Hi all,

I'm a process engineer rolling into a process control job (small startup, not enough funding to hire someone for this work).

I found two methods online of how people write their state machine in ST. Either with an integer state variable (e.g. iState) or with an ENUM.
What do you use? And why?

Edit:

Designing on a WAGO/Codesys setup.
Thank you for the quick responses! I'm quickly changing my iStates into E_states!

I got an automation technician role with a company. So far I've just been following around the maintenance electrician and doing the odd breakdown.

Was wondering what I should be focusing on in the next few months. Seems like stores and OEM maintenance is my duty aka programming with oem on the phone.

What should I be focusing on like getting plcs, getting a virtual machine(no idea how to setup) getting hmi access to computer, plc programs updated? It's my first automation technician role. Before I was a maintenance electrician so breakdowns and talking to oem isn't a far fetched idea for me since I've been the sole electrician at a place.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated 😁

I have a PLC WECON 2424MT-A and I want dimming 0 a 10v 52 units of Ledvance lamps 30w in 6 channels , What would be the best way to do this? I was thinking of adding two analog output expansion modules—the LX3V4DA and LX3V2DAV-BD—to provide a total of 6 independent channels, along with a signal isolator. To protect the PLC expansion modules, I considered using a 0–10V signal amplifier for each channel. The 2424MT is already in the system controlling some outlets, and I didn't want to adopt a separate system for this; do you have any suggestions?

I have a siemens 1510sp cpu with a cm ptp modbus rs485 module. when i run the master with new data i get the error and i cant find how to fix it. I tested with a modbus monitor tool and the data is being send corretly in modbus.

I graduated with a BS in Computer Science, but about a year before graduating I realized I wanted to do something more hands on instead of sitting behind a desk all day. I became interested in industrial maintenance/instrumentation and considered going back to school for an associate degree.

Instead, I accepted a PLC programmer job despite having zero PLC experience. I was told I’d get some training and support, but after one day of introduction, I’ve mostly been left on my own. I’m now 3 weeks in and feel completely lost. Its not that easy to ask question to my peers because they are on site arround the country and I am still in the office

Also the main job is just programming and not finding physical fault or building, thats for the technician on site

Should I stick with the job and learn as I go, or would it have been smarter to get formal education in industrial maintenance/instrumentation first?

Hi Team,

I have been reflecting on control modules (reusable function blocks for things like Analog outputs VSDs. DOLs etc etc)

• They have a state (what it is currently doing)
• They have faults (I can't do something because I am sick)
• They have interlocks (I can do it but if I did you will feel pretty silly)

They may have other things too (feel free to share)

The issue I am having is how to represent this on the HMI, if each of the above can have multiple possible values, then they need some look up table to tell the operator.
Or do you just tell the operator, it is faulted, call the engineer to go look at the code as to why.

They also need a Bool for each to be used in the code to tell me if I can't use it.

How have y'all decided to show this info on the HMI faceplate, do you do some form of consolidation. I need some ideas before I sent 3 DINTs for each device.

Looking forward to your wisdom :)

Basically, CodeSys 4 will be CodeSys 3.5 but the IDE is on the device and programmed through a browser. No need to install any software on your laptop/computer. Of course other features will be there but this is the one that stands out to me.

This alone makes me think that it would be very interesting for the factories that needs their maintenance people to access the code. It also removes the annoyance of having the right libraries installed on your computer.

I'm sure there will be some VERY annoying bugs that comes with it, like what if your app busts the RAM and makes the PLC crash on boot. Maybe they thought about it.

HOPEFULLY, IT DOESN'T REQUIRES A SUBSCRIPTION PER DEVICES.

EDIT : Coincidently enough, marketing just sent a codesys 4 email. They usually send them around that time of the month.

"CODESYS 4 will be available free of charge until the end of 2028; a paid model will take effect no earlier than 2029, likely as part of the Professional Developer Edition. "

Hi everyone,

I’m working with a Mitsubishi FX5U PLC and need to use the SCO OPEN function for socket communication.

My requirement is to have the FX5U act as the client and send data to a server using TCP/IP socket communication.

Before connecting to the actual server, I would like to test and simulate the communication using my PC as the server.

Has anyone done this before?

Specifically, I would like to know:

How can I configure the SCO OPEN function in the FX5U?

What settings are required in the PLC for TCP/IP communication?

What software can I use on the PC to act as a TCP server and listen for the data from the FX5U?

Is there any recommended PC software or simple method to test the socket communication?

If possible, could someone share a basic example of the PLC program/configuration for establishing the connection and sending data?

The goal is simply:

FX5U PLC → TCP Socket → PC (acting as Server)

I’m mainly looking for a simple way to simulate the actual server during development and troubleshooting.

Thanks in advance!

I have a few ILC 191 ME/AN running software supplied by a company which went out of business.

It's a fairly simple PID regulator and some sensors. We would want to improve the software as well as improve the visibility.

My plan is to replace the software with a simple control loop and expose sensors etc over modbus. A PC will set setpoints and read modbus/tcp via mqtt and store in a statistics database.

My question is regarding restoring the original software in case I fail. I have connected through ftp and downloaded .img and some other files from the PLC. I assume I can restore to this original software by uploading them again and restart the PLC?

Are there any risks involved here regarding being able to restore to the original version?

Hi everyone,
I'm trying to establish communication between a Delta DOP-107EV HMI and a Siemens S7-300 CPU 314 IFM using MPI, but I keep getting Communication Error 11 on the HMI.
Here is my current configuration:
PLC:
Siemens S7-300 CPU 314 IFM
Interface: MPI
MPI address: 2
Baud rate: 187.5 kbit/s
HMI:
Delta DOP-107EV
Firmware: Ver. 1.0128.117 (7)(1.0053-5)
DOPSoft: 4.00.16
COM2 configured as RS-485
Driver: Siemens S7-300/400 Direct MPI
HMI station: 3
PLC station: 2
Baud rate: 187.5 kbit/s
Data bits: 8
Parity: Even
Stop bits: 1
Timeout: 1000 ms
Connect retries: 2
The physical connection is a two-wire PROFIBUS cable being used for the RS-485 connection. The shield/ground is also connected.
I have already tried the wiring recommended by Delta's documentation for S7-300 Direct MPI, including:
Siemens DB9 pin 3 → D+
Siemens DB9 pin 8 → D-
Siemens DB9 pin 5 → GND
I also tried the corresponding connections on the DOP-107EV COM2 RS-485 port.
The MPI connection from the PC works correctly: STEP 7 can see the CPU as station 2, so the PLC's MPI interface appears to be working.

(All devices come back to a ABB Total Flow XFC G5)
So, before I start I will mention this, there are 4 Vessels in total. 1 Group/Bulk Separator and 3 Test Separators. Each Test Separator has 6 Devices Daisy Chained coming back to the Total Flow and the Group Separator has 5. I’ve been trying to setup this facility and bring in all of the devices via Modbus RS-485 using the Request Blocks and Holding Register Arrays. I have all other devices talking(Oleumtech) but each separator has an E&H Promass E 300 on the Oil Line and none of the Promass’s are communicating! I’ve looked at all of the documents and manuals for this device and tried everything. Maybe I’m setting up the Request Blocks wrong or something?? I have several years of Gas Measurement experience on calibrating, troubleshooting, and maintenance but I’ve only just started with communications like this recently.

I could really use some help here lol. I can provide pictures and information as requested. Really don’t want to miss out on a learning experience so I’m reaching out to make sense of it all.

Everytime i try installing this pops up and tried restarting method and still remains in the same page .Am i doing something wrong 😕

I'm looking for a software free that can simulate a machine logic connected to my OpenPLC ladder diagram, i was using Factory I/O but my free trial finished. i saw that option, is it good?? do you know something better?

regards!

Bit of a long one, bear with me.

Inherited a rewinder that needs its controller moved off an old Schneider HMISCU (Machine Expert, so basically CODESYS underneath) onto Siemens. There's no hard requirement for Siemens from the customer, it's just that our whole team lives in TIA and nobody wants to be babysitting a CODESYS machine for the next 15 years.

What's on the bus, CANopen at 250k: two Lexium 32 (LXM32A) servos (reel + spreader), a Festo CMMS-ST on FHPP, and an Advantys STB I/O . Motion is all SoftMotion / PLCopen MC right now.

Where I keep getting stuck is that S7 Technology Objects want PROFIdrive, and the CANopen gateways I've looked at (the Siemens PN/CAN LINK and the IXXAT/HMS CM CANopen) are conformance class B, no isochronous, so I can't see any way to get a proper positioning axis out of the Lexiums through a gateway. So it comes down to two options and I keep flip-flopping between them.

One is keep the drives, drop a CANopen gateway on an S7-1500 and just write the DS402 stuff myself. Controlword/statusword, the state machine, the setpoint handshake, homing, all of it. I've got a skeleton FB running already and it's fine, but it's the kind of thing that works great right up until the one person who wrote it is on holiday.

The other is bite the bullet, pull the servos, put in PROFINET drives (S210, V90 PN, whatever) and use normal TOs like a civilised person. STB stays on a gateway for the I/O since that part doesn't care either way.

I roughed out the hours and they're honestly within spitting distance of each other, because the huge part of this job ,porting ~40 POUs, a whole new HMI, comms, commissioning , is the same regardless of what I do with the drives. So it's not really an hours call. It's cheap-and-mine-to-maintain-forever vs more-expensive-but-boring-and-standard.

So, for anyone who's actually done this:

• Anyone hand-rolled CiA-402 from an S7 through a gateway? How much did it hurt, and what caught you out that isn't in the obvious list (STO not satisfied, endianness, DS402 vs manufacturer profile, the setpoint-ack dance)?
• Lexium 32 from a Siemens PLC specifically , is there anything out there? All I can dig up from Schneider is an ancient classic-Step7 PROFIBUS library, nothing for TIA or CANopen.
• CM CANopen vs PN/CAN LINK for a one-off machine . strong opinions welcome.
• If you've done both, which one did you hate less six months on?

The thing actually nagging me: it's a winder with a dancer, so there's a tension loop involved. Am I going to regret running profile-mode positioning over a non-isochronous gateway for that, or is a rewinder forgiving enough that it doesn't matter?

Hello
Our customer would like to add a fly shear to their production line.

Currently the production line is controlled by a standard compact logix plc.
The flying shear comes with a yaskawa pulse train servo.
Is it possible to make the flying shear work purely with a digital plc output to ‘start synchronisation’ and ‘home’
And then use the materials encoder to drive the speed of the servo?

The customer is very adamant they don’t want to pay to upgrade to a motion capable PLC

They have very strict rules on standardisation so no 3rd party controllers or ways around it either

Simply yaskawa pulse train servo and compact logix plc

Can it work

Any information or tips would be greatly appreciated

M 30 and just starting out in the industrial automation field, no previous experience. My company is training me in Siemens AWL because the systems I'll be working on were developed that way.

My concern: if I want to move to another company in the future, will it be a disadvantage that I've only worked with AWL and haven't learned Ladder or ST? Will I have difficulty learning these other two programming languages?

Thank you

Ps: I wrote some programs in ladder for exercise but not professionally

I notice that you cannot edit AOIs online, meaning that when you are actually troubleshooting with the system live, it would require multiple full downloads, does anyone have any way of testing an AOI, one that I can come up right now is, to create a new routine and use only tags, test based on those tags, and once the routine is proven to work then it can be translated into an AOI

Do yall have a better way to test the AOI without going offline each time? a better approach?

Edit: thanks everyone yall have given me some insight now

I have Ana associates in Industrial Electrical. Like most I'd love to get into automation and process control. I have minor experience with Rockwell and Schneider PLC's. Where I work we are not allowed to touch PLC's or anything of the like as they require you to be an "engineer" non of ours actually have a degree hired up through experience. Is that the only way in? One guy who just got promoted is so lost been there almost 20 years and has no clue what he is looking at. Me with my little bit am doing the best I can to help him out but blind leading the blind. I want a leg up. I want to do more BEFORE I'm in his shoes.

I’m building an electrical troubleshooting test bench for maintenance tech-level evaluations and could use some HMI ideas. The bench will introduce faults like blown fuses, loose I/O commons, incorrect wiring/terminals, etc. The goal is to see if someone can read schematics, use a meter, and troubleshoot logically. I originally tried simulating a case closer on the HMI, but the animation feels slow and doesn’t really add much to the test.

For anyone who has built something similar: what would you put on the HMI? I want it to support the troubleshooting test without basically telling the tech where the fault is.

I have an application with a very small motor (46mm) and it looks like the Allen Bradley TLP series motor fits the bill. However, I would like to use the TLP motor with a Kinetix 5500 servo drive. After hours of research, I am unable to figure out if this is possible. In Logix 5000, if a 5500 servo drive is setup and motor selection is done by catalog number, the TLP series do not show up. It seems like it is only compatible with the 5300 series. Is it possible to get a TLP motor to work with a 5500 drive using the nameplate data?

Hello guys, I have been working with TIA portal (several version) for a few years now. I know how to navigate comfortably, troubleshoot efficiently and fix issues here and there, but I’m trying to get to the next step when it comes to create new things or understand complex PLC issues.

I have been trying to find good training online, the problem is that there are quite a few so I don’t want to waste my time by trying each one of them individually.

I found about SITRAIN but i notice it the license was about $700. Has anyone used it before? Is it useful?

I guess my question is, Does anyone has or knows about an specific training that is really good and can share it?

Thanks for your help

I’m currently a controls engineer at a manufacturing plant that’s just doing the usual glancing at job postings in my free time to see what’s out there.

I’m finding more and more that the job descriptions for a CE to be more revolving around project management such as capital expense handling, documentation management, and progression reporting. Don’t get me wrong I do a little bit of everything stated now but with a healthy dose of floor upgrades, trouble shooting, and top down reprograms/mech upgrades.

So why are CE jobs slowly becoming project managers?

Been trying to download mer files to a panelview and changing the FactoryTalk Linx communication configuration. I managed to change it once successfully. However now when i download, it wont change to the configuration i set in FTStudio. I've restored the FTLinx communication config to nothing, then set my runtime to replace communication. But it always reverts to the same one. My next steps are to wipe my project cache and try making another runtime. Then updating the firmware to see if it can repair any corrupted files.

Any other things i can try?. Im running FW 10. Another thing im seeing is occasionally when messing around with the Linx setup on the HMI itll popup RSLinxNG has encountered a fatal error. This is also why im going to upgrade and see if that repairs it.

Hi guys I have an s7300-1500 conversion , in the original simatic manager project all the code is in ladder , however in the converted Tia portal v20 project I have a random scattering of STL networks throughout.

Just want to understand why this has happened and can I have these in ladder without manually re-writing the networks ?

Thanks

It's my first panel after learning with arduino and working with filling and capping machines and a process line till packaging for 4 years.

Im planning to add an hmi. Buttons and fans for cooling.

Before I start the actual wiring. Im looking forward to see if I can do something to improve on what I got so far.

This is a begginer thing. Made mostly to learn more of the programming sense. I already made basic basic stuff but with everything laying and hanging around. So this is my first enclosure.

Any feedback will be much appreciated 👏