theripley

Theo V., Thanks for replying. What does an OPC server do? And why is it needed to connect to the power cc scada?

Here's some details: 1.) Client has a existing SCADA - spectrum power cc integrated by a huge foreign technical team. They requested for some additional control on selected equipment - like scheduling of ON/OFF operation. However, the huge foreign technical team takes too long to respond. Usually takes 6 or more months before the project is finished. 2.) Hence, they contacted a local technical team to give them what they need - the equipment scheduling. 3.) We inspected and found out that the selected equipment were linked to the existing SCADA system - siemens through Modbus protocol. I don't do siemens, so I propose to: a. Disconnect the selected equipment to the existing SCADA. b. Use a PLC-HMI to control the scheduling. -------> Insert comment on the above solution<-------------- 4.) It end up, client wanted two options: a. Use Mitsubishi PLC-HMI and isolate the scheduling of the selected equipment. b. Use Mitsubishi PLC for control but HMI will be on the existing SCADA. 5.) Of course, my life would be easier if I propose a, however, I wanted to provide them both options. So, I contacted someone who does siemens. The siemens guy said he can do it. But, I cannot find any reference on google how it can be done. I am quiet skeptical about this siemes guy because it is the first time that I will be working with him. I am not quiet confident on his commitmment, and I might end up jeopardizing this whole deal. Again, can I connect Mitsubishi PLC to siemens spectrum power cc system? Please help. Thanks a lot.

Hi. I have been "googling" about connecting a Mitsubishi PLC to Siemen's SCADA platform - spectrum power cc. However, there is very limited (to almost zero) reference I can get my hands with. Has anybody have information whether I can connect a Q series Mitsubishi PLC to this SCADA platform? Thanks a lot.

Hi Nightfly, Please see my reply below in red: 1.) What are you going to do with the data you have captured? --> Data will be saved in a database, which will be retrievable also. 2.) How will the data recorded in the database be presented to the user? What about visualising and searching the data you have captured? do you need by date or batch, or good vs bad, per day or batch etc? What about printing and saving to excel or pdf etc? is this a requirement. --> I presume it will be in a tabulated format. However,this is a gray area on this project, as it was not clearly discussed during the meeting. But on my prespective, I would want it to show data per batch, per day & per status (Good or NG). 3.) How will the "lists" created on the computer be transferred to the HMI? I presume there would not need to be any technical knowledge required to do this. For example a user just enters the details within a form presses a save button etc. And it appears on the HMI. --> Yes, exactly as you say. It has to be very simple that non-technical personnel may be able use it without "even thinking". 4.) Will the PC in the office be used for anything else other than data capture? --> The PC will not be exclusively use for this function only.

Hi Gambit, Thanks for your reply. This is a new set-up, meaning no hardware is installed as of this time.

Hi. I am making new system design for an automotive plant. They wanted a system that will monitor the output of their production line, like how many NG or Good parts. They wanted to save all data in a computer located in the office (around 100 m from the production line). I made a simple flow for the requirement, please see attached file. On the computer side, I am thinking of using an SCADA software to manage data coming in & out, however, I think it's an overkill. Maybe a simple MX works will do, I am not sure since I have yet made a system like this before. Please advise me what is the most econimical/ simple solution for this. Please share your expertise. Presentation3.pdf

Thanks JRoss. Btw, how long have you been using Mitsubishi PLC? Is it your personal preference?

Have anyone heard of AdvancedHMI? Have you used it to interface with Mitsubishi PLC?

I have read that MX components supports vba, visual basic & c++. Does it support .net applications as well?

This MX components is the library for the sdk this client is requiring? I just have to buy it & give it to the computer programming team. Is that all?

Hi. A new client have a requirement for an automated system, which involves plc programming & computer programming (for automatic inventory system). They wanted us to do the plc programming (easy for us), and they hired a separate team for the computer programming. The computer programming team requires us to do an sdk so they can link our program to their inventory system. I have never tried it before, but I am sure someone in here knows a lot about it. Please enlighten me about this sdk-making-scenario. Thank you.

Follow-up question: How will I be able to enter 25.3 to PLC? Say, I entered a value of 25.3 thru HMI, I wanted that real value to be on the PLC. > If my numerical display on HMI has a data type of BIN with 2 decimal value, 25.3 will be 253. > If my numerical display on HMI has data type of Real, 25.3 will be 26214. What is 26214? Please help.

THIS IS AN UPDATE. I was reading through the program and here's what I found out: 1.) (PIC_1) Numerical display (ex. D1100) on touch panel are BIN, though the display format is in Decimal. 2.) (PIC_2) The BIN data is then converted to ASCII by DSTR function (D1100 --> D400). This ASCII code is separated into byte units (D401 --> D247). 3.) (PIC_3) This is the RS communication instruction that has got me confuse. The read address of send data is D40 - D79 (K39), while receive data is not being used. However, I cannot find any instruction linking D247 to D40, which keeps me wondering how did the data from D247 was sent to the ICON panel. 4.) (PIC_4) This is another confusing part. How did the data sending switches from Icon panel no. 1 & no.2? Please help me. PIC_1.pdf PIC_2.pdf PIC_3.pdf PIC_4.pdf

Looks like there was no attachment on this post. Sorry, my bad. Here is the attachment, in case it's still necessary.BROTHER (2).pdf

(Note: Existing set-up as shown in the picture) On a production monitoring system, an HMI is used to set-up parameters (i.e. target quantity, timing, etc.) on a monitoring board (ICON Panel). Both PLC & HMI are Mitsubishi, with the corresponding models, FX3U-32MT-ES/A & GT11 series. The monitoring board (ICON Panel) can accept only ASCII code, so the PLC program conforms to this requirement. The system was working well; however, the user wanted to change the timing from 25 sec to 25.00 sec. When the timing was changed, it was apparent that the clock is not synchronized. The timer was delayed when a 2-digit-with-2-decimal-point system is used but works well when 2-digit system. I was wondering what may have caused this error: is it the baud rate; do I need to speed it up?