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Unlocking Click PLC & Machine Simulator Integration
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Jan 27, 2025
Unlocking Click PLC & Machine Simulator Integration: A Game Changer for Automation Professionals In an increasingly sophisticated industrial automation era, seamless integration between programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and simulation tools is more crucial than ever. Machine Simulator by Nirtec is a sophisticated yet simple software for creating virtual simulations of industrial machinery and processes. It enables you to visualize and test your systems in a virtual environment before implementing them in the real world. Click PLCs have long been a staple for automation engineers, offering a reliable and user-friendly solution for various control processes. However, integrating Click PLCs with machine simulators unlocks a whole new level of potential. This blog post will explore the benefits and methodologies of unlocking Click PLC and machine simulator integration. We will be using the Machine Simulator's test conveyor example. This practical example will utilize the Click PLC Modbus TCP communications to the simulator Modbus Server driver. Let's get started. Our website post provides effortless access to all the relevant links discussed in the video. We have gathered all the necessary information for your convenience, to all the resources mentioned. https://accautomation.ca/unlock-click-plc-machine-simulator-integration/ 00:00 Unlock Click PLC & Machine Simulator Integration 01:25 What is a Machine Simulator (EasyPLC)? 02:14 Machine Simulator Modbus Server (Automation Training Machine) 06:14 IP Address of Machine Simulator 07:13 What is Click PLC? 08:04 Setting up the Click PLC Configuration and Communication Ports 12:16 Click PLC Modbus TCP Client Subroutine 18:18 Click PLC Control Logic for Conveyor Example 20:10 Testing and Operation of the System The EasyPLC Software Suite Series can be found here...
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0:01
unlocking click PLC and machine
0:03
simulator integration a game Cher for
0:05
Industrial Automation
0:07
Professionals in increasing
0:09
sophisticated Industrial Automation
0:11
error seamless integration between
0:13
paramal logic controllers PLC and
0:15
simulation tools is more critical than
0:17
ever machine simulator by narch is a
0:20
sophisticated yet simple software for
0:22
creating virtual simulations of
0:24
industrial machinery and processes it
0:26
enables you to visualize and test your
0:28
systems in Virtual environment before
0:30
implementing them in the real
0:32
world click plc's have been a long
0:35
staple for automation Engineers offering
0:37
a reliable and userfriendly solution for
0:39
various control processes however
0:42
integrating click plc's with machine
0:44
integrator unlocks a whole new level of
0:47
potential this post will explore the
0:49
benefits and methologies of unlocking
0:52
click plc's and machine similar
0:54
integration we will be using the machine
0:56
simulator test conveyor example this
1:00
practical example we utilize The Click
1:01
PLC modbus TCP Communications to the
1:04
simulator modbus server driver let's get
1:08
started detailed information contained
1:10
in this video can be found at ACC
1:11
automation.com
1:31
machine simulator by narac is
1:32
sophisticated yet uncomplicated software
1:34
that is part of a price competitive
1:36
machine simulator Suite easy
1:38
PLC it can create virtual simulations of
1:41
industrial machinery and processes
1:43
enabling engineers and automation
1:45
professionals to visualize and test
1:47
their systems in a virtual environment
1:49
before implementing them in the real
1:51
world the latest modbus server driver
1:54
lets you place the machine simulator
1:56
scene on your network multiple devices
1:58
such as plcs and HMI can access and
2:01
control the system this contrasts
2:04
traditional machine simulators which can
2:05
only act as a modbus client
2:07
communicating with just one device
2:09
machine simulator by narch gives you the
2:14
option machine simulator modb server
2:17
automation training
2:20
machine we will use a pre-built scene in
2:23
the machine simulator Ms start the
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machine simulator and select machines
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icon on the top menu you can also select
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open machine start simulation on the
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main
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page all of the pre-built machines will
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now be displayed they have been program
2:38
so you can immediately start learning
2:39
with this
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package we will use the zero first test
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conveyor
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example selections will be displayed As
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you move your mouse over the machine
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icon select the explanation point in the
2:52
upper right
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corner this will display the machine
2:57
description of what you need to program
2:59
the the object is to move the pallet on
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the roller conveyor first to the right
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PLC digital output one until the photo
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sensor on the right activates the
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digital input zero to the
3:09
PLC then the rotation of the conveyor
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rollers is activated so the Box moves to
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the left PLC digital output one until
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the photo cell on the left side is
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activated PLC digital input one then
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reverse the rotation of the rollers
3:23
repeating the
3:25
process select
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close the demo mode will will
3:29
demonstrate how the machine
3:33
[Music]
3:45
[Music]
3:52
functions select
3:55
start the machine simulator will now
3:57
load the conveyor example
4:01
in the bottom left corner you will see
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that we have no PLC
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connection select IO drivers on the top
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menu under the driver name you will see
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that this easy PLC is selected by
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default select easy PLC to call up the
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machine simulator drivers select modbus
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server driver the modbus server driver
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uses tcpip protocol on ethernet to
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communicate with other modbus devices
4:28
and software
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select the configure
4:34
button we can now assign the machine
4:36
simulator's digital inputs and outputs
4:38
to the two different mod bus memory
4:39
areas in our case the plc's coil outputs
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will be Ms digital
4:45
inputs the PLC digital inputs will be
4:47
the MS digital
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outputs Although our machine does not
4:51
use any analog inputs we can still use
4:53
set this up modbus PLC holding registers
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be used as analog inputs and the PLC
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analog input registers will be the MS
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analog
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outputs the machine simulator uses
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analog scaling and subtraction factors
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to represent negative numbers since
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modbus analog is a 16-bit
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word select
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okay our PLC inputs and outputs are now
5:18
displayed we can assign the inputs and
5:20
outputs to our machine simulator IO this
5:23
can be done by direct clicking and
5:24
dragging the PLC input to the machine
5:26
simulator input and the PLC output to
5:28
the machine simulator output however you
5:32
can select automatic assignment from the
5:34
driver menu this will automatically
5:37
assign the inputs and outputs in the
5:38
order they appear saving you time select
5:41
automatic
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assignment under the exit menu select
5:49
start driver and
5:51
exit our test conveyor example is now
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ready for communication the green driver
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connected indicated on the bottom of the
5:59
screen indicates Ates
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this select view iio to show the ms's
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inputs and output status since this is a
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modbus server setup we can use multiple
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modbus clients to communicate to our
6:10
machine
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simulator IP address of machine
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Simulator the IP address of our MS
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conveyor example will be the IP address
6:22
of the local computer running the
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software if you are unsure start a
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command prompt on your Windows computer
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type the command ip config space SL all
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and press enter you will now see the IP
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address listed we will need this
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information to configure the modbus
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client device which in our case is the
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click
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PLC the realistic simulation environment
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is now on the network as a modbus TCP
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ethernet server we can now test or
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create multiple control programs for our
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selected simulation scene integrating
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with multiple plc's or program logic
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controllers including the click PLC is
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easy as the PLC now acts as the modbus
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client this costeffective training tool
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reduces the cost and risk of working on
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physical
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machines what is Click
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PLC click PLC is a compact and
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affordable controller designed by coil
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electronics and sold through its
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subsidiary automation direct it is ideal
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for small to medium-size automation
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projects its intuitive design Rich
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features such as high-speed counting and
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variety of IO make it a favorite among
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many
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Engineers however the need for
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integration simulation tool becomes
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apparent as projects become increasingly
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complex integrating click PLC with
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machine simulator creates a robust
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testing environment Engineers can
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simulate process flow monitor system
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behaviors and troubleshoot potential
7:53
issues in a virtual setting before
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deploying actual systems this can
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significantly reduce the time and cost
7:59
associated with the on-site
8:04
troubleshooting setting up the click PLC
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configuration and communication
8:09
ports we can install and start this
8:12
package on our computer using the free
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click PLC programming software the
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entire click PLC series can be found
8:20
here once the click programming software
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starts you will see the startup
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window select start a new project
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the select a CPU module window will now
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be displayed scroll down and select the
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CPU that we will be
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programming select c2-05 CPU for a click
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PLC that we will program and select
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okay the user account setup window will
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appear select disabled password
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requirement and then press
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okay we can select system configuration
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on the Home tab under CPU or on the
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function tab of the navigation window
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under under CPU
9:00
configuration the system configuration
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allows us to specify the inputs and
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output PLC cards we have or will
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install when the syst configuration
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window is displayed it shows a picture
9:12
of the CPU and the current system I/O
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the software will determine the power
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available and required for configuring
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The Click PLC as part of the
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configuration this is located under
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power budget under the power supply PS
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select the
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c-018 AC unit this will provide 1,300
9:32
milliamps of power which is more than
9:34
enough for anything we can install on
9:36
the PLC select
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okay under slot zero select the select
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button we will add the C 0- 08 dr-4 VC
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card for the slot on the
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CPU select module configuration The
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Click PLC has an automatic scaling for
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the analog input and output points enter
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the data register df1 to automatically
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set these
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registers select
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okay selecting okay again will bring us
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back to the system configuration window
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where we can now see our click PLC and
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the address is
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assigned at the top of the window we can
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name this
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PLC enter a name and select okay the
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name will appear on the network
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indicating which PLC we want to
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communicate with using the click
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programming
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software we can now examine the the
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communication port settings on our click
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PLC while still on the function tab of
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the navigation window we can select comp
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Port one
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setup the comp Port setup details window
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will now be displayed under the port
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setting we can choose all the different
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ports available on this PLC
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model Port one is our ethernet port
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settings this port's wiring and system
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addresses can be seen in the middle and
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right side of the window we will set a
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static IP address for Port one and
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ensure its location on our Network we'll
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also set the DNS server addresses for
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the ethernet port select
11:06
okay under the CPU selection on the Home
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tab we will select the modbus TCP setup
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this will show the modbus client and
11:14
server enables and default
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selections we will leave everything as
11:18
your default and select
11:21
okay let's also set up the wireless Port
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setting on our click PLC under the CPU
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on the Home tab select wire less Port
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setup once again our comp Port setup
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details window will be displayed we can
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enable the wireless lay and assign a
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static IP address and DNS server
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locations to the
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port the SSID and password for the
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existing wireless network must be
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entered select okay
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we can now save our program with a
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unique
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name we are now ready to begin
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programming our communication to the
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machine
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simulator click PLC modbus TCP client
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sub
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routine a separate sub routine will
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handle the modbus TCP client
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communication to machine simulator
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conveyor example to start a a new sub
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routine right click on the sub routine
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program under the program tab of the
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navigation window then select add new
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sub routine program or control
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U we can now enter the name of this new
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sub
12:43
routine select okay our new sub routine
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appears on the sub routine program
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heading in a navigation window a sub
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routine quick guide is displayed select
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okay our communication sub team will
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have a send and receive instruction on
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leading and trailing edges of the 100
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millisecond contact
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bit the send command will be modbus out
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of port one enter the server or slave IP
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address that we obtained
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previously we will leave the server port
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number as the default 502 and use the
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slave ID 1 the modbus function code will
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be 15 to write multiple
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coils our addressing will be modbus 984
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four and the starting slave address will
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be
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one C1 will be the starting Master
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address and we will send three bits of
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information the status Flags will be set
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for internal bits to use later in our
13:42
program select
13:45
okay the receive command will be the mod
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bus out of port one enter the server or
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slave IP address that we obtained
13:52
previously we will leave the server port
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number as a default 502 and use the
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slave ID 1 the modbus function code will
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be o02 to read the input
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status our addressing will be modbus 984
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and the starting slave address will be 1
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0000001 c101 will be the starting Master
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address and we will read three bits of
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information the status Flags will be set
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for internal bits to use later in our
14:23
program select
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okay insert wrong at the beginning of
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the sub routine when the first bit SC2
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is turned on we will set an internal bit
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c1899 to indicate that communication
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reset is required this will also turn
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off our internal communication bit
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c1900 Rong two will have a negative
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communication bit and not the sending
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bits for both send and receive
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instruction this will also have the
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Leading Edge of the 100 millisecond
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clock bit flag in series to reset the
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communication reset bit and set the
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communication bit
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using the address picker under the
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program tab of the navigation window we
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can document all the internal bits we
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are using in the
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program rung five will add a
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communication timeout circuit if the
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received success bit is not turned on in
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1 second a timer expires and an output
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y1 will be turned on this will indicate
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that Communications have been lost Rong
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six will set the output after the timer
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expires Rong s will reset the output on
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the receiving success bits Leading
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Edge use the address picker to document
15:51
timers and output
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Rong 8 will have the return this marks
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the end of the program for the sub
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rutine returning to the main program of
16:14
the navigation window we can use the
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first rung to call up the communication
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sub rutine save the program
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on the Home tab select the connect
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button in the connect to click PLC
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window select our PLC and choose
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connect select don't read the project
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from the PLC and select
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okay on the Home tab select right
16:48
project this will compile the program in
16:50
the click programming software and then
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transfer it to the plc
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once the click PLC program is
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transferred we can put the PLC in run
17:19
mode our communication is now working
17:23
from the navigation window call up the
17:25
data View Window enter the inputs and
17:27
outputs for the machine simulator
17:29
conveyor
17:30
[Music]
17:37
[Music]
17:40
example returning to the machine
17:42
simulator we can now change the outputs
17:45
in the data view window and watch the
17:47
conveyor
17:49
function we can now move on to creating
17:51
the logic for
17:53
conveyor if you are enjoying this video
17:56
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18:00
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18:03
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18:04
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18:11
[Music]
18:17
notifications click PLC control Logic
18:20
for conveyor
18:23
example we will write the latter logic
18:25
program to control the conveyor example
18:27
using the five steps for developing a
18:29
PLC
18:30
program since this is a simple circuit
18:33
we have two inputs and outputs from our
18:35
machine Simulator the modbus TCP
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communication from the outputs is C1 and
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C2 the inputs are c101 and
18:44
c102 using the description from the
18:47
conveyor example in the machine
18:48
simulator we know the sequence of
18:51
operation the last steps are writing and
18:53
testing
18:55
logic under the call to the sub rutine
18:58
we will a couple rungs on the main
19:00
program when neither output is on we
19:03
will set C1 and reset C2 moving the box
19:06
to the
19:07
right the next rung will have C1 on and
19:11
when the right sensor turns on we will
19:13
reset C1 and C2 sending the box to the
19:18
left returning to the previous rung when
19:21
C2 is on and sensor c102 comes on we
19:25
will also set C1 and reset C2
19:30
using the address picker we can document
19:32
the inputs and
19:44
[Music]
19:50
outputs save and transfer the program
19:54
[Music]
20:10
testing and operation of the
20:13
system we can now call up the data View
20:16
Window like before and watch our program
20:18
in action on the conveyor
20:20
example machine simulator allows us to
20:23
conduct extensive testing of our system
20:26
we can evaluate the performance of our
20:27
PLC in the simulated environment
20:29
identifying any discrepancies and
20:31
rewrite the logic as needed to refine
20:33
both the PLC program and a simulation
20:37
model unlock the integration between
20:39
click PLC and machine simulators
20:41
presents many benefits for automation
20:45
professionals integration enhances
20:47
testing environments improves design
20:49
validation provides real-time monitoring
20:51
and facilitates training enabling
20:53
Engineers to create safer more efficient
20:56
systems overall Nar Tex machine
20:59
simulator is an invaluable tool for
21:00
optimizing automation processes
21:03
enhancing training and ensuring system
21:04
reliability through effective design
21:07
validation and
21:08
testing to learn more about machine
21:11
simulator and how to create the Ultimate
21:12
Machine learning package click
21:15
here click here to see the entire
21:17
machine simulator series
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