LinuxCNC as a PLC

Hi all,

I have a small project where I would need some plc action. 20 ins and 20 outs about and maybe more.

My thoughts are as follows:

Use 5i25 with 7i74, 7i70 and 7i71

Use classic ladder to do the plc stuff, but have no typical GUI instead a custom gui interface showing some ins and outs and adjusting a few things via the GUI. Definate use of HAL is required.

Instead of embarking on learning a whole new system re: Beremiz, I am comfortable and have confidence in Mesa and linuxcnc.

What I dont know is if it is possible to use Linuxcnc without the typical frontend...... but able to bring up the classicladder interface and use a custom inteface.

Is any of this possible?

Thanks,

Bob

Yes it is. It is possible to to just load hal, and Classicladder. (You can even do it from halcmd).

But it might be more cost effective and practical to just to use a true plc. There are rather inexpensive and simple to configure ones out there such as the Click ones from Automation Direct.
www.automationdirect.com/adc/Overview/Ca...cro_Brick)/PLC_Units

Todd wrote:

Yes it is. It is possible to to just load hal, and Classicladder. (You can even do it from halcmd).

But it might be more cost effective and practical to just to use a true plc. There are rather inexpensive and simple to configure ones out there such as the Click ones from Automation Direct.
www.automationdirect.com/adc/Overview/Ca...cro_Brick)/PLC_Units

yes I have a few of their PLC's. DL05 and DL06's. I used them on alot of projects. Problem is I need to interface it with a GUI.
I know they have ability but the software is expensive and proprietory. I am limited to what they think I need.

I would need an interface to query the status of ins and outs and some graphics etc.......

I thought the software for configuring the user interfaces from Automationdirect is free (but probably has to run in Windows).

Oops, guess I was wrong. (but it isn't terribly expencive.)

If you don't have to have a touch screen, This UI/display's configuration software is free (if you download it $25 for the CD).
www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Ca...Accessories/EA3-T6CL

Todd wrote:

If you don't have to have a touch screen, This UI/display's configuration software is free (if you download it $25 for the CD).
www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Ca...Accessories/EA3-T6CL

Oh yeah? I thought it was in the thousands. I bought the software to program them which 10 years back it was 500.00.

Anyway, Don't talk me out of it...lol I am using linuxcnc.

Advancedhmi is free software program for building operator screens. It's easy to use to build virtual operator screens by dragging and dropping widgets into the screen and filling up forms to attache widget variables to PLC memory. They have Modbus driver which is the most widely supported protocol in the industry.

www.advancedhmi.com
Also check this site if you would like to script your own protocol
Using AdvancedHMI's PLC drivers with C#
www.mesta-automation.com

I am interested in what you are trying to achieve. You say you want to use LinuxCNC, but no need for the UI, only ladder and HAL.

For several years (yes years on weekends) I have been trying to work with the MTConnect protocol inside the Robot Operating System (ROS) library. The MTConnect code is here: github.com/mtconnect/ros_bridge/tree/mas...s_bridge/scripts/src

and you can find instructions for the build of ROS in Eclipse on the internets.

I am close to cracking this puzzle, but I could use a second test person. I don't know (or like) Python, so that makes it tricky, I am facing some TCP/IP issues, and I know I likely will end up breaking CORS security to test what I am writing, but it sounds like this might be a solution you are looking for.

I am doing the exact thing you are speaking about , instead of classic ladder, I'm writing components. My set up is Rpi3 and a 7i90 board in spi mode. I loaded 2.8 pre on it to get the rpi driver. So far it seems to work well. I can help you get the kernel patched and lcnc loaded if you go that route. I have a second pi/ 7i90 set up that is going on my hardinge lathe , replacing a dual core amd and 5i20, curious to see how it works. Lemme know if I can help.