Last time we created our first program and transferred this to our connected Productivity 1000 Series PLC. This was programmed with our computer running the Productivity Suite Software. One of the most important aspects of programming the PLC is to document. This will aid you and your team in programming, troubleshooting and modifying the automation control system. Your documentation should read like a book so information can be quickly obtained when required. Time spent on the documentation will be priceless when you go to read your program in 1, 3 or 10 years from now. The Productivity Suite software provides several different methods for documenting your program.
Tag Names and Details, Task Names and Descriptions, Rung Comments and Instruction comments are the ways that we will be looking at documenting our program.
Let’s get started. Continue Reading!
Tag Archives: plc programming examples
Productivity 1000 Series PLC First Program
Last time we connected the Productivity 1000 Series PLC with our computer running the Productivity Suite Software. A micro USB and an Ethernet (RJ45) communication link was made to our programmable logic controller. We will now create our first program for our Productivity 1000 Series PLC. Our program will be a simple start stop circuit for a motor. Here is a post that will explain the logic behind our program circuit.
https://accautomation.ca/how-to-make-a-start-stop-jog-circuit-in-a-plc/
The latest Productivity Suite software version is 3.1.0.11. This is the programming software that we will be using to create our logic for control.
Let’s get started. Continue Reading!
Suppanel Android HMI to Click PLC
Suppanel is an Android app that is used to create a human machine interface (HMI). This HMI panel can be created on your computer, tablet or phone using the appropriate operating system or software. You can use this software to create panels that you can control or modify values in your automated system. These panels can be shared with other Suppanel users.
We will be creating a Suppanel Panel to monitor and control a Solo Process Temperature Controller via the Click programmable logic controller (PLC). The Click will be communicating to the Solo with serial RS485 using Modbus RTU protocol. The Suppanel HMI will be communicating to the Click PLC using Ethernet Modbus TCP protocol.
Watch on YouTube : Suppanel Android HMI to Click PLC
Let’s get started. Continue Reading!
Productivity 1000 Series PLC Installing the Software
The Productivity 1000 Series PLC uses the Productivity Suite Software. The software can be downloaded free of charge. It is the full package without restrictions or limitations.
The latest Productivity Suite software version is 3.1.0.11. Automation Direct has put 20 years of programmable controller software experience along with customer suggestions and feedback into this programming package. It has great features that we will be exploring as we program our Productivity 1000 Series PLC.
This is the same software that will program the entire Productivity Series of programmable logic controllers.
Productivity 1000 (Stackable Micro PLC)
Productivity 2000 (Micro Modular Programmable Controller)
Productivity 3000 (Modular Programmable Controller)
We will be installing and reviewing the Productivity Suite software version 3.1.0.11.
Let’s get started. Continue Reading!
Productivity 1000 Series PLC System Hardware
The Productivity 1000 series of programmable logic controllers has a slim stackable super compact design. This is sometimes also referred to as a shoebox PLC because of the shape and way in which expansion modules are added. This new Productivity 1000 series PLC is the latest in the Productivity series of controllers that have hit the market.
Productivity 1000 (Stackable Micro PLC)
Productivity 2000 (Micro Modular Programmable Controller)
Productivity 3000 (Modular Programmable Controller)
These three series currently make up the Productivity Series form Automation Direct.
The Productivity 1000 series PLC provides the following features for your automation control panel.
– 50MB user memory – Can handle very complex applications easily.
– 4 built-in communication ports – Easy connectivity to your network. This would include your PC, HMI, Networks, etc.
– Data logging up to 32 GB on a microSD card
– Add up to 8 IP modules to communicate to your field sensors. This will give you a total of 128 discrete IO points or 32 analog IO channels.
– Free Software and 30 days of free training with every CPU from Automation Direct.
– Interactive PLC Configuration Tool
– Tag Names
– Auto discovery IO – Physical I/O tags will be generated based on each module’s position in the base. You can also reconfigure the setup and assign new tags manually.
– I/O Modules have QR codes under the wiring cover. This can be scanned so you can have the latest specifications / wiring diagrams for the module.
– Limitless PID – Auto tuning – Individual or Cascade Mode – etc
– Web Server and Mobile Access
– Advanced Software instruction set
We will be looking at allot of these features of this powerful controller. Let’s start by looking at the hardware. Continue Reading!
BRX PLC Analog IO – System Configuration
One of the features of the BRX Series PLC is the ability to expand its capability to fit your application. This is easily done by “snap-on” modules that will fit on the side of the BRX MPU (Multi Processor Unit). As we have seen before in the BRX PLC System Configuration post we can add additional discrete inputs and outputs. Automation Direct now offers Analog Voltage and Analog Current input and output modules. These modules come as an 8 point channel unit. There is also a 4 point thermocouple input module also available. We will be configuring, scaling and programming the Analog input and output Voltage modules for our BRX PLC. Let’s get started. Continue Reading!
BRX PLC AdvancedHMI Communication – Modbus TCP
Advanced HMI is a powerful, adaptable HMI/SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) development package that takes advantage of Visual Studio. There is no coding required and you can simply drag and drop items onto the page. The best thing is that the software is free. We will look at using AdvancedHMI with the BRX Series PLC.
Our sample BRX PLC program will display a digital panel meter and a gauge of a value in the PLC. Stop and start momentary pushbuttons on the HMI will allow this number to increase or stop. An indication will turn green when the number is increasing and red when it has stopped. The AdvancedHMI package will communicate Modbus TCP over Ethernet to the BRX PLC. We will be able to monitor our process via the AdvancedHMI window. Lets get started. Watch on YouTube…
Continue Reading!
BRX PLC Email – Text SMS Messaging Gmail
Sending email messages from the PLC sounds like an easy task. However, very few applications do this on the production floor. This is probable due to the networks involved and using authentication can be complicated. In our example we will use a restricted Gmail SMTP server so no authentication will be required. We will walk through sending email and text messages from the PLC to Google Gmail. Once in your Gmail account, the message can be automatically forwarded to another verified email or SMS text message address.
The BRX Series PLC also has this Email capability along with attaching files. We will also be looking at secure email services with the BRX Series PLC. Let’s get started. Continue Reading!
ACC Automation 2017 Review
ACC Automation
We would like to take a few minutes and reflect on the past, current and future of ACC Automation. 2017 has been our best year yet thanks to you. Your questions, comments and suggestions have helped us to build the site that you see today.
Thank you. Continue Reading!
BRX PLC Serial Communication – Modbus RTU to Solo Process Temperature Controller
Serial communication instructions will allow you to send and receive serial data to an external device. The communication method that you setup can be ASCII or numeric (binary). ASCII (American Standard Communication for Information Interchange) can be used to send to devices such as a printer or display.
Receiving ASCII can be used for connecting barcode scanners to the PLC. The barcode will be read as an ASCII string in the PLC.
The BRX Series PLC will allow you to use instructions such as STREAMIN and STREAMOUT to send and receive data from devices mentioned above. They are usually a one to one device and do not have a protocol.
A protocol is like a language used to communicate to different devices connected together. Modbus serial communication (Modbus RTU) is a standard protocol used in many industrial automation devices. The BRX Series PLC has a MRX (Modbus Network Read) and MWX (Modbus Network Write) instructions.
We will demonstrate these instructions by communicating Modbus RTU to a Solo Temperature Controller. (RS485) Our example will read the current process (PV) value and write the set point value (SV) in the controller. Let’s get started. Continue Reading!