Evnttrggr

I too share ianbuckley's skepticism on using soft PLCs on business computers. I have seem OEMs use RTOS and run their own JAVA/C++ based application on the SBC's. But this is a scary prospect when it comes to troubleshooting the system. So, for one of our clients we suggested using something like Codesys or Isagraf. We found that in terms of cost, it was not very helpful and even with volume production, the client was not able to save much through this. So then what would be a good solution? I have not come across many SBC based solution, but surely would like to see some. What I would like to see in them is basically reliability and ease of troubleshooting the code. Does any one has any good ideas?

Hi, I would like to have views on using SBC's. When does one opt for this option? I believe that they are good in discrete controls or if you are an OEM ex: wind turbine control systems and need to mass produce a application specific control system. How about having a soft PLC on an industrial computer, like Beckhoff and having I/Os connected to it? When do such designs really make sense? Are they reliable? When using SBC's, can one have different applications (developed in Java/C++) running on it? Then in that case, what is the difference between the SBC and a PAC system, say from Rockwell? I am trying to understand the obvious differences in the two systems and the advantages of using one over the other. Thanks in advance...

Hi, I am trying to come up with an easily readable (or smart) sheet that describes the different interlocks for a complex PLC application (special purpose machine) I am developing. The plan is to have a sheet describing different interlocks of the system (both hardware and software) and readily available for the maintenance personnel. I need some tips on creating such a sheet. If any one has any guidelines, literature or ideas kindly share. Thanks.

Figured out another way. I first coonvert Real to DINT then to String. I then get the desired result. However I would like to know, why is it not working directly for the Real value. I might save on using one instruction!! Evnttrggr

Hi, I am using a RTOS instruction, CLX, to convert my data, which is in a UDT to string. The problem which I am facing can be expalined with the following example: my source contains value: 32000200.00. But the output is a string with value 3.20002000e+007. I was expecting the output to be just a string with value 3200200 (the fractional part being truncated). The project contraints do not allow me to change the type of the destination. I am using the source as Real, since it is part of a UDT with most of the components being Real. I've bunched all the Real values together. I would like to keep this structure. Currently I am using SoftLogix for testing. Later, I will be using the L63 controller. Any advises and/or insights? Thanks in advance for the help, Regards Evnttrggr

I had checked the Enable check box and also restarted the RSLinx service on the Gateway computer during configuration. Even after that the two computers are not communicating. Would it help if I have the ports 2222 and 44818 added to the firewall (and router?) exceptions lists? I have begun to wonder if this arrangement will even work! Insights and advices please.

A router connects the two computers. Both computers can ping each other. I can access shared folders from one computer to another.

Hi, I have the following arrangement: Computer #1: RSLinx Gateway Logix 5000 Emulator IP: 192.168.13.230 Subnet: 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway: 192.168.13.1 Computer #2 RSLinx OEM RSLogix 5000 IP: 192.165.72.240 Subnet: 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway: 192.165.72.1 Intention: I need to browse the emulator on Computer #1 using Logix 5000 on Computer #2. Configuration: I have configured the IP address of the Computer #2 in the client list for the Gateway on the Computer #1. I have restarted the RSLinx service on both computers after completing the configuration. Problem: I am not able to browse the Gateway on the Computer #1 through the RSLinx on Computer #2. Why is this happening? What have I missed or done incorrectly? Is this setup even going to work? Kindly advise, Regards.

Hi, Does anyone have experience working with the FactoryTalk Batch Server side APIs? I am currently developing a custom application that will allow a user to create and run batches in the FTBatch. My problem: I am able to create a batch, get the status of a created batch and run a particular batch using the APIs in a C# based custom application. However this is ok when I hard code all the values to create the string used by the API, BATCH, in creating a batch. The problem occurs when I allow the user to select a recipe from a list of recipes. Now, I am not able to put in all the values for the batch creation string as I am not able to get the particular units that the recipe will be using. I could check the recipe database against the selected recipe name and retrieve the units, but that will create a lot of coding efforts. I am aware of an API called INFO that returns the list of units used in a recipe. But when I run this on my FTBatch server, I get only the parameters list. I have also observed that the API will return all the units and their classes in case of class based recipes only. My batching application is going to have a combintaion of both instance and class based recipes. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance... .