLY compatible with the Omron configurator? To effect communications with Beckhoff remote IO units, I found I needed to edit the EDS file to change the data size of the input and output instances - I would have expected to simply set this within the configurator. I suspect if I added some 'param'eters to the eds file I could make the input / output sizes adjustable for each instance? (shouldn't this be done already ?) I have not yet established proper communications between the EIP21 and an Altivar 71 VSD - The EDS file seems 'corrupt' or not compatable with the Omron configurator - the various communications instances supported by the VSD have all the wrong input / output sizes in the configurator. After editing the EDS file to suit, I have established some communications - the VSD / EIP21 report a valid 'connection', and data is being transferred from the VSD to the PLC, however not Vice - Versa. Perhaps also a 'generic' eds file could be supplied with the omron configurator (or could someone supply me one?) - where you simply enter the instance numbers for input, output, and their respective sizes, RPI etc. Any comments appreciated ... Nibroc

Browsing through the Omron FB library (supplied with CX-One) the other day I found this FB to setup a Modbus slave using a CS/CJ Serial comms unit. No more do we need to use protocol macros with supporting ladder code! It will support baud rates up to 115k ! I wonder if it will support using an external modbus/ethernet gateway to enable the PLC to be a modbus TCP slave? _SCx606_SetPortMODBUS_RTU.pdf

Hi All, Happy New Year. I am trying to create an FTP link to the Data Log files stored on an NS Memory Card. Currently I am unable to navigate to the folder 'ftp://192.168.1.15/at0' via the windows explorer, although I can using ftp via the command line. When I try this via Windows exporer I get the error per attached screenshot - not sure why it adds the /fr1 to the path? Thanks, Nibroc

Thanks Jay, I did have the .pdf data but not the .ppt. I ultimately wish to put a shortcut on the desktop to open: ftp://192.168.1.15/at0/log/trend/heating This will allow my customer to open the shortcut and copy the log files. However, the ftp defaults to the /fr1 folder and does not allow Windows explorer to navigate to the above? I can navigate to the log folders using command line ftp, but not windows explorer. Is there a way I can add a shortcut to the log file folders - (do I need to use a third party FTP client?) Thanks,

Hi, Long time no posts! (I have been busy commissioning a small plant with several Control-Logix PLC's and some Delta Motion Controllers - so am a little rusty ...) Just looking for a status quo update on Finsgateway. Is FGW2003 the latest version - does it support CJ2, what about USB ? Should we still look to develop using the .net class library with visual studio ? Windows Vista and Windows 7 support ... ? Thanks, Nibroc

Hi Bob, I have been to the Grampians - stayed overnight at Halls Gap - Lovely spot! Yes, Omron showed us Ethercat on a visit from Oz earlier this year - I have also seen it at the Hannover trade show (Beckhoff Stand etc). Looks good. It appears the Omron ethercat will initially be Motion Control, hopefully general purpose I/O and a general purpose master will be added to the range. At the moment, we are using third party Ethernet IP remote IO, and third party ethernet IP VSD's ! Although I think I may use profinet and smart slice on the next project. What about adding an Ethernet IP master to the smartslice range? We are spending this weekend nursing a 'sick' SCADA server PC, which sufferred multiple BSOD's earlier in the week and last weekend. It has been reloaded from scratch, and is running great, we hope. I am from Hawkes Bay - we grow great wine here! Think we should arrange a swap! (One day we should have a MrPLC get together) Hope the surgery is a success, I wish you both well from our team here in NZ. Unfortunately I too have some bad news in my family on the health front - not looking good. Tim.

Quick question: Can I fit an ethernet adaptor to the option port on the CJ1M-xxx-EIP CPU? The hardware manual shows the fitting of RS232 or RS422 type ports, but not the ethernet version. Thanks in advance. Nibroc.

Yes EtherCat looks good. We need more ethernet I/O options. Cheers. Tim.

Hi Bob, Hope all is well in the land of Oz. Plenty of Red's on the horizon? Yes, we are going to add an Ethernet unit to the 'rack' for our project. This will give us the two ethernet ports we require for our project. Thanks, Tim.

Answer - no you can't add an ethernet port, serial ports only. (found by an esteemed colleage). Nibroc.

File Name: Modbus TCP Client using FB's File Submitter: Nibroc File Submitted: 7 Feb 2006 File Category: PLC Sample Code Example Implementation of Modbus TCP Client using Standard Omron Function Blocks. Click here to download this file

... You will have to use an external 5V power supply for the E6B2-CWZ1X Encoder(s) - this will work fine. (Note that the Inputs and Outputs will remain at 24V) Nibroc.

Hi Pawel, (Without looking up any manuals) We have used line driver encoders with 5V-RS422 output, which have 4.75-30V input. This type of encoder would be fine with 24V supply. There are many encoders on the market, do you have an existing encoder or are you free to select a new one? Nibroc

Hi all. Using CX-Supervisor V3.0 (28), windows XPP. I am trying to use the ^Tagname[xx] syntax to dynamically reference an element in a particular array. I have several I/O array points: Array1 Array2 Array3 each of say 200 BOOL elements. I have a dynamic 'Tagname' memory text point. Set Tagname = "Array1" Then say a Toggle Button with ^Tagname[10] works fine (per the manual) and does change the PLC value fine. But animation blink property expression set to ^Tagname[10] doesn't work, no errors, no events etc, nothing happens? Should it work? Manual gives example for Toggle button, does not mention whether this type of indirect addressing can be used for animation expressions? The script manual does mention this syntax can be used within expressions. If it does work, this will make a tidy project for me ... Thanks, Nibroc

Hi, I have not used the modbus slave software you are using for testing however: I do note from the picture that you have the slave(server) set with 'Quantity: 10'. The example PLC code is requesting #10 (hex 10) = 16 decimal. Ten would be #A. Perhaps try with the quantity set to a larger number such as 16 (or even 100!) for your slave setting. Or reduce the PLC setting. Nibroc

Hi Again, The example program requests 16 registers starting at address 0. It uses function 04. It is requesting from Modbus address (server) number 01. These values are set in the first 'rung' of the program. Yes, the received data does arrive starting at DM230. You may need to add some temporary words to the function block status/error output attributes to help debug your application. Nibroc

Hi Bob, I haven't heard any news except that CX-One-V4 should be out sometime early next year. Have ordered CX-Supervisor V3 and await its arrival. Nibroc

Hi, Not sure but I would try checking the 'retain' check box for the output variable in the FB configuration. Nibroc

Hi, CP1 series can use a CP1W-CIF41 ethernet unit. This unit is suitable for CP1L and CP1H series. A google will yield some hits for this. We installed one recently and it works fine. The functionality is not the same as a CJ Series type ethernet unit. Sorry, can't find a datasheet at the moment. Nibroc

Hi The FB's used in the example are from the Omron FB library supplied - Except I edited the 'ETN004_Socket_TcpSend' FB to reduce the size of the internal 'command buffer' from 997 words to 30 words as it used too much PLC memory. (The data packets for my application were not large.) I initially wrote the (example) program to read data from several 16 point temperature input units which supported modbus TCP. We have used this code (or similar) on several sites and it has run fine for several years. The Modbus TCP does not run super fast with this implementation. Please do a proper assessment of suitability prior to implementing as a running system. (Omron does now have Ethernet IP and Profinet options) I am not sure of your application, but there are many options to 'share' data with a PC which may be easier to implement than Modbus TCP. Nibroc

Yes, I note that there is no help associated with FUN49, just found it interesting that it crashed CXP this way. - Crashes a colleagues install also. I am not worried, just a FYI really - perhaps it could be fixed for future versions. Nibroc

Hi, Not sure if anyone has experienced this: When I right click on a FUN49 instruction and click 'Instruction Help', CX Programmer 8.2 promptly crashes. Nibroc

Hi, I am not sure that the motion controller is faulty. It is possible that there is a 'bug' with the PLC program which is trying to write an invalid write to the motion controller - perhaps this happens in certain conditions which were not detected during original commissioning. Data exchange between the PLC-CPU and the MC unit must be performed correctly, and it is possible to 'crash' the PLC or an SIOU (eg error 300) if the program does not conform. In my experience, this type of error is a 'program' problem, not hardware. - although since you have new hardware it may be easiest to try that first at this stage. Nibroc

Hi Bob, Yes, I have used the Red Lion product several times now and it is quite a comprehensive unit. (depending on model selection) The data logging (onto compact flash) is quite good also. Probably the best way to complete an assessment would be to download the Crimson software and have a quick play. You can create virtual HMI pages and they are then displayed via the Web Server. Tim (aka Nibroc (Pim?))

... Red Lion make the Data Station Plus which has a Web Server and connects easily to Omron (and others) - free programming(configuration) software, mounts on a DIN rail, probably cheaper than an HMI. Worth a look. Nibroc