Chris Elston

LOL...why am I always the one to do this crap first. Hahahaha... Here is the CIP SPEC I found, so I know it's real, just no information how to configure it yet. I have a ticket started with AB, but no reply yet. The maximum size of the MR request and MR response packet items in the SendRRData command is 504 bytes (the maximum size on Ethernet/IP), to ensure that a UCMM message can traverse all the links in a CIP network path. Devices may support the Large_Forward_Open service (see Volume 1, Chapter 3) to allow more efficient access to large application data sizes. and also: Connection Size The CIP connection size shall be no larger than 65511 bytes. NOTE: The Forward_Open request limits the connection size to 511 bytes; however, the optional Large_Forward_Open allows larger connection sizes. In most all of Allen Bradley documents, they just round it to 500 bytes.

Not getting anywhere with this, but I found this note: Does anyone know what this feature is?   The devices to be used must support Large Forward Open (optional CIP specification) For EtherNet/IP, the maximum data size must be at least 704 words per connection in cyclic communication.

As pcm said, if you have flash card, power down the unit and insert it into the back of the PV. Power back up. You'll need to access the "SHUT DOWN SCREENS". Someone can look up how to access that if you do not have a secret icon to get to this menu... This is IMPORTANT...for this method to WORK, the destination panel view must have the same FIRMWARE as the SOURCE. In my example, my PV is firmware 11.0. So I am going to take the MER file from a firmware 11.0 and put it on another Panel View with firmware 11.0. I can not take a MER from a firmware 11 to a firmware 10.0 panel view for example..it won't load. Once you get to the shut down screens follow this menu.   Select TERMINAL SETTINGS   Then File Management   Then Copy Files   The Copy Applications   I don't have a FLASH CARD installed, but if you did, you would see the "External Source" highlight. Copy the MER FILE to the flash card. And do the same to transfer it to the new panel view. Remember the FIRMWARE VERSION. When it boots up, you can see the firmware version or at the top bar see first picture.  

Ok, found a weird problem that I can't find any tech connect tickets or posts that solve my problem. Looking for other ideas. What I got going on is I am trying to register an EDS file. I use the EDS Wizard and I pick a single EDS file. It goes through the wizard just fine and acts like it completed the EDS file installation, but when I go to RS Linx or look for the AOP profile, it is not listed. I've tried to run the EDS Wizard as administrator. I've uninstalled RSLinx 4.10 and reinstalled. I've reboot my PC afterwards. I still can not get the EDS profile to show up.  It was WORKING at one time. I have a project where I setup the EDS AOP just fine, then something broke it, and now when I open an old project, it says this: <EDS not registered> Where at one time it was registered but now it's missing from the EDS library pick list and I can't reinstall it. I have tried using the AOP pick list in: RSLogix5000 version 20 Studio5000 version 32 Same...it's missing.

Yeah I know. The controller that is attached to the NJ is a EIP SLAVE. The EIP registers are only INTs. It can process a REAL number across two INTS with no decimal point. It's the design of the EIP slave attached, so you write a 15000 in the two INTS and it interprets that as 150.00 mm of course using two INTS (like a double), you get larger that the 32,000 or 320.00 mm number...

Not being an expert in Omron yet...I have some code I am porting over from Allen Bradley 5000 to an NJ CPU. I have a rung in AB that I am using a COP function. What it's doing is a taking a 32-bit REAL (no decimal point) and copying that into two 16-bit INT registers. I can't seemed to find a way to do that in Omron.  I tried to a CopyRealtoDWORD then a DWORD to INT, but the double word to a single INT doesn't copy right.  Any suggestions?

Here is how I solved it. FINALLY...took awhile to find what I wanted as far as function blocks.  

Have not tried that, but might work better to use the CopyRealtoNum...looks alot better. Ok so now I have that in DINT format, how do I copy the 32-bit DINT into two consecutive INTs? The place the number is going is 16-bit memory so I need to split the DINT into two INTs.  

Still working on the Allen Bradley conversion to Omron NJ project...has proven to be alot harder than I thought. This time I have an TAG which is an INT, that I want to map to the first 8 bits of an ARRAY of BOOLs TAG_INT (int) to TAG_ARRAY of 0-96 BOOL TAG_INT.0 = TAG_ARRAY[0] TAG_INT.1 = TAG_ARRAY[1] TAG_INT.2 = TAG_ARRAY[2] TAG_INT.3 = TAG_ARRAY[3] TAG_INT.4 = TAG_ARRAY[4] TAG_INT.5 = TAG_ARRAY[5] TAG_INT.6 = TAG_ARRAY[6] TAG_INT.7 = TAG_ARRAY[7] In Allen Bradley, you can refer to a INT by bit numbers with a DOT (then bit number), it seems Omron doesn't like that. There doesn't seem to an INTtoARRAYofBITS function, but there is an ARRAYtoBIT function. Any suggestions with this one?

What would be the best instruction for me to use in Omron Sysmac to act like a FLL (File FILL) command in Allen Bradley? I have a Tag that is TAG_NAME ARRAY[0..95] OF BOOL I would like to set bit (array) 17 through 95 "ZERO" or "FALSE" with one function block. Set 80 bits FALSE? TAG_NAME[16] through TAG_NAME[95]  = 0?  

Is there a manual or guide for Sysmac much like one that was made for CX Programmer? Here is the version of the manual I am referring too, I wonder if there was one for Sysmac Studio somewhere. http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?/files/file/308-cx-programmer-ver5-introduction-to-function-blocks-guide-r121-e1-01/

I am not sure if you guys can, but if you mark them as a SPAMMER, "ALL of their posts" become hidden at that point. I've been trying to delete them as they get reported. I know Mark does a good job reporting. Thank you Mark!

I wanted everyone to be aware of a recent change from Rockwell Automation. You may already be aware that RA now requires you to have a tech connect contract to view certain protected documents in the RA knowledge base. If you are helping another member and referencing documents in the knowledgebase, here are a few pointers. What is ALLOWED is to post a link to the tech connect document in your post. You can point the user to the correct document they need to help them. If the user you are helping has a knowledge base account, and the document is not protected by tech connect, they will be able to read it. If the document is protected, and they do not have a tech connect contract, well there is not much we can do to help. What is NOT ALLOWED any more is the direct attachment of the PDF, DOC, or any other form of direct copy and paste of the document you found to help the user. Basically at that point, you the poster, and we MrPLC are hosting copyrighted material. What you ARE ALLOWED to do is read the document, and in your own words paraphrase what you read. This way we aren't copyrighting the information. Explain the information in your own words to help the user. I know this requires more effort on the "helper" in this case and it would be easier to attach the PDF to the post and be done with it. I know this is a pain. One other option is we are pondering the idea of some agreement with Rockwell and MrPLC, I personally haven't come up with any suggestions yet. If you have a good agreement or marketing trade off idea that you think is a good sell to Rockwell that can benefit us both, PM me. Rockwell knows our intentions, "helpers on the site", and moderators are GOOD, we mean no harm and that we want to help people in need. They have just asked us to follow their new rules. Mind you this is a recent change, though we haven’t really enforced it much until now with the recent change to tech connect contracts required. I hope you all understand we aren't keeping anything away from the users, we just have to now watch closer any protected copyright information we accidentally post. Protected now with the recent change in the Tech Connect required to view certain support documents in the knowledge base. If your a new user asking for help, you can help us by doing two things: 1. Sign up a FREE Rockwell Automation knowledge base account. 70% of the links posted, you just need to sign in, and you can download and read the document. 2. Pay for a Tech Connect contract and link it to your free knowledgebase account. Then you should be able to see anything anyone links to. Thanks for reading.

What would be an application for a scale with parameters? Like a LIMIT? Say if I wanted to limit only 0 through 100 percent of a analog signal which would be say, 6000 = 0 and 24000 = 100, but scaled lineraly, is that what you would use a scale with parameters function block for? Haven't used it yet looks like a great tool for that reason maybe.

I am running a Windows 2003 R2 Server with RS Bizware, Historian, and Plantmetric installed. I've got a basic report setup. I created four device short cuts in Factory Talk. Two of them are Compact Logix One is a ML11000 and the last one is a pain in the rump... A SLC 5/03 connected DF1, to a NET-ENI module. I had the connection to the SLC 5/03 this morning, but I've lost it...and now I can seem to get Historian to see the device short cut I've created. I've got the device short cut created in Factory Talk, and it point to "holding and highlighting" the NET-ENI module ICON, but when I got into Historian, I only see THREE PLCs, instead of FOUR that I created in Factory Talk. Is there some issue with RS Enterprise not able to talk to a NET-ENI ? SLC 5/03? I had it working this morning, then now it's gone. I've rebooted the servers twice, rebooted the NET -ENI. I can browse the NET -ENI using internet explorer, I can PING the NET -ENI, I can go online with the SLC 5/03 using RS Linx Classic, and RS 500...but for whatever reason, I've got that short cut created in Factory Talk under RS Enterprize, and Historian nor Plantmetric can see or will allow me to drill down into the PLC like it does for the Compact Logix PLCs. I can configure tags to the TWO compact Logix, and the ONE ML1100, no problems... What gives? I can get some screen shots maybe tomorrow.

It's getting harder for me to keep up to date on new innovations in the industry, but this week I was at a Neff Expo in New Jersey and I saw this Murr Mico Pro. Is anyone else using this product in their panel builds instead of traditional circuit breakers or fuse block holders for 24 VDC protection? Looks like a really neat product to try. https://www.murrelektronik.com/products-p/detail/electronics-in-the-cabinet/mico-proR.html

I don't know much about Omron and DDE, but I do remember this download here getting posted: http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?act=Downl...&CODE=02&id=222 Did you check that out? Seems like it might be what your looking for.

This is my FAVORITE TOOL in my backpack. http://www.midbittech.com/ Shark-Tap It works with Wire Shark no problems. I have solved alot of problems with this, from Ethernet/IP, to ASCII over Ethernet, to Modbus commands, to just about anything that passes through my Shark-Tap box.

So I was wondering what other people do... Do you ground your 24VDC common of your power supply to earth ground as well as run a common wire out? Just curious what other people do and why? Would you if you had analog devices? Would you if you had cheap VFDs?

Is there any new software out there that can connect to QTY (16) Compact Logix PLCs via EIP, and setup a nice dashboard from each PLC a few tags that a person can hit an internal ip address to view the dash board, and then can that data be saved to an excel sheet or written to an excel template? Just wondering if anyone has developed some new stuff that can do that.

File Name: Dialing a Cell Phone with a Micrologix 1500 using a Modem Attached File Submitter: chakorules File Submitted: 6 Sep 2004 File Category: PLC Sample Code This wasn’t a normal “job” per say but more like helping our machinist staff from babysitting the Japax Wire EDM machine. For those of you that don’t know a wire EDM can take a long time to make cuts in a part sometimes. There was a part that we made t Click here to download this file

Has anyone found an "OK" drawing software that is FREE that works for electrical drawings and can generate DXF or DWGs? I am trying to recommend some software to some kids I know that want to start to learn how to draw. I know AutoDesk offers educational software versions, but we both are looking for something a little bit lighter weight out there. Any recommendations you guys have stumbled upon?

Does anyone know if there is a firmware or hardware compatibly issues with producer / consumer tags? I've run into an issue where a newer PLC (version 28.0) works fine with Producer / Consumer tags, however and older (version 16.0) PLC doesn't seemed to want to work. I am trying to chase down the firmware trail and see if there is a compatibly matrix or hardware matrix somewhere that lists some limits or "not support" somewhere. Is anyone aware of such a thing?

Ken and Joe. Thanks. Ken, good pointer what to check.

I've got some questions about Cognex Modbus. one question is Cognex the other a GE PLC.... I've posted before about my Cognex and GE PLC Modbus journey, I've got this working with the Cognex modbus sample I downloaded from Cognex support. It was pleasantly easy to do this. No ladder logic required if you want to write register values from the Cognex camera to the PLC. In my application, I want the camera to write X,Y,theta information into some registers within the GE PLC at the end of the inspection, this works good for me. The Cognex sample does this just great. I have one question and one problem, or maybe I need an explanation of what I am doing wrong. question #1: I don't understand the 2-byte thing that Cognex is formatting for the Modbus protocol. The whitepaper published by Cognex, InSightModbus.doc states QUOTE: We will need to send the register address over as two bytes. So if the register you want to write to/read from is register 100 then this would be written as: The upper byte of the reference address: 100/256 The lower byte of the reference address: Mod(100,256) So if we were reading from a reference address 100 using FC16, the byte8 would be: 100/256 = 0.391 And byte 9 would be: Mod(100,256) = 100 For hex this value would be 0x64 for byte 8. Byte 9 would contain 0. END QUOTE: The actual command in question is: QueryDevice(I30,$A$18,0,0,0,0,0,17,0,0x10,E30/256,Mod(E30,256),0,5,10,J32,K32,L32,M32,N32,O32,P32,Q32,R32,S32) E30 cell contains 100 assume in the above example. 0x10 defines Function Code 16 per the modbus protocol: Modbus_Application_Protocol_V1_1a.pdf My thinking is if I was going to write 100 over two bytes, the lower byte would be 4 and the upper would be 96. 0110 0100 I don't understand this spreadsheet math of taking the register number and dividing it by 256 to get 0.391 for the lower byte. Exactly what does that mean or do in the Cognex? Then using the register number with a Mod(100,256) function, using that for the upper byte. Can someone explain this theory? problem #1: While getting this Cognex to work, I was able to write to registers in my GE PLC using a CMM321 ethernet interface which supports Modbus. According to the GE manual gfk1541b.pdf in Appendix E defines the modbus mapping registers to registers in my GE PLC. If I write to modbus address 29185 from the Cognex camera, Appendix E in the GE manual indicates, the value should end up in register %R1. (which is like an integer location) This is NOT the case, the value is written to %R2. It's offset by one. It's not really a big deal now that I know that. That's why I am trying to understand the packet being sent from the Cognex to the GE PLC trying to troubleshoot this on my own. I figured if I could grasp the packet information, I could find out if there is an error in the Cognex sample or maybe the Appendix E from GE is a mis-print. Thanks for any information on these two issues. InSightModbus.doc gfk1541b.pdf modbus_sample.zip Modbus_Application_Protocol_V1_1a.pdf