On Thu, 2009-12-17 at 08:08 -0500, Wesley Moore wrote:
At the FEL here at JLAB, we have several newer systems running Omron
C-Series PLCs. The systems currently running are the Laser Personal
Safety System, Turning Mirror Cassettes (motor control for optics), and
our UV vacuum system. The PLCs are all programmed over Ethernet using
Omron's CX-Programmer and an EPICS Ethernet driver is used for
communication to the PLCs memory. I've not had much hassle in
maintaining an IOC app and PLC logic for a given system. Usually the
logic is only on one side depending on the requirements. I've scripted
the creation of address files for generating the db. The address file
created contains all the memory mapping and comments, providing great
documentation of each system. Haven't heard this mentioned, but one
other benefit we have deployed was the use of touchscreens for
interactions with these PLC systems. For the minimal programming
required, they have been a valuable resource in the flexibility they
provide for local and remote control (using serial and Ethernet).
Wesley
We also use Omron PLCs, mostly CJ1s, and communicate using Hostlink or
FINS (Factory Interface Network Service) in a Hostlink wrapper via the
serial port (using streams and asyn). I am just performing some speed
comparisons between the serial port and the ETN21 Ethernet module using
FINS/UDP and FINS/TCP.
You say that "an EPICS Ethernet driver is used for communication to the
PLCs memory". Is that via FINS?
Paul.
