ECSI

Here's a bunch of bitmaps for you...bitmaps.zip

I have to add a printer to an NS10 project, connecting to the USB port on the NS. When doing a screen print, will the printer print the background color of the display or just the objects on the display? The reason I ask is that most of the screens now have a black background. If this background color is going to be printed then I should probably change the backgrounds to white, or at least a lighter color to save on ink. Thanks

So let's say I have 10 containers with random weights of product in them, 1.1 lbs, 1.4 lbs, 1.6 lbs, 1.2 lbs, 2.1 lbs, 1.0 lbs, ....etc. How would I begin to write the logic for selecting the proper containers that their total weight would add up to a target weight of 5 lbs and dump their product into a bag.  Ideally I need to be just over the target weight, but cannot be under.  There are so many combinations....where does one start with the programming logic?   Surely I wouldn't have to do a math equation for every combination of containers...would I? In the end this process will be repeating every 2-3 seconds, so possibly I will have to lock out selecting the containers that just dumped until they refill again.  The next selection would ignore these containers that just dumped. I'm just looking for ideas here.  I'd like to use an Omron PLC for this project.  There are machines out there that do this now.  I'm just trying to get my head around the logic in these machines. Thanks

MAX and MIN were the first instructions that I considered but the more I think about it the more I think it's not the best way.  If there are ten containers then the 3 or 4 or whatever number that gives me the closest to target (and just over), may not include the ones with minimum or maximum weights.  Also, if I keep using MIN to reach my target then the container(s) with maximum weight may never empty.  This would be a problem over time. Hmmmm....Maybe a combination of 1. Select a random container or maybe two of them to start.  2. Find MAX and add it in.  3. Find MIN and add it in.  4. Fine tune add MIN until close to target.  4. When close to target find which container remaining will put me just over target.... A lot to think about for sure.  The reason I am looking at this is there is a vegetable grower with a machine that hasn't worked properly from day one.  The company that he bought it from built two of them, both different, and then went bankrupt.  He's getting no support and needs help.  His program is written in C++ on an industrial PC with remote IO (modbus I believe).  I don't believe I can get access to the programming, not that I know anything about C++ anyway.  If I can come up with a plan for PLC control then he may be interested. Thanks for the input!

I have a Panasonic FX-Sigma PLC and I have connected to it using serial cable and uploaded the program. The PLC has an FP-Web2 module connected to it. Is there any way to determine what IP address has been assigned to this module using FPWin Pro software? Or do I need to buy the FP Web Configurator software? This PLC is in a remote location and we are trying to set it up so that we can access the programming over the internet. So far I have connected remotely using the end users laptop and software on site, but I'm connecting to his laptop using Team Viewer software. This PLC was originally installed and programmed by others and they are no longer involved. ps: I'm very new to Panasonic PLC's Thanks!

There are all kinds of short videos on YouTube if you search "Omron NB designer". I don't know of any one video that covers everything though. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=omron+nb+designer

Sorry I should have provided a link to the manual for you. Glad you found it. http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=1027 But how does that explain what is happening for you? You aren't using indirect addressing are you? Not that I'm an expert since I don't think I've ever used indirect addressing. And why does the yellow disappear when changing the data type to WORD?

File Name: W446-E1-17 CX-Programmer v9.x Operation Manual.pdf File Submitter: ECSI File Submitted: 16 Mar 2015 File Category: Manuals Manual for CX-Programmer, CX-Server, and PLC Tools Click here to download this file

It worked for me. I've had it happen to me before but I can't remember what instruction it happened on. Also from the manual:

Set the data type of each operand to WORD. The =DT instruction is looking for that type.

I have a CompactLogix connected to a Festo Servo Drive over Ethernet I/P. The data coming back from the servo is in signed integer (SINT) format. There are four bytes of data that tell the PLC the position of the unit: Shuttle:I.Data[4] = 112 (01110000) Low Byte Shuttle:I.Data[5] = -108 (10010100) Shuttle:I.Data[6] = 0 Shuttle:I.Data[7] = 0 High Byte The above data should convert to a value of 38000 which means 38.000 inches. For the life of me I cannot figure out how to convert the above data to give me 38000. Is there an easy way? Once I know how to convert this, then I will need to do the reverse function and convert a new target value, ie 40000, to SINT format and send it to the servo. The target and feedback positions will always be positive values. The SINT format was created when loading the EDS file of the Festo Drive Any help is appreciated. Thanks

I see how you did that but the PLC sees the second word as a signed integer value -108 since the leftmost bit is a 1. Even though as an unsigned integer it would read 148.

Has anyone used CX-Supervisor v2.1 with Windows 7 yet? I have to buy a new computer for a project so I would like to go with Windows 7 since its available now. No sense going back to Vista or XP if I don't have to. I'm not looking for "official" support of Windows 7, but if it works I'll go with it. Thanks

Geez...I always thought SCL was one of the easiest instructions to use. It's definitely easier than APR for a linear 4-20mA signal.

Another possibility is that the PLC program doesn't match the program showing on your laptop. Some software will not inform you of this until you try to do something like an online edit.

Set the four registers to: P1+3 = #0FA0 P1+2 = #0900 (Not #384) P1+1 = #0000 P = #0400 (Not #190)

Does anyone know where I can get a get a converter to take a typical PLC analog output signal of 4-20mA or 0-10V and convert it to a voltage range of 6-18 VDC for the control of a hydraulic proportional valve? I can find various converters (Weidmuller, Acromag, Action, etc) that convert analog signals, but none seem to be able to give me an output up to at least 18V. The valve itself requires 12V for center position, 6-12V for flow in one direction, and 12-18V for flow in the opposite direction. Thanks

Chapter 3 of your 22-COMM-E manual explains how to set the IP address. I have been using Rockwell's BOOTP Server software and it works great. After setting the IP you have to make sure you disable BOOTP on the adapter or it will revert back to getting its own IP address after a power cycle instead of using the IP that you assigned. Maybe this is why you are getting the duplicate IP error? Do your errors occur after power cycles usually?

Try this: Right click on your.cdm file and choose 'open with' Set the file association to open with CDMDDE.exe Create a shortcut to your .cdm file and drag it to your windows startup folder. Reboot and hope it works. I haven't tested this now but I believe I did something like this years ago. Haven't used DDE links in a long time.

I just completed a project using a CompactLogix 1768-L43 Processor with two 1768-ENBT Ethernet/IP Modules. One module has 41 connected devices and the other has 38 devices. The devices are Powerflex 40's, 193-E1 Plus Smart Overload relays, and a SEW Eurodrive servo drive. There are also 3 Maple Systems HMI's connected. All is working very well so far.

We usually run the start signal through the VFD's 'Ready' relay output, so when the drive powers up and is ready it will close the start input.

I have a CompactLogix L43 system and in one routine I have programmed approximately 400 alarm conditions. Each output is a BOOL base tag. The tags are read by a Maple Systems HMI to generate alarms. My customer came to me today and asked if I could add programming to pulse a horn for 3 seconds on a rising edge of any alarm. Is there an easy way to do this without adding 400 one-shot conditions? Is there a magical way to determine if any output in a routine turns on so that I can latch on a horn for 3 seconds? I'm not looking forward to a whole lot more programming to accomplish this so I'm looking for a simple solution if there is one. Any suggestion? Thanks!

Some great tips above from you guys. I appreciate the input. In the end, I was able to use the HMI capabilities to make life easier. Step 1: Modify first alarm in HMI list to give a notification to the PLC when an alarm goes from OFF to ON. Set PLC tag 'New_Alarm_Detected'. Step 2: Export HMI alarm database to excel spreadsheet. In the spreadsheet find the columns that have been changed for the first alarm. Drag down to copy cells to each alarm line. Step 3: Import spreadsheet back into alarm database and overwrite existing. Now every alarm is set to notify PLC of OFF>ON transition. Step 4 Write a rung in PLC. When New_Alarm_Detected is ON then pulse horn on and off at half second intervals for 3 seconds. Then reset ;New_Alarm_Detected' bit to OFF. Every new alarm that occurs in the HMI will again sound the horn. This all took less than half hour to program HMI...program PLC...test a few alarms. Beautiful! I like the suggestions you all made. If I had used DINTs for alarm bits from the beginning it would have made a lot of sense to try your ideas. Since I didn't use DINTs, this HMI solution was perfect for me. Also, it demonstrates the power of using the import/export features of your favorite PLC/HMI software and using spreadsheets for repetitive tasks. Thanks everyone!

Yes, I thought about changing my tags over to alias individual bits of DINTs, but that also seems like just as much work, and yes, it isn't bulletproof. I think the one-shot route will be a little quicker. I guess I should just get at it....lol. Actually now that I think of it, maybe the HMI has a way of writing to a PLC tag if it sees a new alarm. I must investigate further.... Thanks