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Hey guys, this is probably a stupid question so I apologize if it is, but I have a PanelView Plus 6 700 and a CompactLogix L36ERM on one of my machines at my plant.  We have several different molds that run in this machine, so we have 5-7 different PLC programs that can possibly run in this processor, depending on which mold is in.  I'm planning to go to a single program with recipes, but I haven't had the time to set that up yet.  So we use the PanelView for troubleshooting, and adjusting process paramters.  On the main screen in the PanelView I have the time/date and also the program name.  What I have been doing is just creating a string tag in RSLogix 5000 that is the program/processor name (we use the same name for the processor and program) and then on my PanelView I just create a string display that looks at the string tag name in the processor.  That way anytime a mold is changed over and the PLC program is downloaded, the PanelView displays the correct program/processor name.   Now this is all fine and dandy and works as long as if a new program is created, we remember to change the string tag to the name of the new program, we often run new sample parts and what we do is rename an existing program that has similar logic and save it as a new program name.  The problem comes up because if somebody copies an existing program and makes a new one, the string tag is still going to say the name of the old PLC program.  Now if we only had one or two or even 5 machines, it would be simple enough to just remember to change that string tag.  Our, or I should say MY problem is that we have approximately 40ish machines in our plant, and I can't always remember to change that string tag every time we create a new program.  I should say that I have been, but there are times that I may forget. My question is this, is there any way that in FactoryTalk View ME Studio to have a string display the name of the processor or the name of the PLC program automatically without having to manually enter the name into the string tag that I created in RSLogix 5000?  Like is there a system tag somewhere that has the name of the processor or the name of the program?   That was way more explaining then probably necessary.  It's early and I've had way too much coffee haha.   Thanks guys.

PAROCK1 for HMI/SCADA View File Now a software solution is available for your Modbus (MB) needs in Rockwell/Allen-Bradley Control Logix or Compact Logix (Clgx) family processors, instead of a traditional 3rd party hardware like Prosoft MVI-56, Molex SST-SR4-CLX-RLL etc.  It is an Add-on instruction (AOI) for PLC/PAC firmware v16 or later, (other solutions are available for pre v16 systems).  For hardware interface, use PLC’s channel 0 (serial) or TCP/IP Interface module(s) to have as many MB TCP/IP devices or serial devices.  (Some limits apply based on system configurations, Comm. settings depending on HW used.) Connect any MB Client/Master or Server/Slave device(s) to your CLgx PLC, including flow computers, analyzers, VFDs, Power Monitors, Level gauges, Smart I/O, etc.  All the MB public/native function codes are supported.  32-Bit integers/floats as single entity are supported with byte and word level swapping. A separate utility automates the data mapping to your PLC logic.  Features -Serial Master (BASIC required Option); TCP; Slave; Redundancy; More than 5000 accumulative registers; MB CFC (Custom/Private Function Code) Support; Data mapping too – Between PAROCK1 & your PLC logic; Packaged with Rockwell; TCP/IP Interface Module; Volume Discounts; Annual Support Requirements -Rockwell/AB-CLgx processor with v16 or later.  Contact PCI for earlier versions. -If using CPU’s Chan0, you cannot use Chan0 for any other user mode activity. You can use it for non-user mode activities -TCP/IP Interface Modules from Rockwell/AB supported, are: -1756-EN2xx ControlLogix® Ethernet/IP communication modules, firmware revision 5.007 or later -1756-EWEB ControlLogix Ethernet/IP web server module, firmware revision 4.006 or later -1768-EWEB CompactLogix Ethernet/IP web server module, firmware revision 1.002 or later -1769-L30ER, 1769-L30ERM, 1769-L30ER-NSE, 1769-L33ER, 1769-L33ERM, and 1769-L36ERM CompactLogix controllers, firmware revision 20.011 or later -1769-L24ER-QB1B, 1769-L24ER-QBFC1B, 1769-L27ERM-QBFC1B CompactLogix controllers, firmware revision 20.011 or later -1769-L16ER, 1769-L18ER, 1769-L18ERM CompactLogix controllers, firmware revision 20.011 or later Other Related Services/Items -Custom PLC Add-on instructions building -PLC upgrades, troubleshooting, applications -PC Windows, iOS5, Linux, Mobile devices Comm. Drivers -Custom development, Technology Transfer Services  -Other Non-AB communication drivers for serial or TCP  -Full control system integration, training, architecture design This driver can be conviniently used with Visual Studio in development of complete large scale complex HMI/SCADA Systems. It can be used to perform advanced reporting MES, analytics, IoT, Big data type apps. One example is available to download here For More Info Overview of Parijat Drivers: Click here  Additional supporting Info about Parijat Drivers:Click here Complete Related Driver options: Click here     Submitter Scadadoctor Submitted 03/10/16 Category Other PLC Demo Software

Hello, I hope you are all having a great Wednesday.  So I was wondering if this is possible, and if so, how to do it.  What I'm trying to do is get a real time speed of my hydraulic cylinder using a transducer, a 1769-HSC high speed counter module, and a 1769-L36ERM processor.  Kind of like a speedometer in my car.  I would like the number in inches/ second.   We use a hydraulic proportional valve to control a cylinder that we use to pump molten lead into our die cast machines.  Back in the day they used to use limit switched that rest on a tail rod attached to the cylinder shaft to get an approximate stroke length.  It was very crude, but it worked for what it was.  I'll explain  a little more, in case I'm not explaining it very clearly.   So on most of our machines the maximum stroke length of a normal shot is about 11".  We have different "stages" to the shot.  Stage one is typically from 0" (when the shot is all the way returned) until about 1.5", at 1.5" the valve stops and there is a shot delay for 1 second (vacuum draws some lead into the goose neck and into the beginning of the mold), after the delay second stage starts, second stage is from 1.5" to 4", third stage is from 4" to 8" and fourth stage is from 8" to 11.5" or until the shot timer finishes timing, and then another valve switches, and the shot starts it's return.  We have the different stages because we typically shoot the cylinder slower at first, and then delay and then almost maximum velocity.  We control the velocity with an analog output to a solenoid on a hydraulic valve.  For example, for the first stage we may open it up 20%, then 0% during the delay and then 85% during second, third and fourth.  Sometimes we play around with different shot delay times, different shot velocities, sometimes 3rd may be faster than 4th, ect, to get the best die casted parts.   Anyways, so in the past they would use limit switches.  One was a button head style that when the shot cylinder shaft was all the way returned, it made the switch, and we knew the shot was fully returned.  One was set at 1.5", 4", 8" etc.  They all, except for the shot return switch, were roller style limit switches.  They were all made, and once the shot reached that stroke length, they would come off the rod and we would know we were in that next stage.  So it was very crude.  If you wanted to adjust the stages you would have to climb up on top of the very hot molten lead pot, mark where the limit switch currently was (in case you needed to put it back) loosen the bracket, try to make a measurement and guess how far you moved it.  It was crude to say the least.  Some of our older style machines that don't need much tweaking still use the limit switch style positioning system.   Most of our new machines all use a VisiTrak transducer.  The shot cylinder rod that is attached to the cylinder shaft is actually threaded and then has a very thing layer of chrome plating.  The transducer sits against the shaft and counts the threads.  It transfers those counts to a Very High Speed Counter module in our PLC I/O rack.  We have a CompactLogix L36ERM processor and we use a 1769-HSC as the VHS Counter.  Then we just do some math in the PLC program and we are able to get shot stroke in inches.  We set different compare instructions, for example when: Shot_Stroke is greater than or equal to 0 AND Shot_Stroke is less than or equal to 1.5 then 1st_Stage_Bit is active.  We set up different numbers for all the different stages and still use the button head limit switch as a second method to confirm that the stroke is fully returned.   The counter is very fast.  We are able to know what the shaft stroke is at any given point.  We currently do some math using the distance of each stage and using timers to calculate inches per second of each stage.  That way we can have a nice Speed number in inches/second that we can use to make different adjustments to the shot.  Typically the first stage is about 7"/second second is: 24"/second third is: 42"/second and fourth is 2"/second.  But I want a real-time, current speed, not just the speed that it traveled through each of the stages.     Ok, after all of that explaining, I'm finally getting to my question.  How would I logically write a set of instructions that could give me current speed in inches per second.  Like i said, I am able to calculate the speed of each stage, after the shot has completed the stage, I just divide the distance of the stage (in inches) by the time it took to travel through that stage (in seconds).  But I would like to have a real time speed, kind of like a speedometer on a car.  Is this possible?  I know that the scan time on this processor is very fast and the high speed counter module counts very fast as well.  How do I do the math to get a real time speed in inches/ second?   Sorry for the very long post.  I just thought i would give you a background on what we are doing/ would like to do.     Thank you very much.

Hey, this may be an obvious question, but here goes: I have a CompactLogix L36ERM running RL5000 controlling one of our lead die cast machines. When I make a change to the program offline and need to download I always go and shut the machine down for safety reasons before downloading. One of our techs stopped the machine but left the control power and hydraulic pump on while downloading (something we are not supposed to do) when he finished downloading he switched it back to run mode and the machine closed on it's own and started right back up. This is a safety concern to me. We have a "close enable" tag that is true when all necessary conditions are met, and gets latched on when the machine is running in full auto. Before he downloaded the machine was at idle, meaning that the only way to close the machine would be to press the two dead-man switches to start the process. But, when he downloaded it started up automatically. Now I know the reason why is when the program was last saved, the "close enable" tag had a value of 1, it was latched on, so it bypassed the dead-man switches. A quick fix would be to save the program with that tag un-latched so that it can't start up on it's own after downloading. But, in case somebody saves the program while the machine is running and with that tag latched on, I need a better solution. Is there any tag or bit that goes true when a program is downloaded or when the mode of the PLC is switched from run to download to run? I want to manipulate that tag so that when I download it un-latches the "close enable" tag. I'm sure there is a way to do it, I'm just not even really sure what to search for in the online help. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks Howard