andybr

In SE VBA can only run on a client and not on a server and is attached to a specific display object. We handle this by running a "hidden" display behind the main background on one of our clients. Each VBA sub is triggered by an object on this display. For instance the object could be a numerical display with the VBA triggered on any change or an expression can be entered causing the VBA to be triggered at a specific time interval. It is clunky but it works OK and is reliable. We did this to accommodate quite a lot of old VBA code when we migrated from RSView32 to Factory Talk View SE.

I am not in the USA and not governed by NEC requirements but I do not like to see anything including (and especially) drawings/manuals stored in panels. This is because most of the major modes of failure that occur in panels are quite capable of destroying the items stored inside them which you might well need to repair the damage. In my experience these modes of failure tend to be:- i) Water ingress - self explanatory. ii) Arcing which can coat stored parts in carbon and sputtered copper. iii) Fire, again self explanatory. My point is that it may or may not be against code but you should think about the wisdom of doing it anyway.

One other consideration would be that in some circumstances it is desirable/necessary to open both valves at the same time. This will have the effect of locking the cylinder in more or less its current position. This is sometimes safer than dumping the air in the event of a problem.

Unfortunately our security software does not like GX Developer projects so I cannot attach an example in that format but I have copied the relevant code from an old Medoc print file and this might help if you read it in conjunction with the manual.   Mits_A_DeviceNet_Code.docx

I have not used a DeviceNet module with a Q Series PLC but for an A Series system you could set up the module entirely within the PLC code so there was no need for EDS files etc. The Mitsubishi DeviceNet modules were made by Hilscher and their configuration software was subject to an annual licence renewal so using the PLC programme was a common way to set these modules up. It was a bit lengthy but straightforward enough and I still have systems working with it after 15+ years which have never been any trouble. The required code was detailed in the DeviceNet module manual.

If you are using the standard ascii instructions you can just set an appended character on the user protocol tab of the controller properties dialogue. '$r' is the entry for carriage return. This is very common when setting up comm's with simple devices.

An X Ray system is normally used to detect high density foreign bodies in low density materials like foodstuffs. If your mirror is made from glass then its density will be much higher than that of the rubber so I doubt that you will be able to reliably detect the rubber part. Okie's suggestion is good though and a supplier of this type of machinery should be able to give you a quick answer as to the suitability for your application. You should also understand, however, that these machines are not like a normal camera and will include substantial shielding to protect the operators. It is also necessary in the UK to have a suitably trained and certified person on site to be responsible for radiology equipment so using this type of system is not something to take lightly.

Endress and Hauser have recently been pushing a hybrid Guided Radar/Capacitive solution for interface measurement but I think this is aimed primarily at oil/water interfaces. Still it may be worth talking to them. One thing to be wary of, however, is that you are not really looking at a solid in water. In your case you are trying to measure the level of salt in saturated brine which may not work well with many instruments. The actual interface may also be difficult to pin down as the salinity will probably cause stratification in the liquid above the salt.

Microcomputer programmes for Mitsubishi A Series PLC's were sub programmes written in 8086 Assembler and were generally used for calculations/tasks which were not possible using the PLC instruction set (these plc's did not support floating point maths, PID and many other functions which are now commonplace). These programmes were created using something like the DOS Debug command and called from the ladder programme using the SUB instruction. The constant in the SUB instruction is the allocated memory address for the start of the Assembled programme and the preceding MOV instruction loads the required data. The data in your application looks as if it contains ASCII which could be used to construct a message for transmission via the AD71 card. Unfortunately I do not know of any way to convert the compiled programmes in the PLC back into assembler. I would suggest that you look at the actual machine/system and try to work out what is missing from the ladder logic so you can recreate it in your new system.

Carplet. Special functions for the F Series included all arithmetic instructions, high speed counter instructions and data movement instructions. They were entered by turning on a series of "coils" for addresses F670 upwards each of which had a constant attached to determine its precise use. This system would seem bizarre nowadays but was quite powerful at the time. The Fx series had a "proper" instruction set so there was no trace of the old system left. I am not sure what Medoc would do if asked to convert the old instructions into FX instructions and unfortunately I have no way of trying to find out at the moment

Crossbow. You just prompted me to ask whether it is possible to convert an F1/F2 programme to FX if it contains any special function instructions. I have never tried this but it doesn't seem likely.

I am not sure about this since I have not seen the F2-232GF before but it looks like this is for a direct RS232 connection to the PC and you therefore do not need the SC02N (which is a 232-422 converter). If you use the cable pinout in the manual you posted and make sure that Medoc is configured correctly the system should work though you may need to change the Medoc settings if you are not using the SC02N.

Ken. I can only speak for their UK operation but I have always found IDC to be good for this type of training. It goes without saying that the student must have the required basic skills to start the course. In my experience trying to train people without the basic mathematical skills in PID is a waste of time. This course seems to be available in the US. http://www.idc-online.com/training_courses/instrumentation/?code=PL%20%20%20%20&country=United+Kingdom

Have you considered using a MicroLogix (1400?) at each remote site rather than the Flex. This needs less connections and allows you to have "Local" control in the event of comms failures.

The .tge files are tag groups which are edited using the Tag Group Editor (logically). This can be opened from the "Apps" menu in Draw.