Armadillo852

I assume you are using an HMI to turn on and off these pumps. This is how I would do it. This way you can turn on individual motors, or both motors. You can also turn off one motor or both motors. If indead this is being controlled by an HMI, then there is no way to push 2 buttons at once. And remember to ALWAYS use descriptions. PUMPS.bmp

I have a serial port on my laptop that works well. I have a question, does this Allen Bradley play nice with this pcmcia card? I know from the past AB did not like to share slots.

Ken, Here is what I need to do. Connect cell1 to Conveyors Connect cell2 to Conveyors Conveyors cell will talk to cell1 and cell2 This needs to be on 192.168.XXX.YYY network. Using a subnet of 255.255.0.0 On cell1 and cell2 network there are 17 powerflex drives or so, an HMI, 2 robots, a pilz safety PLC, and a bunch of Beckhoff ethernet i/o. Here is the catch. We only have a few IP addresses available to use. Like 15. Also, the plc ethernet card goes to a standard switch. Which we have 4 8 port standard switches. I will attach the IP sheet. CC667_Ethernet_IP_Profinet_Address.xls

Ok all, I feel like an idiot, but for some reason I cannot get this working. I have 2 robot cells, a conveyor cell, and a stretch wrapping cell. The wrapper is using a compact logix. Don't care about that one for now. All others are using a 1756-L61 Rev 17 PLC. With 1756-EN2T rev 2.0 ethernet cards. I am trying to communicate from robot 1 to the conveyors. From robot 2 to the conveyors. Eventually from conveyors to wrapper. I need to use messaging and not produced and consumed tags. Yes I know, I see the eyes rolling and hear the pfff's and sighs. I have my ethernet cable run from robot 1 to conveyors. IP address of robot 1 153.0.0.1 IP address of conveyors 153.0.20.1 PLC's are in slot 0 Ethernet is in slot 1 I added the ethernet cards of the opposite sides to the ethernet tree. It appears that they are communicating because I do not get the yellow triangle. But no data is being passed back and forth. I added the CIP message read and write to the conveyors. I have the comm type set up for rack optimization. But still no data. Any ideas?

This may be an obvious answer, but for some reason I cannot figure it out. Over the weekend the plant I am working at changed the IP addresses of the PLC, Robot, and Panelview Plus 1500P. The reason........ IT wanted it changed. (I see your eyes rolling, and I also heard the sigh's.) Well now, every time we boot the HMI up, we get an error about the activation and the 7 day grace period thing. Never had this before. We are using dongles. If I go into the FT Tools>>Get Activations tab>> The "Use host ID of this computer" is always checked. If I change it to "Use host of a dongle," and close it down, it reverts back to the use host id of this computer. It will recognize the dongle is there. The activations wizzard does not work. AB tech support says it is a bad dongle. However these worked before and I doubt there is 3 bad dongles. Also, we do have in the start-up menu a batch file we run to not have the factory talk ME boot up right away to allow the dongle to boot up first. I am sure I am missing something here.

I agree it looks neat, but you still need access from the outside. So this is really no different than accessing say an AB PanelView Plus 1500P. As long as you have a VPN connection, you can connect. I am sure the cost is cheaper than the AB model. Other than that, I see no advantage myself. However, I may order one to fool around with in the shop.

I have had this same problem when updating the GLX, CLX partner PLC's using a USB to serial adapter. As far as the I/O not responding, it could really be anything. Drives, HMI, anything else on that network.

Glad it helped. Glad you got it working.

I will send you some pics for your viewing to help.

If the key switch isn't an option, then the only thing to do is user levels and use the animation feature to make the buttons visible based on user levels. We have a customer that I am doing that for right now because they found it too much of a hassle to call maintenance over there. Instead they are giving the line leader a username and password. Not hard to do and works ok until the password gets out, then you are back to the same thing.

Exactly how I have always done it. It is also the safest way to make sure the password doesn't get out or else you are in the same boat as before.

We use the following address in our PLC for some strange reason: 153.0.0.1 Is there a way to setup a wireless router to communicate with this PLC using this address? Otherwise I am going to need a 200' cable to reach or do a lot of walking. It is a 1756-L61 processor with an ENBT/A ethernet card. Thanks, Corey

You are right. My fingers went faster then my brain did. The subnet is 255.255.0.0 Here is a copy of the IP address I got from our parent company. The phoenix router is a managed switch because we have the drives on a seperate network. CC667_Ethernet_IP_Profinet_Address.xls

I thought the same thing, but everytime I try to set the LAN to 153.0.0.xxx I get an error stating that the ip address is not valid, and it will not let me use that IP address. The gateway is 255.255.0.0 Model number: Belkin F5D7234-4

100 strokes per minute, but what is the stroke length? I am thinking there isn't enough time to process it. If there was, I am sure AB would have come out with a die protection package already. Like they do for the Clutch Control. Or you really need to look at a Link Electric or a Toledo Integrated Systems. These are designed to be used at high speeds and low speeds. Just a thought. Link Electric Toledo Integrated Systems

I have worked with Omron, Siemens, Keyence, and Mitsubishi before. Never with Automation Direct. So I will just comment on the ones I know. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. I like Mitsubishi and Omron as they are easily accessible and a name that most customers have actually heard of. The drawback is lack of support. So that leaves a bad feeling with customers. Now they have a new PLC they have to learn, new software, new parts to stock, and no support except the machine builder. I like the keyence if you are doing small jobs with a lot of timers because the timers can be adjusted from the outside without needing any software. That is just generals from me. Of course if the customer is an AB guy, and the techs are AB guys, then I am almost certain they will not like Siemens. It is similar, but also different enough to be a pain. However, they do have great support whether it is local or at the headquarters in Alpharetta, GA. It seems that a lot of schools, around here anyway, are teaching kids using Automation Direct. I have never worked with it, so I cannot tell you how it is.

What you can do is setup some lines of code to do a compare. If X value does not equal min/max value, then do a move command of the date and time into a file. You can condition this with the not of the change over button. I could help if I could see the logic, as I am sure these values are stored there. Also, if not the whole code, maybe just a section of code that is in question?

I have had this issue with the 1761-net-eni module as well. You are allowed 4 connections with it. If you have an AB tech support number, here is the link to the webpage that shows information: Tech number 23057

We use the periodic tasks as well. We use it on a turn table that we need to turn 90 degrees. It doesn't need to be scanned every cycle as it is only a periodic cycle. Paul, You are a very knowledgeable individual. I don't know about anybody else, but I sure enjoy reading your explanations. Very detailed and great information. You should be teaching at a college somewhere. Keep up the good work.

If in Europe, why not Indramat? Just a question.

Refer to this bulletin from AB: 36196 - Do not flash your 1756 I/O module's firmware from revision 3.x to 2.x or modules rev 2.x to 3.x

Update for all. AB just released firmware update 5.10.02 to resolve this issue.

Hello All, I have a strange problem with my panelview plus and alarm messages. Here is the setup: I created a new display page. I added the Alarm Multi-Line I removed all other buttons like acknowledge, Silence, Close. All the alarms show up great, however, they do not clear when the alarm is cleared. I have the same thing setup for the Alarm History as well. Except there is a clear all on the history page. We usually use the alarm status, but the customer wanted a date and time stamp on this project. Which is a great thing. Some alarms will clear some won't. Both HMI's are acting the same way. 2 seperate machines, 2 seperate Logix PLC's, both on Ethernet. Any ideas? Thanks, Corey

I have used these in the past, and yes, they are very reliable. Very good support system. Easy to program, start-up, and get running. This application was on a stamping press in the automotive industry.

Not only that, but isn't there a robot ready bit you are using? I am going to say the problem is in the plc or way you are selecting the auto, and/or they way you call the program. There should be some sort of operator interface to restart the robots. I hate uncommanded motion.