Industrial Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Kinematic calculations help to transform joint into cartesian values and vice versa. But how to define the robot arm configuration (e.g. elbow up or elbow down) while sending the robot to a defined position in cartesian space? Resolution Using inverse kinematics the mendatory entry of a reference positions solves this issue. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue With the shift towards a data-centered world and highly networked industrial environments, modern Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) have become a potential target for cyber-attacks. The attack vectors have evolved due to the adoption of a connected operational model, providing hackers with new methods for manipulating, interrupting, or disrupting PLC operations in all industries and on all platforms. The purpose of this article is to guide you in setting up a protected connection between EcoStruxure Control Expert and the Modicon M340 controller. Understand the impact on Modicon M340's performance when the Protected Engineering Link is activated. Resolution A secure authentication method is implemented to secure and encrypt the connection for Modicon M340 reservations, ensuring a protected engineering/programming connection to the Modicon M340 CPU. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Want to create a report in EcoStruxure Machine SCADA Expert with a trend graphic included ? 

Issue A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is an industrial computer that is adapted for the control of manufacturing processes. Given the central role that it plays, it has been a preferred target of industrial control system attackers. ICS (or Industrial Control System) security is growing in importance as cyber-attacks increasingly focus on physical processes for either ransom or to cause harm to critical production systems. The main objective of cybersecurity is to protect information and physical assets from cyberattacks, data breaches, and identity theft, as well as to manage risks. This document aims to guide you on how to set up and configure a secure connection between EcoStruxure Control Expert and the Modicon M580 controller. Resolution The Modicon M580 controller uses HTTPS as its secure connection. HTTPS today uses Transport Layer Security or TLS. TLS is a network protocol that establishes an encrypted connection to an authenticated peer over an untrusted network. TLS is a direct replacement for SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), and both protocols serve the same purpose. With this technology, HTTPS or HTTPS via USB communication on the M580 CPU can be implemented to create a secure and encrypted connection via the engineering/programming link. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue I want to be able to create simulation signals for testing and demonstrations. Resolution This article shows how to generate a Sine wave that can be used for test and demonstration. It also gives suggestions on how to generate other signals.   Please Note: The ideas presented here should ONLY be used for test and demonstration purposes. These generate many events and will degrade the performance of a live system.  Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue The Cobot is running an application program where parallel to the movement it shall: - monitor the position - update or react on IO - initiate additional communication (e.g. socket comms) Resolution Lexium Cobot allows to run programs with up to 5 sub-threads to trigger prallel execution. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Objective The purpose of this article is to introduce the possible control loop parameter settings in a Lexium Multicarrier application. Resolution This article has highlighted how to set Control Loop parameters at a Lexium Multicarrier track. It shows which possibilities are existing and the steps how to use them.  

  Objective The purpose of this article is to introduce the basics and necessary steps, how to configure and set a tool at a robot in a Robotics application in EcoStruxure Machine Expert. The tool handling can be used for the Schneider Electric robots and Non-Schneider robots. For the Schneider Electric Cobot is this function not working, but for all other Schneider Electric robots. Resolution This article has highlighted how to configure and set a tool at a robot. It shows which possibilities are existing and the steps how to use them.  

Can EcoStruxure Machine SCADA Expert v2020 and v2023 be installed on the same PC at the same time?

Issue In a M580 Hot Standby architecture the BMENUA0100 Module does not swap IP addresses like the other communication modules, therefore the SCADA system has to independently detect which NUA module is Primary. Resolution The aim of this document is to provide a step-by-step guide for configuration of AVEVA Plant SCADA (Citect) communicating to the BMENUA0100 Module using OPC UA Client and M580 Hot Standby. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue In EcoStruxure Automation Expert V23.0, a new "Alias Name Toggle" button has been added. However, the documentation for this button is not available yet. Resolution The purpose of this document is to show how it is used to display Instance Name, Asset Tag name or HMI alias information. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue SE.AppCommonProcess and other SE libraries offer the ability to show or hide the tag name on symbols used in graphics screens, but this function is not available when you create your own CATs. Resolution The aim of this document is to show you how to use the Tag Name Visibility in your own CATs. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue I want to have multiple engineers working on my EcoStruxure Automation Expert Solution. Resolution This article describes the main features of EcoStruxure Automation Expert Sub Versioning, and how they can be used to allow multiple engineers to work on the same solution concurrently. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue It is often a puzzle to many on where C# comes into play in EAE. Well, C# “lives” in the HMI and are found beneath Symbols that we create as part of a CAT. The next question then comes on how does the C# Codes get called to execute, where exactly is the entry point? And after, how do we debug our codes, or at least know what our codes are doing? Resolution This Knowledge Base article is meant to “demystify” the questions raised by letting us operate on a sample Solution provided. By the end of the lesson, we will:   Understand the structure of C# Codes in EAE and how it interacts with HMI. Learn a quick and dirty way of Debugging our C# Codes using .NET MessageBox method. Snapshots from article:  Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue How can I obtain data values from any Modbus devices utilizing the State RAM topological objects (%MW, %M, %S, %SW, %KW, %I, and %IW) via EcoStruxure OPC UA Server Expert without having to install the EcoStruxure Control Expert programming software? Resolution Using the EcoStruxure OPC UA Server Expert Configuration Tool, enable the Populate option, we can use topological addressing to retrieve data values from the EcoStruxure OPC UA Server Expert without the requirement to create located and unlocated variables in EcoSruxure Control Expert. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue Cannot access the EcoStruxure Control Expert Security Editor tool because of SystemAdmin's password being lost or forgotten. Resolution   Using the attached article its possible to clear the Security Editor database properly to enable login again. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.

Issue By default you can only acknowledge one Alarm at a time using the three exclamation marks !!!   Resolution The following knowledge base article details the steps required to Acknowledge either All Alarms or All Visible Alarms. Acknowledgement of Visible Alarms is particularly useful for Alarm banners.   Step 1 – Identify the Alarm Control Name Open the Canvas that contains the Alarm Control and select the Alarm Control. In the following example the name is alarmGrid1, record for later.     Step 2 – Acknowledgment Buttons   Place two buttons on the Canvas, one for Ack All Alarms and the other for Ack Visible Alarms. In this example the button names are AckAllAlarms and AckVisableAlarms.      Step 3 – Acknowledge All Alarms Button Code Select the Ack All Alarms Button and in the properties window, click the lightning symbol (events).     Double-click in the column right of the Click event and the Code Window will open with the function event name automatically created (AckAckAlarmsClick).     Start to type in the Alarm Control Name, e.g. alarmGrid1 and the IntelliSense will offer suggestions; select the Alarm Control Name or select Enter.   Once the Alarm Control has been created enter a Full Stop and a second IntelliSense box will appear, select AckAllAlarms     Finish with ():  so the following is displayed:   Return to the canvas by clicking the following icon:   Step 4 – Acknowledge All Visible Alarms Button Code Repeat Step 3 for the AckVisableAlarms button and create the following code:   Step 5 – HMI Test Start the HMI and test that the buttons work.   Disclaimer   The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Objective The purpose of this article is to introduce the basics and necessary steps to use the Superimpose function with a Lexium Multicarrier in EcoStruxure Machine Expert. Resolution The attached document provides an overview and use of the Superimpose with a Lexium Multicarrier.     

Issue SE.IoModbus Library is suitable when the number of Registers on the Slave are limited. This is because building up the hardware configuration that is required for bulk communication will require too much time trying to instantiate many CATs and configuring them individually. Resolution With the use of SE.ModbusGateway Library, large number of Registers can be easily created. This article serves to guide us on how to use the Library for the purpose of bulk creating Registers on a large MODBUS distributed IO.   Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.  

Issue I want to use Transitions and Branches in an EcoStruxure Automation Expert sequence. Resolution This knowledgebase article describes how to use the sequence library transition and branching function blocks to create a managed sequence. It describes how they work and interact to create sequences that can be controlled by jumping to specific steps, rather than simply stepping through using the inbuilt monitoring timers.   Although EcoStruxure Automation Expert V23.0 will bring the new Procedural Library, this will only be a front-end to enable users to more easily create sequences that will be built using these sequence library function blocks. Understanding how they work will still be important for troubleshooting. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Schneider Electric.