Electricity + Control October 2017

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION

Faster programming thanks to assistance function PC Worx Engineer sup- ports the familiar Win- dows drag-and-drop func- tion throughout the entire system. The new role picker functionality makes programming even easier because the programmer is only offered those ob- jects that can actually be used for the current task. This eliminates the need to look for suitable mod- ules in a catalogue or for variables in a table (see Figure 3 ).

to create areas of responsibility. Th designed the licence model based on the same concept. The de- velopment team wanted to create a clear and fair model for licences and enable users to quickly be- gin using PCWorx Engineer. Unlike other solutions on the market, this engineering tool is available free of charge. The free version includes essential functions for creating a simple automation solu- tion. These functions include the mandatory IEC 61131-3 [1] editor with Structured Text (ST), Func- tion Block Diagram (FBD), Ladder Diagram (LD) and Sequential Function Chart (SFC) languages, as well as the integrated eHMI editor, which provides basic functions for web visualisation. The licence model includes all the necessary functions for configur- ing and diagnosing peripheral components. Using function add-ins, additional functions can be ena- bled depending on user requirements and prefer- ences. More features will be added in the future, including safety functions and extended eHMI fea- tures such as alarming and trending, as well as the programming languages SFC+ (sequential func- tion charts) and C#. Many users are excited by the possibility of using the C# function add-in to cre- ate programs and functions in high-level language, for example in Microsoft Visual Studio, and import them into PCWorx Engineer. In this way, commu- nication tasks can be implemented more elegantly than with conventional IEC 61131 [1] languages. Conclusion The company’s aim is to ensure that users only have to pay for the services they actually need in order to implement their automation project. Therefore, even the basic version of PC Worx En- gineer can open all projects, including those creat- ed using function add-ins. The project can then be loaded onto the controller on site and diagnosed. However, no changes can be made outside of the standard functions. PC Worx Engineer is there- fore not just another new IEC 61131-3 [1] tool. It perfectly adapts to changing requirements in the world of automation. Thanks to its extendibility and flexibility, users can now focus on the pro- ject instead of the software itself. Reference [1] IEC 61131-3. 2003 (second edition). Pro- grammable controllers – Part 3: Program- ming languages.

Projectmanager sepa- rates into responsibilities.

Project X

Visu specialist Visu

Welding

Coating

IEC 61131-3

IEC 61131-3

Functionblock MainTask WeldingTask Function

Functionblock Coating task Function

Overalloperation

Visu

Coating

Visu

Welding

IT admin

Figure 3: The role picker function simplifies object selection.

Figure 2: Consistent structure from the folder level to the project level.

Task-specific assignment of elements Furthermore, if the project team would like to use a version control tool such as GIT, the software can individually sign the folder structure, which has been created according to clearly defined responsibilities. The interaction of these mechanisms ensures that unauthorised access can be detected at every level and that access permissions are reliably implement- ed.The company uses the these features in the built- in Safety Editor of the PCWorx Engineer.This means that the user does not have to ensure privilege sepa- ration across different software tools. As a result, the safety programmer can switch from the Safety Edi- tor to the IEC 61131 [1] editor just as easily switch- ing between tabs in a browser. PC Worx Engineer provides intelligent system filters based on areas of responsibility.These filters make the software easier to use by providing developers with only those ele- ments they need for their particular task. For exam- ple, developers of visualisation solutions would only see the eHMI toolbox and electrode holder special- ists would only have access to program organisation- al units. Eliminating unnecessary functions reduces complexity and minimises the risk of errors. Easy activation of additional functions The idea of allowing users to access only those are- as necessary for their tasks inspired the developers

Faster implementation of automation

projects with fewer errors.

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Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Frank Walde, Competence Centre Automationworx, Phoenix Contact Electronics GmbH, Bad Pyrmont, Germany.

Andre Kemp

+27 (0) 11 801 8200 andrek@phoenixcontact.co.za

Electricity + Control

OCTOBER 2017

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