VBA PCL's(programmable Logic controllers

Hi All,

Has anyone driven a PLC from VBa? If so, do you have
any sample code? I am using an OPC/DDE server(dll's)
from KEP Direct and driving a D-260 PLC.

Y'all have fun at AU this year. Don't feel bad because I cannot
go :-(

Cheers,
Paul

 

On Tue, 19 Oct 2004 05:50:04 -0400, Paul Richardson wrote:

I've never tried but you might be able to find some useful information at
http://www.opcfoundation.org/ .

~Tim Riley

 

Great Site...Thanks Tim.

 

Please keep me posted on what you come up with. We do a lot of PLC work and
I'd be interested in your results.

~Tim Riley

 

Tim,

I am using KEPDirect as a server to connect between
the computer and the PLC's. KEP comes with dll's to interface
from VBa and C++. Not a lot of samples but got excel vba
sending data from my pc to the pcl last night. Still haven't gotten
the kinks out. Hopefully by the end of the day. If you want the
vb code I'll send it when it's up right.

Have you done any work with OMGA Stop...I need to remove
their PLC from it's Positioning System and drive it myself. By
it I mean the the ARM and Stop of the Positioning System. The
drivers seem to be unique to OMGA. I have it attached to a
chopsaw that's cutting Logs

Thanks,
Paul

 

Paul,
As a non-architectural, fairly non-mechanical person, it's been interesting
following your posts over the past year or two that I've been in this group.
IIRC, you've covered everything from
-- designers sending CAD info to a master DB over the web
-- optimizing a cut-list of logs given arbitrary wall and roof shapes
-- and now, automatically cutting logs (presumably, based on the above
BoM)

I'm looking forward to seeing a website sometime soon where I can put in
dimensions for my own log home, push a button, and have the labeled, cut
logs show up at my house a couple weeks later.

Let us know when you're there

James

 

Getting close James...Thanks for the interest...
Yes all of my posts have been for the same project.
A lot of learning on the fly and no sleep..
I want the Plans to be sent back to the customer
instantaneously..or so limited by fiberoptic
friction...)

Program runs Full Log home automation from
simple AutoCAD input to a sorted pile of logs
stacked in containers for easy assembly on site.
Everything is predrilled, and barcoded for
inventory control. Crayon printer lables logs
for assemblers. New assembly line has one
operator for 7 new machines. Old line had
one for each.

My Thanks to Everybody here...Truly...Your help
has been invaluable...

Paul

 

Tim,

I got it finished..Well working properly..I used stright VB
with OfficeTools. Added an excel sheet component to a form.
User selects a row in spreadsheet hits send and an array of data
in the row (or single cell) is sent to PLC.

I used KepServerEX http://www.kepware.com/Products/products_download.html
Download comes with samples in vb and c++...open source
for the server which is nice...The code below is base on
VB samples...Downloading will help.

gl..Paul

Basic Idea Semi Pseudo...

'Connect to Server...
'*******
'Define channels to open'Var Array
OPCItemIDs(1) = "ChopInt.ChopPLC.LData.NewDataString"
'*******
'Set value to write and send via OPCItemWriteButton Function
Dim intRowNum As Integer
Dim strCellName As String
'Find Row of active Cell
intRowNum = Spreadsheet1.ActiveCell.Row
'Send Cell value through proper channel
dblClm1 = Spreadsheet1.Cells(intRowNum, 1)
varWrite(1) = dblClm1'could also send whole array
'0 is channel, varWrite is value to write...
Call OPCItemWriteButton(0, varWrite(1))
'*******

'*******Write Funciton
Private Function OPCItemWriteButton _
(Index As Integer, inValue As Variant)

Dim SyncItemValues(1) As Variant
Dim SyncItemServerHandles(1) As Long
Dim SyncItemServerErrors() As Long

SyncItemServerHandles(1) = ItemServerHandles(Index + 1)

' Load the value to be written

SyncItemValues(1) = Val(inValue)

' Invoke the SyncWrite operation.
ConnectedGroup.SyncWrite ItemCount, _
SyncItemServerHandles, _
SyncItemValues, SyncItemServerErrors

End Function
'*****