Joe Tauser

+ 1. I am curious as to why this isn't a number we can load into a control register for each channel that selects input type. Joe T.

I've observed similar behavior - analog outputs go to zero if the value is 4096 or more. I've worked around it by using a compare block and forcing the output to 4095 in the last rung of the program. No, it's not good and I don't know where it comes from but it at least needs to be documented in the spec sheet. Cara? Joe T.

Keith- You point is valid on overflowing the MI. It is with great humility that I must point out that the maximum value for a 16 bit register is 2^15 - 1, or 32,767. If the linear block spits out value of 32,768 or more the sign bit kicks in and all kinds of goofy negative numbers show up. Joe T.

Russ, Yes, I have blown up analog inputs by directly applying 24V, but this is usually in the 4-20 mA mode and it fries the little resistor inside. The voltage input impedance is 1 Meg and the maximum rating is 20V. You have to start at the beginning by looking at the raw values returned by the module. If you apply 0-10V to the module, you should get 0-4095 in the mapped MI register. Disconnect all the inputs and check them one at a time to make sure you're not getting a ground loop anywhere. Joe T.

My experience has been that the acceleration and deceleration are set in the robot itself, which should take care of "smooth operation". You'll need the protocol guide of the robot to determine what commands to issue to it; something like POSITION X,Y and MOVE. If it's as simple as that, then the program won't be too bad. Before you try to drive it with a PLC, try moving it by typing commands into Hyperterminal. If you can do it from a terminal then you can definitely do it from the PLC. Joe T.

You've assigned Output 0 to a regular coil in network 11. Never, ever mix regular coils and SET and RESET on the same address. The regular coil will always win by definition. You may want to change your logic to use an MB to do the SET/RESET dance and OR that with SB 41 on Output 0. Joe T.

Have you looked at the Help on Data Tables? Joe T.

OK, so I log onto my identity theft protection website to check something and I see that this guy is who I call if I need technical support: Wait a minute- he looks oddly familiar. Is he my kid's soccer coach? Was he on the news for shooting up a McDonalds? No! I've seen this person before! Same shirt, same tie, except Unitronics has more class and makes him wear a sport coat. I'm wondering if there's a support guy store where you can buy one of these- kind of like Star Wars III - The Clone Wars. I think the cat is out of the bag on the factory in India pumping out support people. I'm sure his name is either "Jason" or "Josh". Any theories for this phenomenon are welcome. Joe T.

It depends on the number of axes you're trying to control and whether or not there will be circular interpolation involved. You'll have to write your own interface using the Protocol block. I've done this with a two-axis "robot", but all it had to do was go to an X-Y coordinate. It didn't matter how it got there. I stored the X and Y coordinates in a data table and stepped through the table, triggering a Protocol Send block for each movement. Post more details of your application. Joe T.

Do a screenshot and post it to an imaging hosting site such as photobucket.com. Then insert the link to your image in the post. One way I use to see if logic is solving is to use a SET coil assigned to a test MB. If the coil doesn't get set, there's something wrong with the logic in front of it. Joe T.

I've found that AC excitation on the LC1 is more stable than DC. Joe T.

What is the model number of the PLC you are using? Joe T.

You'll have to put some code in to not init the COM port and disable other logic that references it and then cycle power if you want to use USB. The USB port is a built-in USB->serial converter using COM1. The easiest thing to do is pony up for an Ethernet port and do your programming through that. Joe T.

Try this- Joe T.

As there were no personal attacks, it was a fair rant. Everyone on the forum is entitled to an opinion and sometimes the more strongly worded ones result in clarification of the Help files and/or the web page. Unitronics is very good about responding to frustrated users with legitimate complaints. Saragani didn't mention that the official way to contact support is to email your question or application to support@unitronics.com. This automatically goes to both US support personnel as well as several at the home office. They usually get back to you quickly unless you run into that Thursday thing. Joe T.

Could you attach your program? Joe T.

Your problem is probably being caused by a dll that's been replaced by software you've installed. You need to do a complete removal of Visilogic and re-install it, if you still have the 4.7.3 install program. The current version, 9.3, works with all but the oldest controllers. Instructions for completely removing Visilogic can be found here: Remove Visilogic The United States phone number for technical support is 866-666-6033. This number can also be found if you click "Contact Us" at the top of the home page. Your distributor should have been able to provide you this, as well as some level of technical support. Israel works Sunday-Thursday. Your post on Thursday morning would have been at the end of their day. Any answers you would have received outside of that time would have been from volunteer moderators such as myself. My experience with Allen Bradley is they only provide support if your service contract is current ($$) and you have to give them your ID number. Just like the programming software, Unitronics provides phone support for free during normal business hours. Do what you will. Joe T.

I think this connector would be the way to go on the expansion port: Joe T.

Bogdan- Your graphics post was a binary explosion - I had to delete it. Email it directly to me at joe@jtauser.com. Joe T.

This is a question for your converter supplier, and it may or may not matter whether you are using termination resistors. I've actually experienced the RS485 port on a Unitronics over-driving a converter and I had to use a terminator to knock the voltage level down on a very short (2m) cable. For some reason it didn't work at 10 Vpp, but it works great at 6 Vpp. You need an oscilloscope to see this. Before anybody at the Home Office chimes in, no, it wasn't the Unitronics RS232 to RS485 converter. I had to go to USB and used "another" brand. What kind of converters are you using? Joe T.

You're going to have to write logic to create the ramps and soaks. Read the help on the Linear Block - you can load it with the start and end points of your graph segments and extract the linearized Y value to feed the setpoint of a PID block. You'll need to create your own timebase to feed the X values. You can store the start temp, end temp, and ramp duration in a data table and page through it to load a common linear block. If you could supply some example values I can write and post a simple program to get you started. Joe T.

An old trick for PLCs that only have integers is to use a "virtual decimal". Multiply the celcius value by 18 and add 320. Your fahrenheit value will have a virtual tenths place which you can work with and display by setting the numeric format to xx.x. Otherwise, you can divide the answer by 10 and get rid of it. I checked this out on my slide rule. It works great! Feel free to try it out on yours. Don't forget to add your exponents or you won't get the right answer. Or you could program the Jazz to do it. Joe T.

This is not a new request or concern. I asked about it in November of 2009: Backing Up RAM Values The ability to store and restore the values in the RAM table is a tool that is absolutely required in Visilogic. We clearly have the code to do it in Remote Access. We know what all the table sizes are because the model number is defined in the project. Rather than letting the user define the data areas, just default to them all. If they want to get picky and specify data areas then that's what Remote Access is for. Joe T.

The expansion adapter is required for this module, and you'll probably want to use the new isolated EX-A2X. The EX-A1 is being phased out. There are three modules that have the expansion adapter built in: EX90-DI8-RO8 EX-D16A3-RO8 EX-D16A3-TO16 Unless you've already bought the IO-DI8-TO8, you may want to look at the specs on these. Joe T.

Do some digging on NI's website for the LabView code. Here's the Modbus library: LabView Modbus Libary 1.21 Be sure to read the user comments about a bug in one of the vi's. Here's NI's Modbus introduction: NI Modbus intro Assuming the V230's will be slaves, all you have to do on the Unitronics side is configure the Ethernet port, trigger a Modbus IP configuration block with SB 2, and hang a Modbus IP ScanEX block on the rail. Joe T.