adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Labview
Created Date: December 01,2008
Created By: atlasengineer
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Is labview compatible with Direct Soft 5 PLC programmer. We are currently using Lookout Direct but would like to switch over to Labview to control/monitor our industrial operation. Will this work? Thanks.
Created Date: December 01,2008
Created by: KPrice
atlasengineer, Although we have not used LabVIEW, I do not believe there is a LabVIEW communication driver for the DL PLCs, unlike the LookoutDIRECT which includes the driver. But LabVIEW does support Modbus and OPC. You may be able to use Modbus or use KepDIRECT OPC software to connect LabVIEW with the DL PLCs. A phone call to NI would confirm this. I'm not sure what you mean by "Is labview compatible with Direct Soft 5 PLC programmer? " LabVIEW would not connect with DirectSOFT5, but LabVIEW would connect to the DL PLCs. Hope this helps.
Created Date: December 01,2008
Created by: atlasengineer
Thanks. The reason I asked the question in that manner is we currently have our PLC setup programmed with Direct Soft Five and we are currently using Lookout direct to read/ control our program. We plan on switching to Labview but I would like to just use the Direct Soft program that I have written in conjuction with Labview.
Created Date: December 01,2008
Created by: atlasengineer
So would I be able to directly communicate with/ control the DL PLC 205 with Labview through the Ethernet. Thanks.
Created Date: December 02,2008
Created by: KPrice
atlasengineer, I believe your best bet to connect LabVIEW with the DL PLC is to use the KEPDirect OPC Server software and use the ECOM100 Ethernet module. LabVIEW is listed as OPC compliant, But give NI a call to check their OPC compatibility.
As far as going from the LookoutDIRECT to LabVIEW, are you using the LookoutDIRECT just as an HMI, and performing the logic in the PLC? Or are you performing a lot of logic in the LookoutDIRECT? If you are performing logic in the LookoutDIRECT, then this logic would have to be re-developed in the LabVIEW, as well as the HMI stuff. And since programs are different, there'll be a learning curve to learn how something in LookoutDIRECT is done in LabVIEW.
Created Date: December 17,2008
Created by: Jim Besselman
You can probably use Lookout Direct as a driver for labview. This works with the full version of Lookout. If you 're using Labview 8.0 or later you can create shared variables that are bound to Lookout computer\process\object\datamember. I 've done this using Direct Logic Plus with Lookout. You may find that Labview is not near as easy as Lookout though. They each have their place.
Created Date: February 06,2009
Created by: techphets
Has anyone done this? I would love to see example code.
Created Date: February 06,2009
Created by: Jim Besselman
There is a thread that might help get you going in the right direction on the NI developer forum at http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=190&thread.id=6276 .
When I get time I'll try to install the Lookout Direct demo and see if it works.
Created Date: February 06,2009
Created by: Do-more PE
Lookout could certainly be an OPC server for LabView, but it is overkill seeing as how you can get a true OPC server much cheaper and with less programming effort.
Created Date: February 07,2009
Created by: Jim Besselman
I agree for the most part, but keep in mind that the original poster already has Lookout Direct and was switching to Labview so to purchase a stand alone OPC server would be an additional cost. If the intent is to deploy multiple servers the OPC route could be much more cost effective. My experience has been that using the Lookout drivers with Labview is easier than an OPC server IF you have to go across a network AND deal with the DCOM headaches. However I'm a novice at the DCOM setup.
Created Date: February 07,2009
Created by: techphets
There is a thread that might help get you going in the right direction on the NI developer forum at http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=190&thread.id=6276 .
When I get time I'll try to install the Lookout Direct demo and see if it works.
Thanks Jim. I'll follow-up with my progress.
As for the other responses, like the original poster, I have Lookout but no OPC server. I may consider buying a standalone server after having success with Lookout.