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Exit Poll -- Did you increase your knowledge of Industrial Automation?

rscasny — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 16:52:29 GMT

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RE: Exit Poll -- Did you increase your knowledge of Industrial Automation?

embeddedguy — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 04:54:35 GMT

As an embedded systems enthusiast, I never thought that my knowledge of Industrial Automation can be so much increased.

What I did first was take part in "Experimenting with Industrial Automation" using Schneider Electric devices. That increased my knowledge so much that I would expect. I realised that it could be so easy for me to work on Industrial Automation devices.

Then recently, I did Quiz on Industrial Automation. Certainly, these tasks increases my knowledge of Industrial Automation.

RE: Exit Poll -- Did you increase your knowledge of Industrial Automation?

kmikemoo — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 02:50:03 GMT

"Increased a lot". What made the Experimenting with Industrial Automation design challenge such a great learning experience was that not every function was built into the PLC. Having to learn how to communicate through the communication hub and with the HMI were what set it above and apart from the basic PLC programming that I learned many years ago. PLC's are expected to do more - and they do. I had to use Structured Text in my Ladder Logic to do data type conversions. I don't think the Y2K SLC500 I learned on could have handled that.
All in, great stuff AND I hope what we did will help someone when they build their system. Schneider Electric has a bunch of great tutorials - but it didn't cover everything. I'd like to think that we filled in some of the gaps.

RE: Exit Poll -- Did you increase your knowledge of Industrial Automation?

javagoza — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 18:50:00 GMT

I have followed this series with great interest. During the early 90s, one of my duties at the newspaper press where I worked was programming the PLC modules for the newspaper cutters, folders and packaging machines. At that time the interfaces were not so intuitive and we did the programming in IL, more similar to an assembler than a programming language. It has been interesting to see the practical use of ladder logic.

RE: Winners announcements for the experimenting with Industrial automation

DAB — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:46:36 GMT

This was another great challenge with interesting projects.

Well done everyone.

Winners announcements for the experimenting with Industrial automation

embeddedguy — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 09:52:00 GMT

Hi all,

Final results for the challenge are available on the page

Congratulations to the Grand price winner, runner up, third price winner and everyone who took part.

/challenges-projects/design-challenges/experimenting-with-industrial-automation/dc/dc/69/experimenting_with_i

RE: Winners announcements for the experimenting with Industrial automation

genebren — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 18:55:49 GMT

Congratulations to the winners and participants! There were some great projects in the group and many great blogs. It was a fun bunch of projects to follow.

RE: Winners announcements for the experimenting with Industrial automation

misaz — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:44:24 GMT

rscasny or other element14 staff member will write proper celebrational winner announcement blog, but rscasny is now out of office.

community.element14.com/.../roadtest-announcement---how-to-get-roadtest-help-between-april-8-through-april-23-2024

Software Licensing

pandoramc — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:32:19 GMT

Recently I was checking the HMI and Modicon Device usage with the official Schneider Electric software, unfortunately, I got stuck with the following situation,

The operator terminal does not allow the interface upload since my software is in trial version, provided by the official Schneider web portal.

According to documentation, we require a Professional license to do it. I am not able to acquire a license, which is a bit expensive to use only in the challenge, and I worried about this because I think the Modicon M251 has the same mechanism.

Someone know how we can use the software with special licensing for the challenge? This brings a new challenge since the license was not considered in the original project.

RE: Software Licensing

colporteur — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 18:53:52 GMT

In a past life I was a system administrator for multiple computer systems. The servers were scattered across a number of sites. Corporate had a management system that required client installs on the servers in order to access and monitor the system. The licensing model was confusing.

Servers could be licensed individually or aggregated into group license. Management systems themselves also had licenses since they were divided across a number of monitoring points. It all came down to cost. Group license (blocks) would be cheaper if you had enough to fill the block. If not individual was cheaper.

It was a nightmare keeping tract of not only servers but management systems.

I recall when MS first came out with the CAL's. Client access license. What a pain in the ***! I moved my career away from MS systems and focused on *inx instead.

RE: Software Licensing

kmikemoo — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:55:27 GMT

colporteur Yes, I only have the equipment provided for the Design Challenge. The software is not only application specific, but equipment specific as well. For the PLC used in this Design Challenge, EcoStruxure Machine Expert is the software to program the PLC. If you have the older M221 PLC's, you use the EcoStruxure Machine Expert - Basic (which is free). EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert is the HMI software. This one seems to work with a lot of the Schneider HMI's. I can't say all - but that's due to my lack of knowledge. I don't know of any limitations like with the PLCs.

While working through this, I did think "If we deployed more of these, how would we handle the licenses?" We're a small enough company that we would have a Schneider PLC laptop for the support person and one for a field technician. We just wouldn't have the volume of activity to justify more. If it really took off, our next evolution is a dedicated laptop at each impacted branch and additional software for another support person that understands the software. While I haven't tried it out yet, the HMI also has a Web Server interface - so (I assume) others can monitor without having to have the software. I should turn that feature ON before the EOTE software expires. 🤣

RE: Software Licensing

colporteur — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:56:08 GMT

I can side with you on your comment. Sales guys need to make sales. Until I have a funded project engaging sales guys gets frustrating. They want a sale and I can't promise them anything without the approved project. I'm gathering information to explore an option that may provide no return on investment because it never gets approved. I need to know the full extent of the option because if it does make it to approval, it has to do what I said it can do.

RE: Software Licensing

colporteur — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:51:10 GMT

I assume you only have the equipment setup provided through the RoadTest. Is the EcoStructure software the tool to configure and manage all the equipment in the setup or is that broken across multiple applications?

I pitched an application for this RoadTest but didn't make the cut. Appreciate you responding to my inquiries.

RE: Software Licensing

kmikemoo — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 21:43:07 GMT

rscasny THANK YOU!! And thank you Schneider Electric! I loaded the provided software last night and was able to load files into my HMI. 80% of my predesigned profile worked! I've still got to tweak the Stop/Reset button - the most important one. 😆👍

RE: Software Licensing

kmikemoo — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 21:39:03 GMT

colporteur I loaded up EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert (v3.4) last night and it looks like it is licensed to my laptop. The older (trial) version (v3.2) was licensed through a web portal - as is my trial version of EcoStrruxure Machine Expert. I was not able to select Operator Terminal v3.4 through the web portal. It was a simple (large) download.

I don't know if this helps but this is what I've experienced.

RE: Software Licensing

kmikemoo — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:42:04 GMT

colporteur 😆😂😆 Literal Laugh Out Loud !!! You are SO RIGHT!
On the other hand, that tenacity is what makes a good sales guy a good sales guy (or gal). You want them on your team - just not on the other end of the phone.

RE: Software Licensing

colporteur — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:17:02 GMT

I know I need to speak to a sales-guy regarding software licencing. Something I've been avoiding. Once sales knows you are interested it is hard to shake them. I'm a long way from a purchase commitment still exploring options.

RE: Software Licensing

embeddedguy — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 08:19:55 GMT

For ecostructure machine expert perhaps you could refer to the following guide. I also have some screenshot for the different options.

I think one can at least upload the code to PLC when trial period ends in 42 days.

https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_Doc_Ref=DIA3ED2180701EN&p_enDocType=Catalog&p_File_Name=DIA3ED2180701EN.pdf

RE: Software Licensing

kmikemoo — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 18:49:00 GMT

colporteur Check out this page. https://www.se.com/us/en/product-range/2226-ecostruxure-machine-expert-software/

Under Professional, they even have floating licenses. Otherwise it's Single, Team and Site.

RE: Software Licensing

colporteur — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 18:11:37 GMT

Appreciate the response. Thanks. Licencing is where experience comes in handy. Looking at multiple installations but hoping to manage from central location.

RE: Software Licensing

kmikemoo — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 01:13:56 GMT

colporteur Based on my reading - and I was curious about the subscription thing as well - it seems to be lifetime. I have no idea on the second question. I didn't even try it with the trial version. I just turned the chair around and used a second laptop. Not elegant but it did give me 3 screens to work with.

RE: Software Licensing

colporteur — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 20:10:25 GMT

Thank you. Can you tell me if the licence is subscription based, annual or lifetime?

Are the two licences system based (i.e can be used for multiple installations) or equipment install base?

RE: Software Licensing

kmikemoo — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 15:17:29 GMT

colporteur If you invest in this equipment, you will need to purchase a license for EcoStruxure Machine Expert (about $800 for a single license) AND for EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert.(about $700). The Operator Terminal Expert has a 3-month license for around $350.

RE: Software Licensing

embeddedguy — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 05:58:29 GMT

I think that one needs to contact sales support for that.. But maybe rscasny can tell directly..

https://www.se.com/in/en/product-range/62621-ecostruxure-operator-terminal-expert/#software-and-firmware

Also do you have an idea when the sponsor will send these licences to you? Could you please tell?

RE: Software Licensing

colporteur — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 00:00:29 GMT

Can you tell me how this license fits into the equipment purchase?

I was hoping to get an understanding of the total cost of ownership if I invested in this equipment.