jrupp82

MrPLC Member
 View profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    37

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by jrupp82

  2. Posted · Edited by jrupp82

    Anyone ever control a Cognex camera with a Pro-Face HMI?  I can get communication between the two (i.e. read/write to cells on the Cognex) but I have not figured out how to trigger the camera.  Thought maybe someone on here had done it before.

    Thanks!

  3. Posted

    Just now, arj3090 said:

    I have not used SFC in Rockwell PLCs, but have used them extensively in CodeSys based systems. The amount of time spent programming state machines using SFC vs ladder is reduced by probably 5 fold. Inserting and deleting states in SFC can take seconds versus minutes in the same thing with ladder. SFC self-documents the flow of the program. As opposed to a state machine in ladder, you will need to manually draw a state transition diagram. In my opinion, SFC is the proper tool for state machine programming.

    This is the feedback I was looking for.  It seemed like SFC's would be a great tool for this, for all the reasons you mentioned.  In addition, when monitoring the program online, it provides a clear indication of where the logic is at.  I'm definitely going to forge ahead with implementing them in my programs.  I think they could be much easier to teach troubleshooting to non-programmers as we progress.  

  5. Posted

    I'm guessing there are going to be a lot of fans for using the PanelView HMI's with RSLogix PLC's, and I understand that.  My question is whether it is the only real good choice?

    Currently I've been using Maple Systems HMI's with all of my systems.  It's only because it was the first that I was introduced to and became familiar with the software.  As busy as things can get, I've just stuck with using them instead of learn something new.  However, my eyes have recently been opened to some best practices in programming in RSLogix, such as Alias Tags, and UDT's, etc.  Maple Systems doesn't handle all of this stuff well, some not at all.  

    So are there different 3rd party HMI's that are easier/better than Maple Systems?  Is the PanelView worth the price from a plug and play standpoint?  Or is it even plug and play?  If PanelView is the best, what are my software requirements to program them?

  6. Posted

    Those are the answers I was looking for.  I've used AOI's with Kollmorgen servos before, but I was curious about another way.  

    So I'm guessing I know the answer to this, but in order to achieve coordinated motion control between multiple axis with the AB PLC being the Motion controller, my only real option is to use AB servos & drives as well.  Is that correct?

  7. Posted

    I know that the most common programming languages are Ladder, Structured Text, and Function Block, but I'm curious how many forum members have experience with Sequential Function Charts?  I just took some Rockwell training and asked the same question there, the answer I got was that SFC's are more common in Europe.

    I've been playing around a bit with them, as I think they would be good for programming the Automatic Mode of a State machine.  Thoughts?  I'm curious for some Pros & Cons from other members?  

    Thanks!

  8. Posted

    A question I've been curious about lately is if the Motion Commands within Logix 5000 could be used to control third party motors and drives?  Or are these commands exclusive to the control of AB motor/drive setups?  I've never used either of the setups I'm asking about, but as I learn more about the Logix platform, I'm curious what all I can do.

    Thanks!

  9. Posted

    I was wondering if I could ask for some help from a Forum user here?  I'm trying to setup a Modbus TCP Slave connection on my L24ER to talk back and forth to a Rethink Robotics Baxter robot.  From all of my research to this point, it seems that the controller is capable of creating the connection through the use of some Ladder logic that Rockwell has already developed (in the attached file).  The question I was wondering is if someone could open this in their RSLogix and change the controller to a CompactLogix platform?  The version of RSLogix that I have does not open ControlLogix configured programs (1756 controllers), so to get my hands on this code, I need to have it saved for a 1769 controller.  Can anyone hook me up?

    Thanks...Josh

    ModbusTCP_Slave_R102.ACD

  10. Posted

    I am interested to get opinions on everyone's choice of 24VDC power supplies when building new machines.  I have tried several different brands and really have no loyalty or favorite at this point.  A lot of times I'll simply choose by the main vendor I'm dealing with on the project and what they might offer.  But I was curious what brand others are choosing and why?

    Thanks!

  11. Posted

    Last week I chose to use the Turck system for my IO needs.  In the end I felt like not only would they be a cleaner installation from a form factor standpoint, but I feel like they may be easier to integrate on my machine.  

    I plan to provide some updates to this link so there is a bit of information on the forum on how it goes.  Maybe it can help someone else to decide and or integrate a similar system of their own.

  14. Posted

    Hi all,

    I'm new to the use of remote IO and have two different vendors that I'm very comfortable in my area, one who reps Murr, and the other Turck. To date, I have been using the Turck products exclusively, but mainly connectivity and some junction blocks & prox sensors they offer. I've been very happy with the products so far, so I would like to use the Turck stuff for those reasons. 

    However, my Murr guy quoted my his Cube 67 products for the system I had laid out using the BL67 solution, and for starters, his pricing for a similar system was over 30% less than the Turck solution. There are other details to the Murr solution that would be nice, where using the block setup from the Murr stuff would be beneficial for some of my outlying IO.

    Anyhow, my main question about this topic is to get some experienced feedback from any users on here. I wasn't sure if anyone had experience with the products or not, and I thought I would ask. Last thing to mention is that I would be using this on an Allen Bradley Ethernet/IP system. 

    Thanks in advance!

  16. Posted

    This is probably a simple question, but how can I grab a timestamp in my Ladder Logic (or other program structure even) for different points in my process? In particular, I'm looking to add a timestamp to the occurrence of some machine "faults" that I have built in. I have simple counters on the faults right now, to let me know how many times they are occurring on a shift, but timestamps sure would be sweet!

  18. Posted

    Big question that I am happening across in fine tuning a new program I have written in RSLogix 5000 (BTW, this is the first AB project I have ever written). I am going back in my program and re-writing some of code to simplify my machine, and also gain some more functionality out of it. As I work through this process, I come to the point where I am re-creating originally scoped Program Tags into Controller Tags so I can access them throughout the project. As I'm doing this, I'm wondering, why would I even use Program Tags in the first place? Shouldn't I just make everything a Controller Tag? I am a Machine Builder, have not created any data collection or anything like that to this point. Because I did read where Program Level tags can provide a little level of security in that regard. Don't know if that's a good reason, or if there is more, but I thought I would ask the question.

  19. Posted

    I have come across that training, and keep going back and forth as to whether it would be a fit or not. Coming from an ME background, I'm sure there are many gaps that could be filled in a training like that. On the other hand, I've been programming for a little while as well, so I want to make sure there would be enough information for me. It might be worth just getting in touch with them and having this discussion.

  20. Posted

    I believe I understand your concept. You're saying to basically skip the FIFO tools and create a simple "pointer" to identify the defined tray stack within the array that is coming next? Basically creating my own FIFO tool without the A/B canned one. That sounds simple enough. I think from the AOI standpoint, it may be beneficial to use this to run the code which takes the tray information and calculates my corresponding robot positions, then MOV those values into the robot AOI's. I think I have a plan, now to try to write some code and test it out. Thanks...Josh

  21. Posted

    I have never made my own AOI's, but I have used them. I assume its not too difficult, just create the ladder to do the work, and then call the AOI as needed. So, if I create an AOI to handle loading the new stack information into place, could/should I then use plant that information into a FIFO (FFL/FFU) to handle the queue portion? Or would you recommend just storing in an array on my own and just move them up the line as they called into the Unstacking Station?

  22. Posted

    Ok panic mode, so I think I've started to understand most of those things you mentioned. I utilized small programs to control portions of the machine individually, and then had them talk to each other when necessary. The above is the additional nuts and bolts that I want to understand. Because I haven't run across some of this stuff before being an ME, some of the concepts are not straight forward for me to understand when reading them straight from the manual. I was wondering if there was any "reads" out there that put some more examples to tools like you mentioned, that would make it a little easier to learn. I'm really getting into the Controls side of Machine Design, and gaining a deeper knowledge and understanding of the tools available is on the top of my To-do List. Thanks!

  24. Posted

    No, I wouldn't call it a simple bit shift. I would like to pass information through the queue such as size of tray & quantity in the stack. I have looked at you bit shift example, however, and found it helpful in beginning to understand the uses for where it would fit. I just think I need something a little more for this application.