JeffBD (Customer) asked a question.
I am looking at linking a BX to a PC, so that the customer can create and maintain batch/product profiles in an xls spreadsheet, allowing the desired recipe to be either pushed by the PC, or pulled by the PLC.
I watched similar operation being configured and performed on an Allen-Bradley PLC, with RSLinks Classic, single-node ($700), using Virtual Basic to create buttons on the Excel spreadsheet. The READ and WRITE buttons retrieved and sent a block of data to/from the PC.
I thought of building a custom interface, which would receive the entire CSV exported from the PC (e.g. via USB/RS232 adapter) and parse out the selected product part number and its parameters, then use MODBUS RS485 to send to the BX. That requires the customer to export the CURRENT spreadsheet to the CSV, then print to the interface. (excessively cumbersome, multi-step solution)
The system will have a small C-more (6" or 7"), as HMI, but the customer feels the C-more recipe screen has been prone to entry errors and would prefer to maintain a spreadsheet.
Software available?
Other Ideas?
thanks!
Hi Jeff,
I would use the free AdvancedHMI. It is an open sourced application written in VB.Net.
Here is a post that show this running on a PC communicating to the BRX via Modbus TCP.
https://accautomation.ca/brx-plc-advancedhmi-communication-modbus-tcp/
I hope this helps you out.
Regards,
Garry
https://accautomation.ca/series/brx-do-more-plc/
I also did a post with just Excel and VBA.
https://accautomation.ca/how-to-implement-modbus-tcp-protocol-using-vba-with-excel/
You would have to get more into the protocol.
Using AdvancedHMI you could communicate to an Excel sheet.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/vb.net/vb.net_excel_sheet.htm
VB.net is great with databases. I would personally put the recipes in a database and let the users use excel as the front end to modifiy/change.
Just some thoughts,
Regards,
Garry
Garry, Seems like you are recommending a solution along the lines I was hoping to find, but
...when I click on the oswinsck link, or the ostrosoft link, I get a big red flag!
~~~~~~~~~~
[excerpts]
Dangerous Webpage Blocked
You attempted to access:
http://ostrosoft.com/oswinsck.aspx
This is a known dangerous webpage. It is highly recommended that you do NOT visit this page.
Safe Web Report for:
http://ostrosoft.com...
Norton Safe Search
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't often get these warnings from NortonLifelock, but this is a stronger warning than I recall in a while...Norton/Symantec have protected my PCs for 25 years, with only one attack (ransomware), which they fixed for me as part of their service. Pretty good record, so I don't argue with them, nor blow past their warnings.
I will still look at your suggestions. Thank you!
Regards,
Jeff
Here is a link which has not been rejected by Norton, so far, which sells the oswinsck product:
http://unterbergs.com/ip/help.html
Garry,
Good presentation.
I assume data transfers can be sent from Excel, as well as received...?.
Hi Jeff,
I have no affiliation or relationship to Ostrosoft.
The file you are looking for is the oswinsck.exe. I have zipped it and attached for you to try out. This is the same exe file for VBA that is mentioned in the link above. On my website you will see that you can download this link directly.
1. Download oswinsck.exe
Regards,
Garry
oswinsck
Thank you, Garry.
I see that once I determine to use oswinsck, I can purchase it for commercial use.
The ability to add button(s) to a spreadsheet, to allow the customer to push the recipe, is the cleanest, or maybe the second cleanest...
...The cleanest being for the BX to be able to pull the current recipe version, on demand, from the spreadsheet on the PC. That would allow the PC to be remote (off the production floor).
I will have to learn the capabilities of the option you are recommending.
Alternatively, having FTP file(s), would allow for network connection, rather than a local PC. I would either need to automate FTP file(s) updates from the spreadsheet, or require the customer to remember to update the FTP file(s), if the spreadsheet is edited. This would apply whether the C-more, or the BX receives the file(s) from FTP.
Having workable option(S), before I commit, is a good thing.
Thank you.
Regards,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
I included the write information in the comments, within the program.
‘ Write the information
‘0000: Transaction Identifier
‘0000: Protocol Identifier
‘0009: Message Length (6 bytes to follow)
’01: The Unit Identifier
’16: The Function Code (read Analog Output Holding Registers)
‘0000: The Data Address of the first register
‘0001: The number of registers to write
’02: The number of data bytes to follow
‘0030 The number to put into the register
Regards,
Garry
I knew Garry was going to suggest AdvancedHMI. If possible, you also might want to wait a couple of weeks. The developers of the BRX will be releasing a software update that will allow (to some extent) ftp transfers and webserver. This might allow you to accomplish what you're trying to do. I'm looking for the same functionality. BobO or franji can comment.
+1 RBPLC
I agree this would be perfect for FTP on the BRX. The software would have to be written so that only when the machine is at a starting place the new recipe would be loaded.
Regards,
Garry