lamboom

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Posts posted by lamboom


  1. On 4/3/2020 at 1:20 PM, IO_Rack said:

    I just tested it and it works. Click on the link above, then type "crimson" in the Search field. I'm not able to post the 'already searched' link because it doesn't work that way.

    What link would that be?  Thanks, regards, Michael Lambert


  2. Hi...  The good news is, it can be restored... unfortunately, when I had that problem, it was 5 years ago.. so naturally I've forgotten everything I ever learned back then...  sorry... But, you might open a new thread.. or directly contact the people who helped me back then .. I couldn't have done it without them!   Good Luck, Regards, Michael


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    On 7/19/2020 at 11:45 AM, DanW said:

    Maybe, it's a big world out there, but I doubt it.

    Typical serial I/O modules use either a defined proprietary protocol or use Modbus.

    The Advantech Adam 4050 has 8 DO's but only part of the message written is the bit pattern for which bit is on or off.  The protocol uses ASCII characrters, with this syntacx (for that specific module) [delimiter character][address][command][data][checksum] [carriage return].

    That series of I/O modules does not have RS-232, they use RS-485, so you'd have to use an RS-232/485 converter, or use the Red Lion RS-485 port.

     

    Thanks again DanW  I'm sorry if I didn't mention it before, It took a short while for Red Lion support (the best) to understand what I was asking...  Sometimes when nubies ask questions.. the experts think way beyond what is troubling us.. I was only concerned with how the HMI was going to convert a base 10 number entered on the screen to binary, and then map the 8 bits that would define that number in the ADAM 4050 Remote D/IO module.. which would control the LinMot 1100-GP  Linear motor Drive ... that uses D/IO for all functions of operation...

    Red Lion does have the drivers for ADAM modules.. and can use Modbus or whatever is required to make this work.  The HMI's I'm using are a bit out of date and discontinued... But.. they will work... :-)  Without the converter... as you say use the Red Lion's RS-485 port.


  4. Sounds like a great idea BobLfoot ... But, I am stuck on the Red Lion... Just cause I have one.. :-)     I may have to write a conversion program in "C"  (Red Lion uses something like C for running programs with the data that is entered .. Red Lions are a lot like PLC's   .. but... I have no idea what the Kadet (discontinued) model G304K200 can do...   I'll post the results.

    PS:  I believe the new Red Lion Graphite series HMI has modules that plug into the back of the unit.. including a D/IO module...   This project does not merit such an expense.


  5. On 7/20/2020 at 6:52 PM, a062549 said:

    My computer would let me log on to their site.. said it was dangerous in the extreme!  Thanks for the info.. looks a lot like ADAM modules


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    On 7/19/2020 at 11:45 AM, DanW said:

    Maybe, it's a big world out there, but I doubt it.

    The Advantech Adam 4050 has 8 DO's but only part of the message written is the bit pattern for which bit is on or off.  The protocol uses ASCII characters, with this syntax (for that specific module) [delimiter character][address][command][data][checksum] [carriage return].

    That series of I/O modules does not have RS-232, they use RS-485, so you'd have to use an RS-232/485 converter, or use the Red Lion RS-485 port.

     

    Thanks DanW .... Yup.. I got a ADAM 4520.. (converts RS232 to RS485)   ... Did that when I acquired a G304K000 (which has only RE232.... then I found a used G304K200 .. which has lots of good ports: RS232, RS422/485 and Ethernet ... This is going to be more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have!

    1 person likes this

  7. On 7/20/2020 at 6:52 PM, a062549 said:

    Those look great.  The price is amazingly low, compared to ADAM     You said you use these with a Kadet (Crimson 1 or C2?)  It's the Red Lion driver I need to find.. or some simple tutorial on the mapping of the Kadet's tags with the WellPro Modules .. specifically the I/O module... that's all i need ... don't need no stinkin' PLC/CPU  the Red Lion can do what I need (so can some toggle switches... but that would be too easy.

    Do you know of any info (tutorials) from WellPro RS232 or RS422/485 or Ethernet TCP/IP   The Kadet G304K200 is a little more advanced that the G304K000 (Red Lion support doesn't think I should try that last one.       Regards, Michael


  8. Zamora ... Thanks for the reply... You are quite right ... but, it's kinda a challenge for me.  If it's possible to use the HMI... I would like to do it.  I did acquire a Kadet G304K200 .. which has RS232 and RS422/485 and TCP/.IP ethernet  It does use ASCII Modbus .. and Red Lion does have a driver for some ADAM modules... (The 4050 is not listed in the list... but, that's just because it isn't verified)   Advantech doesn't know much about Red Lion (The make their own HMI after all... :-)

    The Red Lion G3 series ('tho discontinuing) ... is real good at interfacing with many PLC/CPU Motion Controllers out there.  I just need a little tutorial on mapping the ADAM's registers to the HMI's tags... How hard could it be ... :-)

    I'm sorry I'm late responding to your post ... I failed to click something that would notify me when anyone posts on this thread... DUH


  9. Thanks,   panic mode and a062549  

    I will research all you suggest...   Especially you a062549 .. because you already are using something like the ADAM 4050 by Aventech ..(suggested by DanW ) I do need the Kadet to receive DI's .. I don't think Crimson 2 (G304K000) will work as well as the newer G304K200 series using Crimson 3 ...  'Tho both are discontinued and are replaced with seriously better units.. CR1000 series.  I'm not in a big hurry ... I guess it will take about a month or so to get the Modules.  I do like the DIN rail connector on the back :-)  .. The price is great!    Isn't the only way to connect to the Red lLon Kadets via RS232.?.. or are you talking about the CR1000  (do they call that a Kadet too...?

    Panic Mode:  I wish I was as smart enough to do what you suggest .. I never got into Arduino, but I do know Siemens, Red Lion, LinMot systems, Omron Nj systems and Delta Motion controllers... and, that's about it !   :-)      I'm very limited with automation electronics   .. it's all about one project;

    https://www.microoceans.com/

    Now trying to make it "very" simple.. 

    PS:  sorry I didn't reply sooner... didn't get a notice that you guys posted to my question...  I must have missed selecting a "click here to get email notifications of posts "


  10. Thanks, DanW ...  I've been doing some research.. for stand-alone IO modules.  They are out there ... alone... but not really ... somewhere there is a programable controller talking to them.  Ideally, I should connect directly to the HMI ...  The HMI I'm using is a legacy G304K20U .. with only RS232 for communication & control.   I'll research the Advantech Adam 4050.

    Thanks again for the info .. will come back with what I find :-)

    PS: have a lot of experience with the larger G3 HMI series & Crimson 2 and 3 ... I'm just trying something very small and simple.. something to do during the Pandemic... :-) 


  11. I need a Red Lion HMI to communicate with an IO module (8) IO's ... I don't really need a PLC.  Because the control of a certain LinMot drive for a linear motor can be activated by IO's.  This LinMot drive can store up to 100 curves... which can simply be called into operation by a single binary number between 0 & 255,  defined by eight IO's ..  you input the number on the HMI, the HMI converts to binary and set the (8) IO's in the module which sends the binary number to the LinMot drive..  

    Yes, there are some other IO's for starting and stopping ... and it may be unrealistic for me to not use a PLC.   I'm trying to get the cost way down...    If a "stand-alone" IO module does not exist... then is there a simple, low budget PLC out there, with 8 or 16 IO's available..?    Thanks much, Michael


  12.  Hi Joe E. & Jazzplayermark ...  Sorry I've been away.  Somehow got locked out of the account, forgot my password. and didn't know there was a junk mail for gmail.com  on my PC  DUH!

    I have finally met with success, with some really good suggestions from Kolyur  on my thread, I also posted there.  I wasn't sure which forum would be best for Red Lion G3:

    http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?t=120117

    My favorite solution is to create a file in the root directory of C:\  named Pics. in that file is the program makepic (copied it from the Red Lion Controls install files also in the root directory)  along with all the .bmp photo files I wanted to convert and load into the Red Lion Compact Flash to save memory.  However, the photos do not have a .bmp in their name. (like Photo1)   Then open the command prompt as administrator, and change directory:  cd C:\ Pics     Now, the command line is very simple:   C:\ makepic  Photo1.bmp 1   

     

    Notice the spaces ... no quotes!  no backslash.  That "1" at the end can be any number between 0 and 999 .. which is used by the HMI to call the picture from the Compact Flash.

    If you use any of the "switches" like  -wide  (use RGB 555 16-bit color values), the command line would look like: C:\ makepic  -wide Photo1.bmp 1

    One thing that caught me, is the picture won't show up on the PC when programming the Red Lion, but, it will show up on the HMI... :-)

    I did contact Red Lion Support... and got a better tutorial than was posted in their C2 manual ... But, I liked Kolyur's method better...

    Thanks for your help .. there are many ways to screw up this process in command line programming.  especially if you are not fluent in that area. 

     


  13. Thanks, Joe     I think picture1.bmp 1 is correct.  And, you have the command line correct also.  

    I posted this problem in PLCs.net: http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?t=120117 

    got some interesting solutions .. This isn't so easy after all.. Then I'm reminded that there is a simple way to load a picture file in Crimson 2.0 (which I wasn't aware of ..it's not mentioned in the manual :-)    Only thing in the manual is the stuff i posted above.

    There's a good solution at the end of that thread .. like putting all the important files, makepic & the actual .bmp picture in a folder in the C:\ root directory or on the desktop..and run a simple command line for that configuration.      Will try that next.  .... because

    placing the image files in the compact flash saves a lot of HMI's memory.    Thanks again for your reply ...

    I'll get back to you if I have any success...

     

     

     

     

     


  14. Perhaps this is best a post for Windows 7 help Forums.. :-)

    This is more an issue about the proper operation of Command Prompt, than anything related to the RedLion HMI... sorry, But that's the way RedLion chose to do this.  I can navigate to the final folder where "makepic.exe" is located in the command line... but how to launch the application..is beyond me, and the above text from RedLion.   I was just hoping that if this above instruction makes any sense to you out there, you might give me some clue what the steps and expectations are.  I have a folder: MyImages, which contains two images: picture.bmp 1 and picture.bmp 2    That folder is located at C:\  MyImages.   The folder where makepic.exe is located:   C:\ Program Files (x86) \ Red Lion Controls \ Crimson 2.0 \ makepic

    The instruction above claims  makepic C:\MyImages\picture.bmp 1  ... as a command line, will launch that application, and make a file "under the makepic installation folder"  (whatever that means?)  

    Yes..I should ask Red Lion support directly.... sigh!     but, this isn't really a RedLion problem (other than their bad instructions) it's a PC thing isn't it... ?    Thanks


  15. Page 171 of the Crimson 2.0 manual for RedLion G3 HMI series talks about being able to display a photo/image as a primitive object.  On the HMI G3 series that must use Crimson 2.0.   The photo must be stored on the installed Compact Flash, using a command line utility program called "makepic".   The manual mentions most of the steps required; but, like so many "instructions", the Devil is in the details.

    I need a little help to launch this user program .. kind of a "tutorial"   Because I'm not really good with Command Line processes.    Yes. Crimson 2.0 is dated stuff, and Crimson 3.0 is awesome.. and it's very easy to use pictures on your HMI with C3  (been there done that :-)

    I'm new to C2 ..  an' didn't appreciate what can happen if you purchase a RedLion G3 on eBay, without checking first if it can be configured with C3 ..DUH.  

    I just need the starting steps to launch makepic"  Thanks much, Regards, Michael

    Crimson_User_Manual_-_C2_Manual_for_G3_operator_interfaces_and_Data_Station_Plus__English_-_Rev_12__6468KB_pdf.jpg


  16. Thanks to many people on this forum, and automation engineers in in several countries, not evolved with this forum, I have been able to almost finish a long project which uses the NJ and an NA HMI to manage LinMot linear motors.  However, Omron doesn't seem interested in working with LinMot .. Omron already has their own linear motors.  LinMot isn't real interested in the Omron systems controlling their drives and motors, they have a relationship with Rockwell.   In spite of this, the two systems do work well with each other, both Ethernet/IP and EtherCAT LinMot Drives will interface with the NJ, even while also using Omron Drives and motors at the same time.      There is no one in the Omron court that I know, which builds machines using LinMot ... soooo, I'm asking the forum for any contact information of someone you know, that does.  Thanks much,   Regards, Michael Lambert

    PS: this is a bit dated .. but it shows one early application:   https://www.youtube.com/embed/B0UGm9JTw3U?rel=0


  17. It seems to be working fine ... sort-of  

    However It isn't stopping the actuator when there's a following error.. and the servo is being turned off too when there's a fault.  That might be the problem.. Ya gotta have the servo on in order to stop the slider.  Then turn it off "only" if the slider is stopped.  It should take only a millisecond to stop the thing.   As of this time.. problem is not resolved.

      There might be good support at LinMot now that there is an Omron Automation engineer there.  He gave me the same solution IO did about a day after IO posted his reply.

    I didn't expect a solution from LinMot, and was quite surprised .. I believed this was a Omron NJ problem... or, a problem with my program, and the communication between the LinMot drive and the NJ.   

    So far, following errors are tending to slam the slider into the hard stop, as a solution to an error.   That doesn't happen with the Delta Motion,  motion controller... it just stops the slider instantly, when there's an important error.

    Will get back to you & IO when I figure out what's going on... thanks.

    One more thing.. sometimes the  MC_ImmediateFault is activated and the LinMot Drive is left ON!  So much for stopping the Drive.

    I'm thinking this Function Block has no effect on the LinMot drive..the only thing that is stopping the drive is when there is the eventual error caused by a programming error in the  NJ, and the result being the slider slamming into the hard stop.. now you have a "drive error"... and the drive shuts off.


  18. IO  ...Thanks again    I had to search to figure out why I didn't find it the first time.  So much of the Omron manuals provide information in a minimal, intuitive nature.  I understand .. when you have a 1700 page manual, fewer words can be beneficial if you are going to print the thing; however, today it really doesn't matter how large the manual is.  17,000 pages if fine, a computer doesn't care .. and you have a "search" routine to find anything fast.

    The "problem" is me .. I'm not an automation engineer, but I play one in my lab ... and with the help of good, understanding people on this forum, and others, I will soon complete a project that took several years to optimize.

    so, the solution is simply this?:

    MC_ImmediateStop.jpg.e8c541973f237965d8f

    Perhaps I'll add those "Stp_Err" and "Stp_Ca" .. thanks to your latest explanation, can't hurt.    My machine will be run by humans, nothing automatic about it .. what could go wrong!


  19. This looks like the only Omron source of info on this subject: Pages 10-19 to 10-22 of Omron manual W507 CPU Unit ..Chapter 10, Sample programming: Stopping an axis during single axis operation:

    5a5698ecc74a2_AdobeReaderScreenSnapz008.

    You can see the 'FaultHandler" Program at the top .. activated by MC_Axis000.MFaultLvl.Active  (which is TRUE when there's a minor fault level for axis 0)

    As IO_Rack says .. It's a user program .. you just do whatever you want when there's a fault ..  But, it's not what is at the bottom of this example program .. which is more what IO_Rack is talking about, only the use of MC_Stop and MC_ImmediateStop is still involved at this program's end .. and is separate from the "FaultHandler" line.   (which is "Device" related)

    Because I already use MC_Stop in my programs,  I find this example very confusing because MC_ImmediateStop is shown linked to MC_Stop's "Stp_Err" and "Stp_Ca"

    OK..unless someone says otherwise, I will just connect MC_Axis000.MFaultLvl.Active  to the Execute input of IMD_STP .. that will be my "FaultHandler"

    I just got a similar suggestion from LinMot support, with the additional consideration of Axis settings: "Other Operation" and "Limit Settings" need some attention.     Thanks all... Regards, Michael


  20. Thanks for the reply IO

    Duh!  I get it!    I'm just too used to the machine providing all the programming, and i just select the little blocks and paste them into ladder diagrams ... (actually, I have quite a bit os ST in my wave tank programs.   Now that you mention it ... it should have been obvious.  There must be a "Best Practices in programming" somewhere in their thousands of pages, and hundreds of manuals ... I think they did a good job for the beginnings of programs, but not so good for ending them.    For the moment, I'll assume I just missed it.  Thanks again for the wise solution.. :-)    Regards, Michael