Read signals in RAPID via OPC?

nauska

Hi!

I have to read a file, and the filename depends on a variable called Order_ID. Order_ID is an integer and will be recieved via OPC.

How can I read the value of a signal in RAPID via OPC?

nauska

Anyone?

RussD

Yes, the IO domain can be exposed using either S4 or IRC5 OPC servers. RussD2007-5-22 15:2:40

nauska

I have installed the ICR5 OPC Server. And I'm using Kepware LinkMaster to connect one signal in RobotStudio to one signal in the PLC. The problem is I can only browse the digital signals in IRC5 OPC Server (only booleans).

Is there anyway to solve this problem?

RussD

--update--

I re-read your post, and I wanted to clarify the terminology you are using. When you say "digital signals", it sounds like you are talking about RAPID data, which is nums, string or bools. To read these with the OPC server, you must declare them as PERS. Most people would interpret "Digital Signals" to mean physical or virtual I/O signals. 

--end update--

If you are using the Virtual COntroller in RobotStudio, I'm not sure that it will work the same way as the physical controller with respect to the IRC5 OPC Server. What version of IRC5 OPC Server and RobotWare/RS are you using? They should be the same version.

Before you connect your OPC client, you must configure an OPC alias for your controller using the IRC5 OPC Server configuration tool. Have you done this?

If this is done, when you use an OPC client to browse the IRC5 OPC Server, you should see a node with the same name as the alias connection you created using the IRC5 OPC Server Configuration tool. At that level, there will be system level data like BootVersion, COntrollerID, etc. Under the controller node, you should see two nodes, called IOSYSTEM and RAPID, which will expose IO signals and PERS RAPID data.

If you don't see these nodes, then there is probably a problem with your connection, the IRC5 OPC Server installation, or maybe you are using a mismatched version of RW and OPC Server (these should be the same). If you are using the VC, try it against a real controller to see if it works.

RussD2007-5-22 17:1:57

nauska

I'm using version 5.08 of both OPC Server and RobotWare. And I have no problem with reading RobotStudio's signals with an OPC client.

The problem is reading signals (or variables) from the PLC from within RobotStudio. The PLC and RobotStudio communicates via OPC, and there is one variable in the PLC that I want to read, Order_ID.

I'm trying to load a module, depending on which order is recieved:

LOAD Order_ID + ".mod";

The problem is, that I don't know how I read Order_ID from the PLC.



Edit: By the way, is it possible to do something like this?

LOAD "ftp://ip-address/"+Order_ID+".mod";

nauska2007-5-23 9:53:43

RussD

The robot controller is not an OPC Client, it is only (when connected to IRC5 OPCServer) an OPC Server. It cannot access OPC data on other devices.

If you are stuck with this hardware and can't setup a proper I/O interface between the robot and PLC (which would be much more robust and reliable), then you might try the following:

Define a virtual I/O board in the robot and create a group output of whatever length to cover your range of values, configure the signal with Access level "ALL", which will allow you  to write via OPC this inforation to the controller. When you want to change recipes, then your mechanism for writing OPC will just set the appropriate bits in the group outputs and your RAPID code can read the new value.

To load the file as you proposed, you need the FTP-Client option installed, to configure an FTP mount (requires an FTP server somewhere), then you would use something like:

LOAD "pc:/<dir name>/"+NumToStr(Order_ID,0)+".mod";

I think that forming the path in this way should work.

nauska

Thank you for your help RussD!

I don't have time to try it out right now, but I will try later on.

Martiner

I use OPC comunication Robot - Labwiev, Robot - C# program and I don't have any problems.

1. If you want to write variables you have to be in AUTO mode

2. Comunication between PLC and robot I use strictly via profibus. (group signals)

3. I use comunication between other PC and robot via LAN. Option PC interface is needed in this case.

Can you describe your topology, your comunication link or protokol and the purpose?

szily85

Dear Martiner

I have a robot too and ABB OPC server runing, I have PC interface in the ABB and I use Labview for some processing. I need to transfer data from LB to ABB, but I can`t. Why?

From robot I can send to the LB, but not backward. Can you help with, if you say you have communication?

Greatings

Szily