Swervomotor

Schleuniger is notoriously difficult to work with on "custom" stuff. We program all ours with Iquana, but I don't think you can access /edit the "program" registers remotely. PS. have you had any issues with your HMI's on those machines? We've had several fail.

What is the best/reliable/fastest way to "cast and control" the HMI screen to a tablet (on the other side of a machine) Hardware would be a Unistream, would a VNC veiwer or webserver be the best option or are their other alternatives?

After FTP is received I usually: 1st "Convert CSV to UDTF" 2nd "Load DTI From File" I would use a HMI element "Combo Box" to show the operator the available files. Each file name in the combo box would be linked to an index number which when the " Selected" bit of the combo box goes high stores the appropriate file name as a string to parameter "C" of the "load DTI from File" then loads that data from Parameter C-->A The downside to this method is that the available files listed in the combo box would be fixed so you could not change them easily. The way I handle this type situation is with another index data table to hold all the part numbers that would run on the machine, the operator scans their job/part number and on the back end we go search the part number data table using "Find DTI Column Value" and load whatever string is listed in that row data into Parameter C of "Load DTI from File" -Swervomotor

I would like to be able to open 2 projects at once on the same machine. It would also be nice to copy/paste ladder between the two.. But I would be good with just being able to compare side by side.

Is there any built in function to compare 2 projects side by side and show the differences without going through line by line?

You can use the built in functions to send a CSV file: HMI button sets a bit--> "Store DTI to File" Make sure to set "F" to 1 so it saves a CSV file onto the SD card--> Then when the "H" status finishes (1-->0) you can use the built in "FTP Send" to send that CSV file you named in the "Store DTI to File" Then go find it and open in Excel (import as CSV). Now if you want to import it back into the PLC after you make changes to the file you need to reverse this process: save as CSV (on computer) "FTP Receive" "Convert CSV to UDTF" "Load DTI from File"

Look a the help file under "timer TP" and "increment" You can use the falling edge of Timer.Out of one timer to start the other and increment your counter. I try to avoid using direct coils if possible and use SET and RESET coils.

Ok, looks like the Node RPI is restricted as read only from ladder so Q1 is out. I am however wondering about Q2 above, The enable bit is read/write from ladder so wondering about any "start up" delay.

Good day everyone, I have a project with 20 Ethernet/IP scanners running on a unistream 15.6". The machine network is separate from the plant network and goes through a layer 3 switch with VLAN port. I also have 6 Modbus TCP devices running on the machine network. I noticed when debugging the program I was having some bugs from what I assumed was network clogging with cyclic communication. By lengthening the RPI on some nodes I was able to resolve most issues. I also have a lot of disconnecting issues when trying to monitor in Online mode. I notice in the Help file under the Scanner Node Struct there is a Uint16 for the RPI. 1st Question: Am I able to Write a value to this "on the fly" and not have to reset the plc? Not everything on the machine needs to run at the same time so I would love to be able to transfer higher RPI to nodes when not in use and lower RPI to those nodes in use. 2nd Question: Am I able to use the "Enable Node Bit" (in the same struct) in the same fashion on the fly? if so, does the device stay connected and you would be able to turn on or off cyclic communication in one ladder scan? Or would there be a delay (greater than the RPI) after the node was Enabled before communication would begin? Thanks, -Swervomotor

Just did a "Fill Array Part" and that did the trick, Thanks!

I ran into a solid red LED with a transistor module, contacted support and they said all 0v and +V connections needed to be connected even if you were not using that row. Connected jumpers from 0V to 0V and +V to +V and it fixed the issue. Just a starting point but I would contact support.

I decided to use Internal Control Bit Arrays 2 x(255) on this large project to keep the global tag list manageable. I need to reset all these bits with an HMI button. Is there a way to reset an entire bit array? I get compile errors when attempting to use the reset coil. I really really don't want to have to put reset coils in for 500+ bits Thanks in advance

What are some ways to speed up screen changes in your project? I have a screen with 9 data tables (1 visible at a time based on the value from a combo box) and about 30 buttons (same only 3 visible based on combo box value) It takes about 5 seconds to load this screen. What are some ways to speed up screen changes and optimize HMI design?

This ^^ I think this could be done in less than 10 rungs. One idea of process flow is: Function In: Last Row to read Local Variable: Value1 variable SumTotal = 0; RowIndex = 0 Do until RowIndex = last row to read Get Value from current row index (built in function block) and move it to local variable (store) sum (SumTotal + Value1) Index RowIndex Loop SumTotal = Function Out.

Lifo table, you could pretty easy build a UDFB that took as a "function in" the # of rows that you wanted to SUM the specified data, then with the help of an increment run through each row and sum to a temp local variable, then move that to function out and reset the increment. You could then just change the # of rows (which would be at a fixed sample rate) to get your 24h, 7d, 1M Function Outs.

My suggestion would be a Data Table Index to store you data. Then use a combo Box and give each "index" a title 0-50. (or however many you need) Use the selected index # in a "read row from DTI" and use the index # as the row number (parameter B). I would use the "tag selected" bit in the combo Box configuration to pass power to the "read row from DTI" then add the reset to the end. You can always add a data table to the HMI to view the raw data. If your program gets more sophisticated and you need to do some automatic table searching you can use the other DTI functions like "Find DTI Column Value" to get the row index #

What I mean by hacking the firmware is just using their hardware but taking their server and software out of the equation off the device. Basically loading your own ESP8266 type firmware and running it off your own app/P2P/Mqtt backbone. I can't build a relay with ESP8266 for what I can buy one of these for. I have not tried it yet but it may come into play in future projects. Right now the work doesn't justify the end. As security is not really a concern on my light switches haha. If I was going to integrate these across more security sensitive applications I wouldn't as it stands.

I use these around the house for lights and ceiling fans: https://www.itead.cc/sonoff-wifi-wireless-switch.html They can be had for less than $5/each, if you trim the ends off they fit in a US standard box and I wire them at the light switch in parallel so in the event they go offline I can still operate the lights via the switch. They work with alexa/google (through the vendors server) and the wife loves them. It's basically a 10a wifi relay. Would I trust them in an industrial machine? no. To turn on my light? yep. They are "hackable" in terms of loading your own firmware aswell. Seems like the IIot makes sense with one caveat. Only on a local network. With a central Server that hosts the control. I can see data being able to exit but control not being able to enter.

Hopefully it will come in the next release fingers crossed. I understand, I was a Mod for a long time on a couple forums and usually we had a minimum # of approved posts to deter spam accounts. Seems like stuff around here gets approved pretty quickly so not really a big deal just wondering when my orange bar of shame would be lifted.

This may seem trivial but is there a way to define the zoom setting in ladder editor so when you open it it starts at say 70% instead of 100%? I did not find anything in the Project-Options but was hoping it's somewhere else? I have 18 "modules" that I need to open and close regularly and when I re-open it, boom Gigantic. Additionally, to the mods: How many posts do you need before your comments and posts need to be approved?

Thanks for the responses, the ole Copy-Paste-Delete all rungs was the only way I could get it done. I was hoping the labels were stored in a table somewhere that I could just re-order or drag-n-drop in ladder editor would be awesome. I will be more diligent with my planning next time. This project has ~ 50 regions so far.

Sounds like you could create a UDFB to 1. "Find DTI Column Value" 2. Insert row data into a holding struct 3. "Write Row to DTI" Your Function IN could be a variable with the data type you are searching for in step 1 above. This would save you lots of code if you need this multiple times.

Is there a way to re-order regions? in the ladder?

Not sure but I get a Red X, when I tried to change it to C : it went away but I was connected to the drive as shown in the picture below. I ended up running into all kinds of problems trying to update the firmware. "identifying hardware" death loop when trying to connect over USB, "failed Update" when updating via DOC formatted to FAT32. I ended up giving up with trying to update and just downloaded the old version of the software then uploading, making the changes, and re-downloading. I just don't understand how you cannot even connect to a PLC with older firmware to grab the program off it. Using any of the connection methods PC-PLC communication etc.

Why does Unilogic force me to update the firmware on the PLC even to just upload from the PLC? I'm trying to make a small change (ethernet IP scanner IP addresses) and when I try to open older version of unilogic it won't let me create a blank program to be able to go "online" and upload. So I go to newer version of Unilogic and create a blank program try to go "online" an it tells me I need to update the firmware on the PLC. So now I have to: 1. download the latest version of Unilogic onto a laptop 2. go find the PLC on the factory floor 3. OPEN THE CABINET 4. Connect USB drive or cable 5. Update Firmware 6. Hope the firmware update doesn't wipe the existing "upload" file Has anyone ever considered backwards compatibility??? This program was created less than 7 months ago.