Jevan

Well, the bosses (and maintenance) want to standardise on one brand of PLC for all of the machines in the factory (and sister-factories). Siemens seems to be the industry standard round here, and I and my colleagues know Tiaportal fairly well. We have dumped the project from the Unitronics Jazz PLC (that was originally installed by an external company as part of a package for the whole machine), and are looking into the possibilities. I have pointed out that it would be much easier to just keep Unitronics for that machine, but I do understand their perspective. Understood fully. But while I get it that there is no instant conversion tool, some half-way process of dumping each block, converting it, having to re-write all the inputs but not the ladder etc., would be better than having to re-write it all from scratch. Especially if you have to learn a new way of interpreting the programming from the one you are used to. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Just to add, if there is a business that offers this possibility, please could you pass on details. Thanks

I have a nice project in Visilogic that I have been asked to re-create in Tiaportal/Siemens. I can export each sub-routine to a .vlx. Opening this shows a header of a "Standard Jet DB ", but if you open it with e.g. Access, it doesn't seem to be standard. Is there any way of converting/exporting the project to another format/structure? (I imagine not, but thought it best to ask) Thanks

Thank you for all your help. I am aware I may have an impossible task, but want to be prepared for all eventualities. I am a bit more comfortable now you have let me know the probable complications/solutions, so I at least won't be going in blind.

Hello I have recently started a new job, and been told "you know siemens/tiaportal, so work out how this unitronics stuff works". Arm moving around big chunks of metal, process controlled via PLC. All installed by external company some time ago. I cannot physically check what is actually installed at the moment as it is in 24h usage, but want to be prepared for when an opportunity arises. The project parts list includes a "V130-33-T38", a "Ex90-DI8-R08-C1", and a whole load of switches etc. The parts list makes no mention of an I/O expansion for the V130, but given that it needs one, I assume that one is installed. It looks like they are likely to be connected over RJ45. I have ordered a MJ10-22-CS25 and MJ10-22-CS35 (and installed drivers and vislogic) to hopefully be able to create a copy of whatever programming is on the PLC. Questions: Is the I/O port in the V130 specific to the EX90 expansion? Could it be used for other things like copying the programming off the PLC? Can any RJ45 cable be (potentially) used? Any issues/complications to watch out for when copying the programming off? Can't do a test run in a safe environment to check that communication works. Basically, I have no knowledge of the hardware, and no experience with the software, and want to be prepared as I will have limited time to see how it is physically set up, and to try to copy/backup the PLC data. Thank you.