Messages

1

Open Discussion / Re: Press Integration

« on: July 27, 2021, 02:01:46 PM »

One of the presses uses a x20 BC 0083 PLC and the other uses a Keba 272/A.
I have not done any work with these, and if you need more details I can dig into the machines tomorrow when they are not running them. Don't want to move wires around and cause issues while they are running.

2

Open Discussion / Re: Press Integration

« on: July 26, 2021, 04:57:11 PM »

another plant wanted to do something similar, and they were declined access to the PLC, I've been out of the plant for a while and was asked about this project today. Maybe I will have better luck just getting a list of the tags/registers that contain the data I would like to remotely monitor.

3

Open Discussion / Press Integration

« on: July 26, 2021, 10:10:54 AM »

Archie,

I found a fancy project you made for a press.
I was asked if this was something we could do at our facility.
The question I have is, did you get information from the company that built the press?
We were told we could not have a copy of the PLC, but I wonder if they would be willing to give us register locations/tag names so we can monitor these values.
Trying to see if this is something I can get going for them or if its another pipe dream they have.

4

Open Discussion / Aditional Eduction

« on: March 29, 2021, 11:34:53 AM »

Wizards,

I have been able to "fumble" though quite a bit of things using Advanced HMI.
The powers that be are very pleased with what I have been able to provide them.
As I keep growing, they keep adding more things to my plate.
In an attempt to reduce the amount of keyboard smashing with my face, I have been looking around to find some courses that will fill in the blanks in my head.
Other than, here read this book, are there any recommended courses that I could take?
I prefer in person learning, but in these troubling times, I don't believe I will be able to find any in person classes.

5

Open Discussion / Using Advanced HMI PLC drivers in other applications

« on: December 23, 2020, 10:15:32 AM »

Archie,

I have a couple of VS applications that use RSLinx to com with the PLC.
It has always been difficult to get RSLinx to load via the VS program, not exactly sure why.
Are you apposed to someone using your driver and retro fitting our application so we can stop using RSlinx?
I am not sure if they will be able to do so, but I wanted your blessing before I present them with the option.

Thank you for all you do,

Gad.

6

Open Discussion / Re: IT security software

« on: November 10, 2020, 09:21:14 AM »

The PC that runs the application is the PC that I remote into when I need to correct a camera related issue while not in the plant. This pc has access to their network so they are dumping their security software on it. Other than it being on their network for me to access it remotely, it doesn't do anything else, IT wise.
Another plant in another country had some network virus and it seems the knee jerk reaction was to get some software that hates everything.

I'll try to fight with them to get some exceptions made for it. For now, the application is still running, thank god I made off line back ups because the saved files were killed on the server.

Gad

7

Open Discussion / IT security software

« on: November 10, 2020, 08:24:59 AM »

Wizards,

I built a nice little display out of AdvancedHMI that shows production data.
Everything works great, but last week the IT department has changed around a bunch of security.
They just told me the AdvancedHMI program has pissed it off and the security killed my program that was saved on the server.
Is there something that I can do to stop making the IT stuff so angry?

Gad

8

Open Discussion / Re: B & R PLC Project

« on: July 31, 2020, 10:58:59 AM »

The PLC is B&R x20bc0083, Ive never worked with this one before.
We are still trying to wrap our brains around what they really want.
The bosses love to come up with fancy ideas, and leave me to figure out how I'm going to polish a turd.
Getting started is the hard part, once I get a base display built and communicating with the PLC, I will be able to add more things as needed.
why can't things every be easy..

9

Open Discussion / Re: B & R PLC Project

« on: July 30, 2020, 12:41:43 PM »

maybe I should have started looking in the application show case section first...
Archie has a nice press program there.
Our PLCs are different, but I will use it for inspiration and personal training.

10

Open Discussion / B & R PLC Project

« on: July 30, 2020, 12:34:08 PM »

Team,

I was asked to look and see if I can make a display for our molding press.
The "bobs" loved what I did using the Advanced HMI program on our assembly lines.
They would like something similar for the press.
I have just started to poke around to see what I am going to need to do.
I am secretly hoping that I am not the only one that is trying to do this, and I can get pointed in the right direction.
I still need to either get a copy of the PLC program, or purchase the software to get into the plc and find my bits.
Any pointers in the right direction would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Gad

11

Open Discussion / Data Collection

« on: July 06, 2020, 02:53:06 PM »

Team,

I built a tracking report in excel a while back with a lot of vba background code. It works, but it crashes every couple months and runs very slow. I want to make it better and I believe advanced HMI will do what I want, the limiting factor is my knowledge.

I've spent quite a bit of time going over the forums here, and everyone here gives great details.
I enjoy the struggle, and find I learn things better if I dig a hole and try to get out of it.

Just in case I am going about this wrong, I thought I would ask a few questions that might get me back on track.

1.) The PLC (1768-L43 Compact Logix5343) collects the following data:
Tracked_Bypass[0].Time        (nested udt, contains hour, min, sec) Time is not required but I collect this anyways.
Tracked_Bypass[0].Bypassed  (String)
Tracked_Bypass[0].Trace       (Dint)
Tracked_Bypass[0].User        (Dint)
Tracked_Bypass[0].Machine   (String)
I collect up to 1000 instances.
Ive attempted to the datasubscriber1 and 2, I get the file with the time the scan was performed, I just don't get any data listed after the time stamp.

     Do I need to break these apart and rebuild the code for the data sub to collect this data? Or can I pull the entire array?
I have my current excel file pulling the data at a set time every morning, but if it is easier for the program, I can set it to pull when my indexer changes values.( I am able to get the trigger to work)
     
2.) Is there a built in feature that confirms I have pulled the data and write a 1 back to the PLC to clear the data collection on the PLC side? (low priority, more than 1 way to skin this cat if needed)

I have some down time over the next 2 weeks that gives me plenty of time to hammer away at this. This is not a required project, just one that will teach me some new tricks and hopefully make the reporting more reliable.


It is quite possible that I have chosen to take the hardest road possible. If there is another way of going about this, using Advanced HMI, feel free to point me in a new direction.


Thanks,

Gad