Category Archives: Systems

Remote PLC Connection: Connecting to a SoMachine M241 PLC using InHand Networks IG601 Cellular Gateway and Device Touch

CODESYS, PLC, Remote Access, Systems,

 

The ability to connect to a PLC remotely (or HMI) and to pull data, access webservers and download programs is increasingly a requirement on industrial automation projects. Remote data access and program maintenance saves travel time to sites and simplifies daily operations. Some of the PLC features that enable this are:

  • Webserver on PLC and HMI: Allows data monitoring and some updates to PLC configurations

 

  • WebVisualization: These are customizable user interface pages that are embedded in the PLC. WebVisu is the CODESYS term for these HTML5 pages. Some examples of their usage from YouTube are noted here.

 

  • PLC Programming software remote gateway support: This is the ability for a PLC programming software to connect to remote Ethernet based devices. This could be for program downloads or regular program viewing.

This article will cover the steps for remotely connecting from the SoMachine PLC programming software to a remote M241 PLC. The InHand Networks IG601 cellular gateway device is used as the intermediary. Other examples of intermediary gateway devices may include Netbiter by HMS and eWon ( also by HMS now I believe).

Over the last few years, the criteria I have laid out for these devices have included the means to use them without the manufacturer’s cloud- based connection service. Simultaneously, keeping the option to route more secure connections through the cloud service, only when required, is a plus.

 

The criteria for the gateway device:

 

  • Ability to setup port forwarding at the gateway device
  • Ability to use a VPN connection for secure PLC program downloads
  • Ability to support a static IP at the gateway device and allow for the above mentioned VPN connection at the same time.

The InHand Networks IG601 meets these criteria. Getting this set up can be accomplished with two sets of steps. The InHand steps and the SoMachine steps.

InHand Networks Steps:

 

  1. Connect to the InHand Device Cloud at http://g.inhandnetworks.com/. For initial setup, follow instructions per the Device Manager configuration video.

 

  1. Install Device Touch on the connecting PC. The installer is available in the Device Cloud portal. The next steps will assume proper setup of the Device Cloud and connection using Device Touch on the local PC. Instructions on Device Touch are available at the following link.

 

NOTE: While in the Device Cloud, be sure to set up a site, a device and the PLC. I forgot to add the ‘Controller’ once. It took some time and a call to InHand’s support team to figure it out.

InHandsite_Gateway_PLC
InHand Device Cloud

 

  1. Open Device Touch on your computer and connect with your Device Cloud account. Once connected to the cloud. Connect to the specific site/gateway but selecting it and clicking on the ON/OFF slider bar.
InHandDeviceTouch
Device Touch connection

SoMachine Steps

  1. In SoMachine, configure connectivity in the SoMachine gateway. The gateway is accessible by double clicking on the root of the controller directory in the device tree.
SoMachine Gateway setup for Remote PLC Connection
SoMachine Gateway

5. The connection method is set to IP address. In the example, the remote controller IP address was set to 10.0.0.100 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0

ConnectionMode
IP Address connection mode

    6.  Per step 3 above, if Device Touch is active and the Maintenance Channel is on/ready (screen cap below), go to the Online menu and select Login.

 

IP Address Remote PLC
IP Address Connection Mode

NOTE: The update key on the gateway will not result in the detection of the controller in the Gateway list. Entering the IP address and selecting ‘Login’ actually triggers the process if searching for the device and placing it in the available controllers list in the Gateway. The Update button in the Gateway may not find remote devices. As such, the remote PLC may not show up even if by clicking on the Update button.

 

 

  1. The gateway will scan the remote network via the Device Touch adapter. Once the controller has been found, it will show up on the controller list in the gateway with a REM icon next to it.
RemotePLCDetected
Remote PLC detected

Note: The standard warning message indicating the pending connection to a controller will pop up prior to an actual login. Entering Alt-F will proceed with the connection and potential remote download of a program. Clicking the Cancel button will abort the connection.

 

Troubleshooting tip:

Should the remote controller not be detected using the IP address connection method above, restart the SoMachine gateway as shown in the screen cap below. Subsequently repeat step 4 above.

RestartPLCGateway
Restart SoMachine Gateway

Should questions or comments arise, put it in the comments section below.

 

 

 

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CODESYS Visualization (and WebVisualization)

CODESYS, PLC, Programming, Systems, ,

A CODESYS Visualization or Viz, is a way to embed a graphical interface into a PLC program. Interfacing with the PLC programs visually allows for quicker troubleshooting among other benefits. Further to that WebVisualizations publish a CODESYS visualization in HTML5. This enables user access to a PLC visualizations via a web browser.

Several examples of Visualizations and WebVisualizations exist online. Visualization and WebVisualization screens are created with drag and drop objects which are configured instead of coded. This simplifies screen development instead of having to build Java or HTML based objects for web accessible screens on the PLC.

The collection of YouTube based Visualizations highlighted below showcase the possibilities with the various screen objects across various applications – some industrial and some exemplar/illustrative.

The first example  is of an elevator application built in CODESYS. Credit to donkeykowng on creating this for a school project.

The next example is of an industrial mixing process with multiple tanks with levels updated dynamically. Credit to tweektweak23.

The next two credited to Kye-Hun Park .
Tetris . This visulization was built in SoMachine 4.1 which uses CODESYS 3.5
Snake game
 
Combination of  2D conveying and tank on a filling application.
CNC application courtesy of Martin van rijn
Another tank level application. Credit to Huseyin Gevrek
Material handling example with a couple of axis of a pick and place and a conveyor.
Credit to binyam .yo
More recent update of Codesys includes support for multi-touch. (from CoDeSysMotion YouTube page)
 A key benefit of a visualization is that it allows for parts of the PLC program to be graphically represented and viewed without the PLC programming software. This is given that the programmer or designer of the system designs and embed appropriate visualizations to represent the system. Being able to pull up a graphical representation of the system on a PC/tablet/phone browser allows for preliminary  troubleshooting without too many people having to have the programming software license . If the problem  is beyond wiring , mechanical or I/O issues , then someone with the programming software can be dispatched.

 

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HMI Design Guidelines for every project

HMI, Systems, ,

After building two user interfaces this year and having to formulate and review the rules for developing an effective set of screens each time, this is a list of seven items created from experience, client feedback and research.

7 HMI Design Guidelines

1. Do not use black or white for background. It appears that this would bring about good contrast and highlight objects onscreen but to the contrary, it succumbs to glare in many lighting conditions including sunlight and fluorescent lighting.

2. Low contrast general themes are better in industrial user interfaces for the following reasons: 1- It helps highlight situations that require awareness, 2- It’s not too eye catching as an industrial control system should be. Captivating graphics may steal from the actual intent.

3. Use graphs and trend information where possible. Visual aspects of monitored variables allowsfor easier troubleshooting. Historic view of what the variable has done whether a few minutes ago or a few hours ago helps operators with decision making. A trend can also captures a relative view of the current state with respect to limits and also in relation to other variables.

4. Articulate situations that are beyond acceptable or normal operating regions using bar graphs and colors( red, yellow green). This supports the notion of providing a relative view of the status of a process variable or condition.

5. Do not use too many elements that do not carry data significance. Example: An elaborate drawing of a plant or process with only 4 or 5 actual data fields may serve as a distraction. The idea is not to amaze users/operators/viewers with the graphics but to provide information and allow for efficient and optimal control.

6. Consider replacing color based information with shapes- helps with color blindness and confusion on the meaning of colors. Example: Does RED infer push to stop or currently stopped. Does green mean go or push to go?

7. Spacing between user input fields- avoid the proverbial ‘fat finger’. Example :Placing two input fields  together can cause  errors in data entry. Consider placing a label between input fields.

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