Mrclk

Need help! I am using a CLX controller and a flex I/O rack with analog and digital inputs. There are two analog input output cards already configured on the network with seven available input channels. I am trying to connect a analog pressure switch with a 4-20 MA signal to one of these analog cards. The analog card catalog number is 1794-IE4XOE2/B. The scanner catalog number is 1756-DNB/A. This card is a 4 analog Input 2 analog Output combined I/O unit. I am already using input channel 2 for a pressure switch feedback. My question is, how do I map any of the three left channels to the controllogix for it to read this new pressure switch? I went to the configuration screen on RS Networks and attempted to remap this channel to a Data word on the PLC. I am not that familiar with Devicenet and wanted to get some expert advice before I go any further. Attached find a couple of screen shots ilustrating my current scanner configuration for this card and the PLC tags. Currently I am getting data to word I2 [25], I would like to configure channel 3 of the same card to word I2 [26]. Is this possible? According to the scanner setup this word is already mapped however I get no read out when the miliamp signal is connected to the channel terminal. thanks Joe

Well, what I did was create a shortcut for the touchscreen to go to the "Target" RIO configuration which contains the setup I imported from the old application. This file is called "project Name".xml and it contained the rack and the read and write transfer blocks. When adding a RIO driver it asks you to name the driver, define the jumper ID and Baud Rate. I matched these to the original application. I also had to change the controller type on properties from a 5/80 integral to a 5/40 integral which is what we have. I looked around the the terminal communication configuration and found the RIO driver. The only two options I have are Jumper ID and Baud Rate, which have already been setup on the .apa application I spoke to rockwell support and they mentioned that a very important thing to take into cosideration is the blue hose pinout on the 1250 plus. They said it could be different than the 1400e. Long and behold, the pinout is backwards between pins 2 and 3. The machine is running right now so I can't really test it to see if this will work. I will swap wires 2 and 3 on the blue hose and test it as soon as I have a chance.

Here is what I got so far: I uploaded the PVD file from the 1400E terminal using panelbuilder 1400E. I then converted the .PVD file into an .PVC file by doing a Save As with PB 1400E. Then I tried to convert the file using RSViewStudio M.E. version 3.2. The file converted; however, the graphics were poor and about 120 object properties were not supported. I called Rockwell and they recommended that we upgraded our software to version 5.0 which better supports this type of migrations. So we did. We upgraded to Factory Talk View Studio version 5.0. Once again imported the PVC file and this time the graphics came out a little better. However, There were about 10 errors still showing on the import log. Keypads were converted into buttons and some of the bit tags were converted to memory tags etc.... WE decided to give it a go to see how the whole thing would look on the new screen and how it would act. Converted the APA file into a .mer file and tried to download into the touchscreen. Well the firmware in the touchscreen was 4.0 and I had imported the file with a version 5.0 so the screen would give us an incompatibility error. I tried to redo the runtime file this time choosing version 4.0 at the promp box. The system gave us another bunch of erros and it would not compile into a runtime file. So we had to update the firmware on the touchscreen. I downloaded the firmware from rockwell and installed it via ethernet using the ME Firmware Upgrade Wizard; I had to erase the runtime files in order to do the update whitout errors. With the firmware updated we were able to download the 5.0 Application. The application is now on the touchscreen; however, I cannot get the thing to communicate with the PLC. My Question is, How can I get the RIO communications properly configured? Update: Well, I ended up going back to version 3.2 on RSView Studio. I could not get the communications configuration to work on version 5.0. Everytime I clicked on the communication setup, and selected new, the computer would freeze up and that would be the end of it. Using version 3.2; the system generates a lot more errors most of them are graphical and can be edited on RS View. With this version however, I was able to get into the communication setup and import the XML file from the migration folder. All I had to do was create a short cut on for the PV to acces the local and target RIO configuration and named it PVRIO. Which is what their default for all their tag alliases is. The touchscreen still doesn't work. When I hook it up to the PLC it stays on the startup screen and does nothing. It will give a couple of comm errors at the beggining, as soon as I clear them, they go away and don't come back. The button that's supposed to take us to the main screen does nothing. Well it momentarily changes color but the screen doesn't change. We are hopping we don't have to send the application in to rockwell to get it changed. On a positive note, I have the rest of the year to get this thing to work!

Got it! The cable to use is a straight thru serial 9 pin. Pins connected are 2,3 and 5 on both ends. I uploaded using the transfer utility serial com1 protocol. I have the application from the 1400E. Next I will have to migrate it to 1250 Plus. Does anybody have any ideas on how this is done? I have a few screens to migrate and we are using RIO communication to a PLC5. I know I have to use RSView Studio ME. But that's as far as I gotten.

Isaias, Do you have a picture or drawing of the cable pinout?

What is the cable pinout used in order to talk to a panelview 1400e? I have panel builder 1400e on my laptop and the norm 9 pin serial conection on it. The panelview also has a 9 pin connector on it. Is this a regular serial connection? Do I need a null modem or a straight cable? Reading some of the posts, most everybody talks about a cable adaptor that goes from rs232 to 485 or 9 pin to 25 pin connection. Our panel view does not have the 25 pin connector, it only has a nine pin serial and a RIO connection. The catalog number on the panel view is 2711P-T12C6A1. We are looking into transfering the current program into a panelview plus 1250. I will definetly have more questions as we go along. Thanks in advance.

Thanks to everyone for their input! I was in the process of starting to implement produce and consume tags when I found out that the signal exchange between the two is already there and that its hardwired in. basically they have a 16 conductor cable running from panel 1 to panel 2. All I had to do was find empty outputs on side 1 and empty inputs on side 2. I understand that this limits the number of signals that can be exchanged, however; engineering wanted it done this way in order to avoid system failure due to ethernet comunication problems. Thanks again.

Question: I am trying to get a packaging machine to stop its infeed whenever there is an acumulation back-up at about 150 feet away from its discharge. The reason for this is that about 15 feet from the machines outfeed we have a spiral conveyor that runs our cases from the lower level floor to the second level mezannine. This conveyor keeps breaking due to overstreaching of the drivechain because of constant start and stop while fully loaded. In order to keep this machine running constantly we have to empty out all boxes from the system up to the front of the spiral conveyor. The way its setup right now is that the conveyors stop individually. As the accumulation backs up downstream conveyors stop. I am going to leave all these the way they are. For testing pourposes I would like to send a signal from the Case conveyor PLC to the Packer PLC. The question is, should I use produce and consume tags and have the case conveyor PLC tell the packer PLC when to open and close the infeed gate or should I use flex I/O uotputs from case conveyor as inputs on the packer? Both PLCs are in an ethernet network. If produce and consume tags are a good option can I get some guidance as to how to set the tags on the controllers and also setting up the I/O Config. I am thinking of using a couple of photoeyes that are allready on the conveyors one to shut the gate and another one a few feet downstream to open the gate once it starts seeing a gap between boxes. Any input will be appreciated! Thanks

The logic actually works. After I finished installing the hardware and put the logic together it took me a while to get the timing in zinc with the product. I still have to tie the logic into a button on a touch screen to turn the process on and off. attached is a screen shot of what I have so far.

This is a very good approach; the only problem is, the gaps between boxes sometimes are shorter than the box lenght. This would trigger both photoeyes not only by the open flaps but also by two boxes close together. Unless there is a different aproach to the logic. Something like a latch that would get engaged by the leading edge of the box and disengaged by the trailing edge to avoid counting two boxes as one. Any toughts?

Thanks I will finish installing the hardware and try this logic as soon as I can.

Ok, here I go again: I have a project in hand which consists of rejecting a box with open flaps off a conveyor belt. I have a roller conveyor on one side of the case conveyor and a pneumatic pusher on the other side. We have no encoder on the case conveyor so shift register is not duable unless it becames absolutely necessary. I spoke to a colleague and he suggested using a photoeye looking down at the box and tieing it ito a counter and also a greater than function. The case conveyor runs at a constant speed of 140 feet a minute. So he recommended to measure the leght of the box in time. Based on this measurement set source B on the greater than function, you know just a little bit longer than a closed box(box flaps are about 2.5 inches deep) whenever an open box goes by it will be about five inches longer and therefore trigger the photoeye for a few more miliseconds. When the value from the photoeye-triggered timer exceeds this value we would have a reject. After this we would have another timer giving us a delay before the box gets kicked out(I might do away from this by setting the delay mechanically via moving the photoeye closer to the air cylinder) and another off delay to hold the cylinder out long enough to push the box out. My problem is, I only have one input(which I will use for the photo eye)available on the 16 terminal input flex I/O module; therefore, in order to reset all those timers back to zero I woul have to use internal logic and this I am not very familiar with. I was wondering if this is actually duable and hoping someone could give me some input on this matter. Thanks in advance.

Thanks everybody for all the great ideas and information!

Thanks that sounds like a good plan. Do you have a layout of how all components could be mounted on a test bench unit? We have most of these components in hand, I just need to figure out a way to set them up nice and neatly on a work bench and make them work! I also wanted to ask. We are in the process of aquiring an oscilloscope, what unit would you recommend to use in this industrial type environment? Portability is a big factor, we want to be able to do in field troubleshooting. We were looking at a Fluke 124 Scope meter, what do you think?

Hi everyone: I am looking for some advice. I am currently working for a bottleling company. I am in charge of maintaining three production lines which are broken down to about 50 individual pieces of equipment. All of our PLCs are Allen Bradley. We have mostly control logix 5000s a few SLCs and I believe 1 PLC 5. We are running several different style HMIs in the plant. Most of the equipment is German made(Krones Inc.) and their HMIs are power panels made by B&R automation. We of course have American made machinery which uses Panel views 300 and 500s. We also have Italian made machines which use the newer version Panel views 1500+. On the more complex applications we have units running on Ifix and Wonderware. So there you are, we are using all allen bradley PLCs and a few different OIPs. In addition to PLCs and HMIs we also have servo drives, VFDs, sensors of many kinds, stand alone electronic controllers, laser coders, video jet printers and everything you can think of that can be used in the bottleling industry, well almost everything. The advice I am seeking from all you gurus is. keeping in mind that my office is not very big. I would like to set up a test bench which would include a PLC rack, a few lights, maybe a small air cylinder a drive a motor with position sensors and or an encoder, you know something to simulate an actual process. and a touch screen(more thatn likely a power panel). Is anyone have a similar set up that you work with. This unit would be in place mainly for instrument testing pourposes and tentativelly for training of new recruits. Any ideas will be appreciated.