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Damian

UniStream & UniLogic Beta
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Posts posted by Damian

  1. I have a sampling of Unitronics hardware that I keep on hand for aid in demoing and development.

    I tried to remove a V200-18-E3XB from the back of my V570 and snap it into my V1040 and to my suprise ................ it doesn't fit.

    I had another V200-18-E3XB that I keep on hand as spare. That does fit.

    Upon inspection, I found the following.

    1) The PC board of the original snap in module has extended corners that interfere with the studs of the V1040.

    2) The PC board of the newer IO module has those corners removed.

    3) The plastic studs on the V1040 are much longer than those on the V570

    Why are the studs on the V1040 so much longer?

    The reason I ask is I want to know if it was intentional for some kind of hardware incompatibility.

    I want to know if I can cut the corners off my old module so that I can still continue to use it as a demo with the V1040.

    D

  2. My issue has arisen because I am using my programming software with dual monitors. The issue at hand is that because I have switched my primary monitor since last editing my code, the pop-ups that allow you to put the information into a ladder element (a contact for example) does not show up on my monitor because it is popping up onto a screen that doesn't exist. My computer won't let me switch my primary monitor so I can just drag the pop-up back where it belongs. Even if I don't have dual monitors I can't get the pop-ups to come up.

    I have had a similar issue with AutoCAD layers manager pop-up. Where all I had to do was going thru the Redistry Editor and find the HKEY_.... and set the proper value to the RED_SZ, either a 0 or 1 to return the pop-up to it's default location.

    How to get the Unitronics pop-ups to return to their original position?

    I have tried re-installing the software. Is there something that I need to delete in HKEY_ folde?r

    Thanks,

    Dan

    Hi Dan,

    I use an extended laptop often, so I run into the same problem. Here is the trick

    When it happens .............

    Hold down "ALT" and then hit the space bar. You won't be able to see it, but the popped up window will actually display the default windows drop down list for that window. Then type "m" to select MOVE.

    Now, just use the arrow key (Left arrow if you were extended to the right) to move the windows back into your range of view.

    You can practice it with a window that is in view first so that you can see what is going on.

    D

  3. Hi Damian,

    The choice of stages is 1, 2 or 3 - not so big choice. Usually Autotune is preformed onece in a life, when you debug/tune your system. I understand there are anyway situations, when exchanging the value of one MI can be easier than download relevant DLU. But, based on my experience, in 99.5% of the cases the people will mess, will put illegal value there and then will ask need to understand why it doesn't work?...

    Hi Emil,

    In my case I need to develop a universal multizone (up to 16 zones) temperature controller which will utlize the same program for many different machines and process's. If it would have been variable, I could have assigned it an MI for all 16 zones, and simply changed the value in the configuration database to set the number of stages. Now, If I choose to have the number of stages variable, I have to declare 48 different Auto Tune blocks with with a bunch of comparators to achieve the same thing. This coupled with the fact that I can not set through the program the type of thermocouple used makes what could have otherwise been a very solid universal program a lot messier. PLEASE Unitronics, do not try to protect us from ourselves. This is automation, not kids toys.

  4. I really must be missing something here!

    F=PxA

    Our P = 5 pounds / in^2

    Our area A (touch screen cutout of V1210) is 11.69in x 8.9in = 104 in^2

    so

    F = 5 pounds/in^2 * 104 in^2 = 520lbs

    the V1040 works out to almost 500lbs itself

    That is 520lbs of linear force trying to push the HMI out the front door of the cabinet.

    That is like 2 and a half full grown men standing on the back of the HMI.

    Where am I going wrong?

  5. Hi Damian,

    I think you have today several good options:

    1. ASCII to NUM function in Strings menu;

    2. Define the vector, which holds the ASCII string in "Memory" window (bottom window in VisiLogic;

    If you want to "open" the vector fo two characters per MI to one character per MI, you can use the function "Transpose" (Strings menu).

    Please let me know if these options answer your request.

    BTW - when I have ASCII string, I set the view of the operands ot HEX. This helps me very much to "see" the text inside. Of course, it's much less elegant than the options I already pointed. Just for fast review...

    Hi Emil,

    The ASCII to NUM function will only work with BYTE packed characters, which is my original complaint.

    I'm not sure where you are going with #2. But to me the underlying point is that I don't want to have to write code to separate them out (or compact them), and that I can think of several reasons why I might not want more than one ascii value compressed into the same operand.

    The Procol Copy Buffer function for example allows me to copy ASCII input as byte packed or integer packed. If I choose Integer packed, it renders the ASCII to NUM function useless.

    Viewing the values in the operand in HEX is a good suggestion, and that is the way I normally do.

    Thanks,

    D

  6. Hi Damian,

    According to the standard, the "word" in RS232/485 needs ot be 10 or 11 bits. You always have one start bit. Then you wnt to set 7 data bits, no parity and one stop bit. The result is 9 - not standard! That's why COM Init module doesn't let you to chose this combination.

    Hi Emil,

    Can you please point me to where in the standard this is supposed to be? RS232/485 as far as I know is an electrical standard that does not dictate any protocol. I think you are maybe thinking of Modbus Ascii, in which case your above statement rings true.

    You have given me the freedom, using the Protocol function blocks, to accomodate non-standard protocols. Making it so that I can't select different combinations of communication parameters takes some of that freedom away.

    Thanks,

    D

  7. We need an option to to perform an ASCII to NUM operation on a Integer basis.

    Right now, If I have the ASCII values stored in contiguous integers, I have to jump through hoops to make the conversion.

    It is nice to store the ascii values separately in the integers so you can look at those integers and see what is in there without it be combined as a double byte.

    Or ........ as a plan B, allow me to "view" the MIs in BYTE mode using the format column of the operand window.

  8. For some reason, the CommInit Function block will not allow me to select Parity as "None" with 7 Data Bits. Why not? I can with hyperterminal. And the device I am trying to talk to is set up with these settings.

    If you try and select NONE, it just ignores you and puts back in EVEN parity. I found this after a couple hours of scratching my head, because I assumed that it was actually using the settings I selected.

    If you try to out smart it, and select 8 data bits first, then no parity, and then go back and change the data bits back to seven, it immediately stuffs an even back in the Parity.

    Can this be fixed?

  9. Hi Damian:

    I am still here from time to time. I keep working on my custom libraries. I sent a couple animations demos to Unitronics guys but they didn´t told me the final results.

    This is one with just 256 colors, I want to run it in the V1040 to see the new High res.

    Ahhh! So your the graphics Guru!

    You really make some nice looking stuff.

    I think the guys in R&D should be contracting you to help them with generating the graphics for the next generation.

    How do you make most of them? Are they just rendered 3D models from some CAD software?

    I have a V1040 that I keep as a Demo. I can run it on that if you like and take some pics/video.

    Damian

  10. This is a good question that has popped up several times in the past.

    If you search the old forum you will find a few suggestions.

    There was also a user who went by Ober that made some quite nice looking graphics, but I am uncertain if he continues to use the new forum under a different name.

    As a consequence of being a contract engineer, I typically have to maintain a lot of different HMI softwares to satisfy the standard requirements of my customers. So I tend to mix and match the libraries of all of these softwares as it suits me. There are a handful of these softwares that are free downloads.

    I wonder if this topic doesn't deserve possibly a separate spot here in the forum. Possibly a community galery so to speak where everyone can share their HMI objects with each other.

    This could also coincide with maybe descriptions on the best ways to fabricate or convert your own, and what software techniques work the best. Wouldn't be a bad blog topic.

    • Upvote 1
  11. Hi,

    It's important to understand that the Remote Operator does not have access to the actual HMI. It builds it own HMI. that's why it needs the file of images and fonts.

    The Draw functions manipulate the HMI indirectly, without HMI varaibles but it only affects the controller's HMI.

    Hi Stein,

    Thanks for the explanation.

    D

  12. Hi,

    Try to use OS 3.4 (03).

    What happens when you create a button, and press it? do you see the difference between "Pressed" and "Unpressed"?

    Can you attach a picture of the phenomenon?

    It was difficult to take a pciture that shows it well. I changed the background to yellow to help make it stand out better.

    The first pick shows the V570, Remote Operator, and Visilogic all showing the same screen.

    The second just shows the V570 displaying in "Unpressed" fashion.

    The Third shows Remote Operator displaying it properly, along with Visi to the right also showing it properly.

    And ............... The pictures.

    gallery_93_13_148568.jpg

    gallery_93_13_812760.jpg

    gallery_93_13_475870.jpg

  13. Hi,

    Try to use OS 3.4 (03).

    What happens when you create a button, and press it? do you see the difference between "Pressed" and "Unpressed"?

    Can you attach a picture of the phenomenon?

    Hi Stein,

    Where do I get my hands on OS3.4(03)? I'm using the most up to date (as far as I know) Visilogic 9.3.0 Build 0. and OS3.4(03) is not an option.

    "Buttons" are acting normally, you can see the change in state. Specifically, the one that is causing grief is the numeric entry with "pressed" selected.

    Sure, I can come up with some pictures.

    Thanks,

    D

  14. Pretty pretty please, with sugar on top???

    Ok, So I tried my secondary laptop. Windows Xp Pro SP3.

    Downloaded a new Visilogic V9.3 off the web.

    Installed the new Visiloigc.

    Downgraded the Firmware in the V570.

    Re-upgraded the Firmare to V3.4 (b0)

    Created a brand new application.

    Created one numeric entry on the main screen, linking it to MI0 and leaving all else default. "Pressed" is the default.

    Download

    Ran,

    Still displaying as "Unpressed".

    This rules out a specific application, a specific computer, a specificwindows version, a corrupt V9.3 install and just about anything else I can think of other than ..................

    1) Bug in the software or OS.

    2) I've completely lost my marbles (typically the explanation my wife prefers)

  15. Hi Jason,

    Just a quick glance at your screenshot here is a great indication that you need to break up that network into smaller parts. The fact that your screen shot didn't even catch all the logic in the one single net is a red flag. Because of the way you you built your network, it is ambigous whether your function variables are loaded prior to the function being called. You don't want to have to look at the STL to have to figure out exactly how it will operate. And if whatever that wire is traveling vertically that we don't see what connects to is the code that reads the values in, this is asking for even more trouble.

    Suggestion:

    Have your negative transition in its own net, process the comparator, and fire one coil.

    Just below it, using a contact off your new coil, create another net that just loads the SI141 and SI142 register.

    Just below that, in a network all to itself, use the same contact to load the function call into SI140.

    Then, in another net all to itself, you can buffer SI143, Si144 and SI145 into MI's, or whereever else you may want them.

    Keeping the networks short and direct will make both you and the PLC happier.

    Good luck and let us know how you made out.

    D

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