Messages

1

Feature Request / Re: DF1 driver/documentation/help

« on: May 11, 2017, 10:16:18 AM »

That manual looks great!
From my first look at the serial log files, it looks like there's more different between the two, but I didn't spend a lot of time trying to translate the hex codes... Here's a small excerpt with the differences underlined.

SLC:
15:03:12.3816199 Opening COM3: 20
15:03:12.4588267 Send   : 10 02 01 00 0F 00 59 40 A2 02 03 85 00 00 10 03 0F D3
15:03:12.5119691 Rcvd   : 10 06
15:03:12.5280121 Rcvd   : 10 02 00 01 4F 00 59 40 00 00 10 03 36 C4
15:03:12.5390412 SendACK: 10 06

PLC-5:
11:05:23.8592522 Opening COM3: 20
11:05:23.9404693 Send   : 10 02 01 00 0F 00 05 40 01 00 00 01 00 07 00 03 00 02 10 03 C7 9C
11:05:23.9785718 Rcvd   : 10 06 10 02 00 01 4F 00 05
11:05:24.0076493 Rcvd   : 40 00 00 10 03 27 05
11:05:24.0287057 SendACK: 10 06

Are the differences between the two just the different command codes?

2

Feature Request / DF1 driver/documentation/help

« on: April 26, 2017, 03:56:46 PM »

Archie,

You have done fantastic work for the industrial community. I can't tell you how many times I search PLCTalk or Control forums and find the answer I need, authored by you! In addition to that, AdvancedHMI is really in a league of its own. I've been happily using AHMI for 3 years now, and it never fails to exceed my expectations! Thank you so much!

I have started working on a project where my license requirements are pretty strict, which sometimes means writing from the ground up (I wish I could use AHMI for this one!). The application is a Linux-based driver/HMI that can interface with a PLC-5 (no ethernet) and various SLC controllers (5/04, etc. also no ethernet) over a serial RS-232 connection.
So far, I've had quite a bit of luck with the SLC using this daemon application: https://github.com/leicht/Df1 The daemon handles the low-level comms over the serial port and listens on a TCP port so I can send commands to it from a different computer or loopback over localhost and use the same machine. It's been pretty slick so far.
I tried applying the same process to the PLC-5 and had far less success. I think I remember this topic coming up periodically, and the answer being that the packet format is different from the PLC-5 to the SLC. I've been using AHMI on my dev pc for troubleshooting, and looking at the AHMI serial logs, I can confirm that the packets are different, but I can't make much sense of why or how.
So here I am. The past few weeks of struggling have landed me here. I have an inkling that I'm doing something wrong, but I can't seem to figure out how to do things right. I was hoping you might be able to point me in the right direction.

Is there any source code or documentation available for the DF1 driver that communicates with the PLC-5? How similar or different is the AHMI version to the ABDF1 version you penned in 2006?

Thanks for taking the time to read my novel,

Alyssa Wells

3

Support Questions / Re: New project: SLC 5/04 not responding over serial

« on: April 24, 2017, 04:05:08 PM »

Just for the sake of trying, I wiped out my already new project in RSLogix. I removed all the add-on cards from the SLC, and ta-da! It works now.

Is there any reason why that would be? I only had a couple I/O cards connected to the SLC before, nothing too crazy...

4

Support Questions / Re: New project: SLC 5/04 not responding over serial

« on: April 24, 2017, 04:02:48 PM »

1. Goto Device Manager , verify that the USB Serial Adapter driver is properly installed and check what COM port it connected.

Confirmed. Driver is working properly and port is COM3.

2. In RSLinx, remove or stop all existing serial drivers. Add DF1 Serial device driver - select appropriate COM port.

Done, and the auto config process worked when setting up the driver in Linx.

3. Go online with your rslogix software.

No problems.

4. Once you verified being able connection online, then SHUTDOWN RSLinx.

Done.

5.  Try setup your AAHMI with SerialDF1forSLCMicroCom driver

Same result.


I did notice this time around that the USB-to-Serial adapter has some port settings in the Windows Device Manager. I made sure all those settings (baud rate, data bits, stop bits, parity) match my SLC settings.

5

Support Questions / New project: SLC 5/04 not responding over serial

« on: April 24, 2017, 03:30:51 PM »

I have just started a new project to talk to a SLC controller and build a basic HMI. I'm new to serial comms AND to the SLC series of processors, and I'm drawing at straws here to get any response.
I have a fresh AHMI project with only the SerialDF1 driver, two basic labels (bits B3:0/0 and B3:0/1) and a standard VB label tied to the ComError event of the driver so I can get some amount of feedback.

Code: [Select]

Private Sub SerialDF1forSLCMicroCom1_ComError(sender As Object, e As Drivers.Common.PlcComEventArgs) Handles SerialDF1forSLCMicroCom1.ComError
        Label1.Text = e.ErrorMessage
    End SubWhen I run the project from visual studio, it doesn't do anything visually for a few seconds, then the ComError label changes to "No Response from PLC"
The two BasicLabels never change from their default text.

Driver: SerialDF1forSLCMicroCom
AHMI Driver Settings: baud=19200, parity=None, checksum=CRC, port=COM3
Controller: SLC 5/04
Channel 0 Settings: mode=DF1 Full Duplex, baud=19200, parity=None, stop=1, checksum=CRC, Source ID=9, No Handshaking

OS: Windows 10
AHMI version 3.99w
Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port adapter

6

Support Questions / Re: Test available ports - EthernetIPforCLX

« on: December 11, 2015, 08:34:45 AM »

I'm most interested in a way to accomplish this within the program rather than manually. There are ~30 people that have access to this app, our maximum users at one time has probably only been 10.

7

Support Questions / Test available ports - EthernetIPforCLX

« on: December 08, 2015, 08:51:05 AM »

I have an application that is used as a tool by multiple people, all talking to the same PLC. It mostly works fine for me, but sometimes other people (who launched the app after I did) have issues communicating with the PLC. I'm inclined to think that it's a port issue, as all the instances of this application are identical and are coded to use the same port. I was wondering if there's any way to look for an available port in the PLC and use that, or if you have any other input for how to handle this type of application. It wouldn't be absurd to have pre-set ports for each instance of the app stored in tags in the PLC (first client gets 44818, next gets 44819, etc.) and have the clients communicate with the PLC that they are there and using those ports so the next instance can choose from the remaining pool.

8

Support Questions / Comms instability - EthernetIPforCLX

« on: November 10, 2015, 04:37:48 PM »

Archie,

I have a project with multiple forms (and a comm component on each one) that will occasionally drop communications and stop updating labels, data subscribers, etc. I haven't found a way to repeat this issue in development, it only happens in production, and it is seemingly random. I'm not sure what the actual error is, or if there is one.
When this happens, is there any way to catch that communication has stopped happening and handle that somehow? Are there methods to re-open communication without restarting the project/form?

Thanks!

9

Open Discussion / Re: What would you like to see in the next major release?

« on: October 01, 2015, 10:07:19 AM »

It would be nice to import tags that are exported from the ControlLogix and CompactLogix platforms. Then have them available to select from the controls with a drop down list.

+1

10

Open Discussion / Re: Official Raspberry Pi Touchscreen

« on: September 18, 2015, 09:28:25 AM »

On the topic of 3D printing, I just wanted to throw you a recommendation for a printer.
I have a Lulzbot TAZ 4 printer that I love. It's a little pricier than a lot of cheap "consumer" printers you can find (there are a lot sitting around $500), but you definitely get what you pay for. They just released a new hotend that allows you to print in PolyCarbonate materials, as well as the usual ABS, PLA, wood, clay, and nylon filaments. There are also a couple flexible filament options available (that require a different extruder), but they're pretty cool. All of the printer firmware is open source, and their printer is designed to be "open hardware" as well and they release all the models/gcode for the printed parts on the printer and extruders. AlephObjects is a great company, they have awesome support and an active community.
Here's a link to their latest printer, the TAZ 5: https://www.lulzbot.com/products/lulzbot-taz-5-3d-printer

11

Open Discussion / Re: Visual Studio Community 2015???

« on: September 18, 2015, 09:17:57 AM »

Hey Archie, thanks for sharing the link to that tablet, it looks awesome!

12

Support Questions / Re: CIP error: priviledge violation - CLX 398t

« on: July 16, 2015, 12:01:20 PM »

It turns out I was trying to write to a ReadOnly tag (duh)
Took that write out and it runs fine now!

13

Support Questions / CIP error: priviledge violation - CLX 398t

« on: July 16, 2015, 10:50:58 AM »

I'm getting this CIP error when I try to launch my application on a Windows 8.1 Surface Pro 3, exception detail is attached.
The line referenced in my project is a Write to a tag when the form's visibility changes.
I don't have this issue on my desktop PC running Windows 7, only on the tablet.

I'm going to install Visual Studio on the tablet to see if that will give me some more debugging capabilities/information.

14

Support Questions / Re: GraphicIndicator

« on: June 30, 2015, 08:15:28 AM »

Works like a charm! Thanks Archie!

15

Support Questions / GraphicIndicator

« on: June 29, 2015, 03:37:47 PM »

I was playing with the GraphicIndicator component as an LED-style indicator. It's watching a bit for on or off state and showing the on or off light accordingly.

I was wondering if there's a way to change the image alignment within the control?
Or turn off the "stretch" setting so it displays the image at its native size instead of resizing it to fit the control.

I traced the code until I hit the Object Browser for the MfgControl.AdvancedHMI.Controls.dll and I can't seem to go any farther or find the code controlling the paint event for the control.
Thanks!