BITS N BYTES

How do I/Is it Possible to combine protocol macros generated with CX-Protocol and the main PLC Program and load them onto single compact flash card for downloading to a CJ1M-CPU22 PLC with a SCU21 serial comm. card? I need to send an updated program to a customer who does not have CX-One. Both the Main PLC program AND protocol macros have changed??

I don't think it's fair to knock a new user - Alaric is learning and will stop groping around with Omron when he sees some of their benefits. I have been programming with CX-One for 2 years and still learnt something from him. -|| |- Indicates that the bit is addressed with a DIFD somewhere in the program. -| ||- Indicates that the bit is addressed with a DIFU somewhere in the program. -| ||- Indicates that the bit is addressed with a DIFD somewhere in the program. -|| |- Indicates that the bit is addressed with a DIFU somewhere in the program. Cannot find any refernence to this in the Omron Manuals - so I can see why it would be confusing to a new user. Yes OMRON's documentation is lacking in some areas but they have come a long way from the old JanGlish S6 and C28K days.

Have used Contrinex sensors for this type of application. Their sensing technology differs from the run of the mill proximity switched and may work for you. Give them a try! http://www.contrinex.com/

I think the point you are missing is that the DIFU and DIFD functions are holdovers from earlier model PLC's. The |^| and |v| act directly on the contact and therefore do not require a function, this helps save programming time. OMRON has always been very consistent in that when they add new functions they strive hard to keep the older ones available whenever possible.

The SBS instruction is an older OMRON function. I much prefer the flexibility of the newer TKON[820] and TKOF[821] instructions for subroutine processing. Just my 2 cents!

The most recent changes to UL508A "Industrial Control Panels" occurred on April 25 2006 with the inclusion of supplement SB - "Short Circuit Current Ratings for Industrial Control Panels". This requires that specific components in the power circuit are evaluated for their SCCR [sometimes referred to as "let through" or "withstand"] based on the guidelines layed out in the SB Supplement AND that the nameplate includes this data. "Short circuit current:_____kA rms symmetrical, _____V maximum". Once one gets the hang of it, this is a fairly straightforward procedure. Most major component suppliers [AB, Siemens, Schneider etc. etc.] have updated their product documentation to reflect these changes. What has got most panel builders and electrical engineers [me included] thoroughly confused are:- 1. There is little or NO information available from where the panel will be installed about what level of SCCR one should design to. 2. The SCCR is different for each manufacturing plant and installation is different. Determining the SCCR is expensive and requires specialized equipment [here come the consultants!!]. Who pays for this, the panel builder or the end user. 3. If the SCCR of the panel is less than that at the installation then the panel must be redesigned. Who pays for this. 4. What is a generally accepted rating one should design to that meets the majority of Industrial installations. A complete CATCH 22 situation if you ask me. Still have not got a good feel as to what level of SCCR is really required in the real world. Is 5 kA OK or should one aim for some higher rating. And if so HOW HIGH. 25kA, 50kA ...........

MAN - Do U need to lighten up. Here are some Danish jokes to help U. Interpol was looking for an escaped convict in Denmark, and sent pictures of the man to the Danish police. The pictures were taken from both sides and the front. After a few days the Danes replied: "We caught the guys on the left and the right but the one in the middle got away". Q: Why do Danish people never play hide and seek? A: Nobody wants to look for them. A Danish airplane was getting ready to land in Stockholm's airport. The control tower contacted the pilot and asked for his position. The Danish pilot was surprised and didn't do anything. Again the control tower contacted the pilot. "Please tell us your position." Then the pilot understood and answered: "Here I am in the front seat, as always..." 1: Do you know how to find a lost Dane? 2: No 1: Good!

Boy!!! Which side of the be d did you get out of today! Looks to me that Sleepy is more awake than you are [and certainly a lot easier going].!!

IMHO OMRON has been the "easiest to use and readily upgradeable " PLC on the market. By "Easiest to use" I mean programming. Siemens is the least friendly in this respect. By "readily upgradeable" I am commenting on the fact that over the years when OMRON produces new PLC's they do a great job at being able to import old programs into new platforms - not perfectly but dang CLOSE.

In my experience over 30 years the most reliable, easiest to use and readily upgradeable in order best to worst of the PLC's I have used:- OMRON - #1 ROCKWELL - #2 IDEC - #3 GE - #4 And at rock botton SIEMENS #*******

Yes I forgot about this, I had an application with two NS10 screens. On one unit the USB transfer worked perfectly on the other I struggled for hours and thought the unit was bad. Turns out it was an older model prior to lot #0325. See attachment from manual. USB_Communication_Lot_Number_Issue.pdf

What exactly are you trying to do!!! If you want to link USB to the NS from your PC why not use NS USB port connection??? I use this all the time on an NS-10 unit. Very fast [actually much faster than Ethernet], and a lot simpler to set up!!

Since you posted this in the Omron forum I guess you are using an Omron PLC. If you have the CX-One programming package this includes the offline PLC simulator. Furthermore the latest version allows simulation of both the PLC and NS operator screen without any hardware. Be aware however that simulators cannot simulate all tasks, especially those associated with special I/O cards like Communications, Motion as well as high speed interrupts. If you are not using Omron then post which manufacturer you intend on using - it will then be easier to confirm whether or not their package includes an offline simulator.

There are a number of programming examples in the Omron PLC Download section of this website that should give you a good start in implementing your application. For the complete Modbus RTU specification info got to http://www.modbus.org/

Not tried multiple host PLC's connected to a single NS. If the NS is setup for multiple hosts and one goes offline or fails to connect i would expect you would get an error warning popping up on the NS Screen "Failure to communicate with HOST ***" ????

The first thing you need to do is read the manual on the COT21 unitl! The second is to define how you can use it in YOUR application! If you cannot find what you really need then post your questions. Here is the pertinent section - CTO21_Rate_Measurement.pdf

ALways glad to help! Glad you understood. As a matter of considtency I always assign the first 50 Dwords D0000-0049 in my PLC projects for NS system memory data exchange. Even if I am not using all of the available system memory functions I know where they are IF I ever need them. Do the same for the system memory BITS $SB0 thru $SB52, I alway assign bits of W0000-0052 for this purpose in the PLC. A note of caution when the PLC logic changes the NS screeen using the NS $SW0 address. IF you want to change to the new screen AND prevent the operator changing to any other screen then write to $SW0 constantly. IF you want to change to the new screen ONLY but allow subsequent screen changes from the NS touchscreen then use oneshot logic in the PLC when writing to $SW0. There are numerous other system bits and words that allow you to do lots of neat things from within the PLC logic to change screens, sound buzzer etc etc on the NS.

When you setup the Screen you defined a memory address area in the PLC that will be shared between the NS and PLC. This are can be used by the PLC to directly Read/Write to/from the PLC and NS. In the attached manual sheet it shows DM1 as the starting word address. DM1 in the PLC is now the value of the first memory area $SW0 in the NS. PLC_NS_MEMORY.pdf

You do not need a macro. Simply write to the system memory word $SW0 within the PLC data area that you have defined in the NS Setup. Current_Screen_Number__SW0.pdf

You didn't mention in your original post that you also need a self contained Disply/PLC. Maple does not make such a product. Have used the Horner APG OCS [Operator Control Station] on some projects with great success. C-Scape software is FREE and combines both the PLC Logic AND the HMI objects within a single program - REALLY SLICK FEATURE!! The PLC scan time is lightening fast as is their C-Scan network [i had 15 units networked on the C-Scan network sharing I/O - never missed a beat]. The only possible downside for your application is that you already have an installed base of Rockwell stuff. I am not sure whether the Horner OCS units can communicate with Rockwell. LOOK'S LIKE IT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO CHANGE YOUR CONTROL PLATFORM!!!!!! http://www.heapg.com/Pages/Products/products_OCS.html

If you are looking for great performance at low cost take a look at Maple Systems. I used a small unit on a recent project where cost was critical. Very pleased with the result and suprised at the numerous built-in features. Software takes a bit of getting used to if you have been using Rockwell Software, but its a heck of a lot cheaper. http://www.maple-systems.com/ [And NO I do not work for or represent them]

Vision systems are SOOOOO dependent upon what you are trying to do. Planning to test the new IFM Efector Dualis unit model O2D222. While not a fully fledged vision system [more of an object finder] the demos I have seen for this unit are pretty impressive and extremely easy to set up. Will post results when completed. Anyone had experience with this unit or its earlier model - the good, bad and ugly????

Cable: What is the programming cable for HG2F/3F/4F? The programming cable partnumber is HG9Z-XCM1A.

Trying to figure out how to write Stuctured Text code to do the same thing as the BSET ladder instruction. Have a single internal variable in the ST function block with an AT address of D500. I need to set D500 through D520 to a value of 0. The ladder instruction BSET would use a source of #0 a starting word of D500 and end word D520. Any ideas how to do this within a Structured Text Function Block would be most appreciated.

My application has 4 Serial Ports connecting to 4 different devices each with sa different communications protocol. To say the least, handling all of these through Ladder and Protocol Macros has been quite a challenge. The V4.0 processors allow string manipulation within the Structured Text function blocks. This is a vast improvement in that the cryptic nature of the standard Ladder instrutions for manipulating/ converting/writing/reading ASCII data and the awkard configaration of the Read/Write messages in Protocol Macros was becoming very cumbersome. Personally I have found that doing this within a ST enviroment is far easier to troubleshoot, monitor and modify [online if necessary]. I need to mimic the BSET command within the ST Function Block to initialize and or clear data. The last post solved this perfectly. BTW The ST Functions blocks are also absolutely great at handling math. 1. Gets rid of the cumbersome setup for the APR [069] instructions with simple ST code.. 2. Able to generate a useable Average function based on my own time base rather than the lousy and [as far as I am concerned the utterly useless] AVG [195] ladder instruction which uses scan based averaging. Say no more!!