Siemens Opc Scout V10 Download Youtube
What type of database is your customer using? That's one of the things that FactorySQL (is good. You can download a free 2 hour runtime trial. It is an OPC client that requires an OPC server to communicate with the PLC. The installer includes a demo of KepServer Ex. I'd be happy to show you how to use the software over the 'net. Send me a PM if you're interested.
I have gotten involved in a project that requires that data be sent from the customers database to my PLC. For this I foresee the use of an OPC Client for ODBC. The question is which one?
I intend to do my own testing, but I also appreciate if anyone have some experience to share. I have found these candidates already: OPC Datahub. (Kepware OBDC Client driver. I normally agree with Nathan, especially when it come to this type of application. However if your reuqirements are very modest and you dont see a lot of big time growth which would warrent that kind of cost. And of course the big if is if you can program in VB, then you might want to search this forum for Free Scada. There was a topic on it not long ago and there was also a link to a video about it on you tube.
If your crafty enough and can not forsee spending the money on an already programmed suite such as Inductive Automation, Citect, etc. Then you might want to check into this.
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Hope this helps, have a great day. I am investigating this at the moment.
So far I am only assuming it is an ODBC database. I should have remembered Inductive Automation myself. It sounds interesting, but 2000 USD is a little steep for my modest requirements. I probably have to fetch 10 values from the same records in database. If I have to do it cyclically or triggered, I do not know at the moment. OP hadn't stated his requirements prior to my first response. For 10 data points anything that works would do - as long as you don't get into a time sink.
The free (VB) SCADA video was by Archie, here (It has to be AB ethernet, though. I normally agree with Nathan, especially when it come to this type of application. However if your reuqirements are very modest and you dont see a lot of big time growth which would warrent that kind of cost.
And of course the big if is if you can program in VB, then you might want to search this forum for Free Scada. There was a topic on it not long ago and there was also a link to a video about it on you tube. If your crafty enough and can not forsee spending the money on an already programmed suite such as Inductive Automation, Citect, etc. Then you might want to check into this. Hope this helps, have a great day.
I have investigated the Kepware product a little more (because it is the cheapest!). It is an OPC Server, so that it is the opposite of what I have originally intended (.). So I would have to get the data from one server to the other server, but for this I have a simple idea. I use WinCC Flexible RT already, and there is the bundled OPC server which I also use. So, I figure I can simply copy values from one connection (ODBC database via Kepware OPC server) to tags on another connection (my PLC via Simatic Net OPC server) via simple scripts in WinCC Flexible. I am still interested in other solutions though. Simplicity and a rasonably low price are my priorities.: I originally envisioned a connection from a software package that would be a client to the OPC server as well as a client to the ODBC database server.
It is going slowly with getting the information from the customer, and getting an agreement on who does what. I know now that the database is Oracle. The customer prefers to do everything by himself, but on the other hand I get questions back such as 'What is OPC? Can you provide some information about it?' This sort of tells me that they are not up to the task.
If it ends with that I have to do it: FactorySql is a favorite, this only because of praise from users on this forum, and because the setup is done without scripts or strange coding. Price of 2000 USD is sligthly ofputting for transferring 5 (which it turns out to be now) values. Could be interesting to try the software out anyway. For a 150 tags license I have to pay 3000+ USD. Dont think I will. In order to transfer data from the ODBC database to the PLC I have to write some scripts.
I dont like that, despite the supplier has promised to provide help. Price is 1000 USD. Interesting product anyway. I would like to experiment with its many features. KepWare ODBC Client driver.
On the OPC side it is a server, so I have to do something extra to transfer the data from one server to the other. As I have my WinCC Flexible HMI, I could simply setup tags from one OPC server to be transferred to the other OPC server in my HMI. Price is 800 USD. I'll keep you updated how it goes.
A bit of disclosure first. Derek McFarland (mentioned I/Gear in a post up above. I am an engineer at I/Gear. That being said, I/Gear would be the perfect solution to your problem. Our Data Transport Utility (runs as a service on a host PC or server and has a point-and-click interface (i.e no scripting) to configure connections and data transfer for multiple devices and software produts.
For the database connection, we use a native driver (we call them DataLinks) to connect to the Oracle database, though one could also use our generic OLEDB DataLink. You did not mention what type of PLC you are connecting, so there are a few options.
In most cases we need an OPC Server to connect to a PLC. Kepware is by far the best for price and connectivity. We also have a native DataLink that can communicate via ModBus. Finally, if you have a ControlLogix PLC, we have a native DataLink that communicates with those. As I mentioned above, none of this requries scripting, though there is support for that in the prodcut should you need to do some advance data analysis prior to sending it to the database. You can download a demo here (I notice from your profile that you may be outside North America, so if our web form does not allow you to download the product directly, please e-mail me (michael.atwell@IGearOnline.com) and I can send you a link.
You wouldnt have to have a list price? I have to confess that I am totally undecided at the moment.
FactorySQL seems a bit too expensive for the functionality I need. OPC DataHub costs half of FactorySQL, but requires scripts. KepWare ODBC Client cost even less and would only require that I link tags from one OPC server to another, so I ecided to try it out. I signed up on their website to get an account that would allow me to download the demo. Nothing happened.
They are supposed to send an emial confirming my status - but I havent heard from them. Oh well, I guess they are out. I also contacted Matrikon, but hahaha, I would have to purchase 2 of their products to be able to do what I need.
Each would cost 2000 USD, so I dont think I will. Out of pure interest, I jumped at writing scripts in WinCC Flexible, and I have got it working.
Both reading and writing of SQL tables. And it is largely configurable on the HMI so it is not 100% hardcoded.
So if nothing better turns up, I may have to go this way. Still, if the price is right, I would prefer to use a product that does not require scripting at all. In the end, I have to go and commision the project in May.
Edit: I forgot to tell. The customer has given up, and asked me to do whats necessary. Also, dont worry about how I have to connect to the PLC side. I use Siemens OPC server already. I just tried to e-mail you directly but it would not let me. You can e-mail me at michael.atwell@igearonline.com (michael.atwell@IGearOnline.com) or phone me at 1-866-414-4327, ext.
Siemens Opc Server
We have two pricing options. One is based on point to point solutions (like yours). For your application you would use two DataLinks (Oracle and OPC) and would be priced accordingly.
There is no limit to the connections made with these DataLinks, so you could connect multiple databases and make multiple queries. You could also connect multiple OPC Servers and PLCs.
There also no limit to the number of tags from the PLC or records from the database. We also have pricing for the entire suite with all DataLinks (TCP/IP, E-Mail, Text File, etc.) that is meant more for a large enterprise solution. In both cases the pricing includes a year of application support.
Our engineers (myself included) can help you with implementation and best practices. Jesper: You have mentioned that your customer would prefer to do it on their own. Which tells me they have resources and talent to do VB or C or whatever programming (database handling, user interface etc.) If this is true, it looks like it would be easier to let them familiarize themselves with the concepts of OPC - there is plenty of documentation on KEPWare web site and to do it. Most if not all jobs like that are, in essense, 'write an array of N 16-bit words into a PLC starting at address '.
I don't think that OPC interface is such a hard problem for a professional C programmer, it is yet another set of COM objects, with their own properties and methods, after all. This way, your customer will always be happy since they would have the most flexibility to make this app look and feel the way they like. Your part will be limited to discussing the download registers range, the meaning of each word of downloaded data and programming the PLC to process the data correctly.
I have been doing similar tasks writing my own VB code. First it was a bit frustrating, but then, after some standard code base was built, it has become much easier. I should point out that I have never considered myself more that amateur in VB programming. It ended with that I programmed it as scripts in WinCC Flexible.
This despite that I initially wanted to avoid just that scenario. One reason was that I initially choose Kepware's ODBC/OPC server.
It was the easiest way to connect OPC and ODBC, and it would effectively mean that the SQL database (which is the customers responsibility) be in control. I would thus avoid being responsible for the actual functionality. But despite I filled in all the forms on Kepware's website and asked for their demo to be sent, they never did send the demo. This despite I repeatedly emailed for a reply. So as the deadline loomed, I decided to do a test at home with VBS in WinCC Flexible. It went so well that I decided to rethink my options.
The main reason for finally going the WinCC Flex + VBS route was that there was a language barrier (the customer being japanese), and many uncertain points. In the end everything would be revealed when I came to the site. So I needed to be in total control of what should be logged, and at what time. The actual number of values to transfer each way is quite modest, 10 'fields' that can be contained in one 'record'.
Siemens Opc Client
This also to keep the load on the customers database as low as possible. In the end there were many problems, some of them being timing problems that I were able to solve because of me being in total control.
But there were also some problems with my inexperience with SQL and ADO via VBS. The problem was that the VBS code could hang if there were problems between the database and my PC. They were solved, so I think it is reliable now. The alternative would have been OPC Datahub or FactorySQL. Both of the vendors sent me quotes and offered me demos. But I have to postpone trying their products for another time. Thanks to everyone that helped me discuss the matter.
From Fast OPC servers for Siemens are based on COM/DCOM technology following OPC specification and supports S7 MPI serial Profibus communication and S7 TCP/IP protocol on Ethernet and it can be used with Siemens PLC controllers. The server provides reliable and high-performance communication with any OPC-compatible HMI, SCADA, or any other OPC client application. An easy-to-use configuration tool is included for quick set-up of the tags database. Fast, active OPC foundation member creates specific communication drivers according to customers requirements.