adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Created Date: April 16,2019
Created By: K_For_Potassium
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Started out working on only 1 PLC where I was just going to grab the log files and create something in excel to generate charts. Now it looks like I'll need to start hooking up sensors to everything in the plant for continuous data collection (1 minute intervals at most) while adding a little more automation. Any recommendations for collecting continuous data from a couple dozen PLCs? Near future is just P2k/p3k PLCs, but I might throw in some click and brx PLCs based on the application requirements/cost. If multiple PLCs writing to a database server continuously is a problem, an acceptable solution would be recording the data locally and writing it to the server once per day and in some cases, once per week. Thanks!
Created Date: April 16,2019
Created by: K_For_Potassium
Started out working on only 1 PLC where I was just going to grab the log files and create something in excel to generate charts. Now it looks like I'll need to start hooking up sensors to everything in the plant for continuous data collection (1 minute intervals at most) while adding a little more automation. Any recommendations for collecting continuous data from a couple dozen PLCs? Near future is just P2k/p3k PLCs, but I might throw in some click and brx PLCs based on the application requirements/cost. If multiple PLCs writing to a database server continuously is a problem, an acceptable solution would be recording the data locally and writing it to the server once per day and in some cases, once per week.
Thanks!
Created Date: April 16,2019
Created by: MikeN
Its too bad Point of View software is no longer sold by Automation Direct. That was cheap(ish) and had very nice integration with AD PLCs. You could use this software instead as it is also on the cheaper end of things:
DAQFactory
Created Date: April 17,2019
Created by: z28z34man
I haven't used it but i know there is a dedicated instruction to dataworx in the productivity suite
https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/shopping/catalog/software_products/plc_data_logging_-z-_web-based_monitoring_software/dataworx_plc/pc-datplc-un
Created Date: April 18,2019
Created by: kewakl
If a BRX is in the mix, could it be a data aggregator/concentrator. You could then use DMLogger.
Created Date: April 18,2019
Created by: MikeN
The built in datalogging for Productivity is pretty rudimentary, probably why the OP is looking for a real solution. I have used BRX before as a datalogger, it does work quite well. I can use the file log instructions to record any memory address I want and email the log to a work email address any time I want. While it does work well, a SCADA type software with logging capabilities would still work better for such a large scale logging operation IMO. You get more visual indicators of each thing you are keeping track of and logs can be output into database or excel in an easier manner. BRX wants to log things as .CSV files, which for me anyway are more cumbersome to work with.
Created Date: April 24,2019
Created by: JulesTop
Its too bad Point of View software is no longer sold by Automation Direct. That was cheap(ish) and had very nice integration with AD PLCs. You could use this software instead as it is also on the cheaper end of things:
DAQFactory
As an FYI, Point of View (white label of InduSoft) is no longer sold by AD, however, InduSoft can still be purchased from other authorized re-sellers. InduSoft is exactly the same as Point of View, and I find it excellent.
It is too bad that AD no longer sells Point of View... I must say.
Created Date: April 24,2019
Created by: Garry
I would look at AdvancedHMI. This is free software written in VB.net and runs on visual studio. Drivers for Modbus TCP and RTU are included to get information out of the PLCs.
Click to AdvancedHMI
https://accautomation.ca/click-plc-advancedhmi-communication/
BRX to AdvancedHMI
https://accautomation.ca/brx-plc-advancedhmi-communication-modbus-tcp/
Productivity 1000 to AdvancedHMI
https://accautomation.ca/productivity-1000-series-plc-advancedhmi-modbus-tcp-ethernet-communication/
Depending on the database that you are connecting would determine the way you would read and write to it using VB.net.
https://accautomation.ca/creating-a-hmi-login-screen-on-advancedhmi/
This is a series on using VB6 to collect data from the PLCs. It is using robust logging because it will collect the data every minute. If communication is severed, the PLC will continue to log the information in the PLC until the communication is restored. The information is then all retrieved.
Now You Can Have Robust Data Logging for Free
( PLC Program – Modbus TCP (VB6) – Access Database – Web Server)
Part 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
Hope this helps you out.
Regards,
Created Date: May 22,2019
Created by: K_For_Potassium
Thanks, Garry... Finally getting around to installing visual studio to try this out on my laptop before fully implementing it.
Created Date: May 22,2019
Created by: kewakl
Be sure you install a version of VS that Archie supports.
Created Date: June 03,2019
Created by: Brandon_
I would look at AdvancedHMI. This is free software written in VB.net and runs on visual studio. Drivers for Modbus TCP and RTU are included to get information out of the PLCs.
Click to AdvancedHMI
https://accautomation.ca/click-plc-advancedhmi-communication/
BRX to AdvancedHMI
https://accautomation.ca/brx-plc-advancedhmi-communication-modbus-tcp/
Productivity 1000 to AdvancedHMI
https://accautomation.ca/productivity-1000-series-plc-advancedhmi-modbus-tcp-ethernet-communication/
Depending on the database that you are connecting would determine the way you would read and write to it using VB.net.
https://accautomation.ca/creating-a-hmi-login-screen-on-advancedhmi/
This is a series on using VB6 to collect data from the PLCs. It is using robust logging because it will collect the data every minute. If communication is severed, the PLC will continue to log the information in the PLC until the communication is restored. The information is then all retrieved.
Now You Can Have Robust Data Logging for Free
( PLC Program – Modbus TCP (VB6) – Access Database – Web Server)
Part 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
Hope this helps you out.
Regards,
That is a truly fantastic tutorial. I wish those existed back before I had settled on EA9's.
I really wish Archie would develop a driver for PxK that aHMI to talk "natively " to PxK using tag names instead of modbus addresses. I got really, really spoiled with EA9 and not having to screw with modbus address creation.