Ken Moore

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Posts posted by Ken Moore


  1. I have used the Rockwell clock tool with PLC5/25's through a ethernetIP/DataHwy Bridge, so Micrologix should be a piece of cake.

    I used a one hour update and the PLC-5's via the gateway were off about 200 milliseconds, close enough for my task.

     

    BTW, I find the tool works best on a server class machine, it does not run as a service, so you can't log off and have it work, on a standard PC. 


  2. Many many years ago, I wanted a 286 luggable to program plc's. Management said no new computers. The desktops are all we need.

    So....I had the vendor quote me a PLC programmer, management approved.   If you can get funds for parts, and pieces, maybe you can get

    a new programming device. 

    1 person likes this

  3. What is the firmware of your CPU's?

    Are you creating a Multiproject, with both CPU's in the same project?

    Have you enabled S7 communication to the CPU?

    Enable S7 communication to the CPU
    With the S7-1200, enable S7 communication to the CPU in the CP. In order to
    release the function of S7 communication with the assigned CPU and the S7
    routing.
    If you configure an S7 connection that runs via the CP of the S7-1200, then you
    have to activate this option.
    1. In the Device view or Network view of the “Devices & networks” editor you
    mark the CP in the S7-1200.
    2. In the "General" tab, under "Communication types" you enable the "Enable S7 communication to the CPU.

     

     

    Also, in your DB's that you use for communication, make sure you disable "Optimized block access"


  4. Sounds like instead of inverting the action, you inverted the output, your loop is now set up to control a fail open valve instead of a fail closed valve.

    Not sure about the Cont_C block, but in other Siemens platforms, setting the gain to a negative value inverts the control action, (direct or reverse).


  5. Highlight the Omron DP symbol, usually when you add these type devices, you assign them memory addresses. Then you just use the addresses in your logic. The DP master takes care of the send/receive logic. The manual for the Omron I/O should have the I/O mapping you will need.


  6. Sorry, no help. I have never encountered Redundant S7-300's anywhere. Not sure it was ever supported. I know S7-400's were/still are supported, but they use special redundancy modules mounted on the CPU's.

    In the PCS7 world, you have to start your project as redundant, you cannot "convert" an existing simplex system to duplex controllers. 

    You can do a simple experiment, in Simatic manager, see if you can start a new redundant project with S7-300 controllers.


  7. Contact your Siemens person. Siemens has webserver package (Called Web Navigator), that you can setup via a firewall on a stand alone machine and allow your business people to view the process. Our business users have read only access.

    Siemens also has a historian and information server package that can use historical data to produce reports and such.

     


  8. Well...

    Sockets implies TCP/IP, but your S7-300 does not have a CP (ethernet) card so that is out.   There maybe vendors that have profibus gateways that speak "Omron", but I am not familiar with Omron, so can't say for sure.  One option would be to install a CP module on the S7-300 and then use a Redlion data station to pass data between the two. 

    Redlion speaks just about every protocol.

     

    1 person likes this

  9. There has to be a message block in one of the two processors. Either the PLC-5 is reading, or the CLX is writing.  Since when the PLC-5 was in it's prime, CLX's did not exist, it is easier to configure a write to a PLC-5. In the CLX program, open the controller tags, there is a column for data type, double click on it and it will sort by data type, then look for a MSG.

    Then, if you find a MSG, highlight the row, then right click and select cross reference to find where it's located in the logic.

     

    1 person likes this

  10. In today's market, all the big boys use NetSuite or SAP, you need built in hooks for those to compete with other middleware companies. 

    Plus your market is not going to be PLC/DCS programmers, your target is bean counters, and you should mention  to them that it integrates with most control systems via OPC.  They will not know what that means, but maybe they will ask the local control people.

    2 people like this

  11. I believe, by default, the switches freeze all traffic upon detection of a new connection. This is supposed to prevent issues caused by duplicate IP addresses.

    So...even though you are not using them as managed switches, you need to turn this feature off. .

    Assuming all 3 switches are networked together, when one unit is powered down, then up, the other connected switches freeze traffic for a few seconds. 


  12. At my last employer we did several APACS to Siemens PCS7 migrations.  ( I can give you contact information if you need it.)

    Siemens migrations allows you to keep the existing MTA's (Marshalling Termination Assembly).  But...sooner or later those MTA's are going to die a slow death too.

    But...We had a couple of customers that said  Siemens left a bad taste in their mouth. One went to Control Logix, and the other one Delta-V, had to rewire everything.

     

    Siemens bought Moore around 2000 or so, and stopped parts production in the last couple of years. Many folks are now looking to migrate.