I am using MS Visual Studio Community 2017 (free) www.visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/
SQLite (free) www.sqlite.org/index.html
AdvancedHMI’s HMI package (free) www.advancedhmi.com
This allows me to use Visual Basic to connect to all types of PLC’s and Interments.
I have not found anything that I could not connect to yet. The Allen Bradley Drives are faster than RS-Links drivers. I have 12 machines, 4 Robots, 2 injection molding machines, many servo’s and VFD’s.
I use SQLite to keep sets of parameters and last data on the machines. All production data is sent to the main SQL Sever DB. We scan serial numbers and validate them to the main data base before each part can run on that station. This system is faster than any of the SCADA packages I have used in the past. And the best part is that it’s free with no limits.
You can make any PC a back up HMI for any machine.
All it takes is a little learning.
Here is the list of drivers: