Introduction
In this post you are going to learn how to work with our industrial PLCs and the computer application LabVIEW.
Previous readings
We recommend you to read the following posts from our blog before reading this one.
How to instal LabVIEW, NI VISA and VI Package Manager
Industrial Arduino based programming with LabVIEW
Requirements
In order to work with the PC application LabVIEW, you will need the following things:
Industrial Shields programmable logic controllers: Wifi & Bluetooth Controller Family, Ethernet Controller Family, GPRS / GSM Controller Family or 20IOs Controller Arduino Family
Some electronic components such as wires, leds, resistors, potentiometers, etc.
Arduino IDE Software
Hardware & Software
Configuration of the switches for the digital example:
Most of the inputs and the outputs are connected to the internal Arduino, but in a few cases, the user can choose between a special peripheral configuration or a GPIO by changing the position of the Dip Switches.
Each switch can select only one of the two possible configurations at the same time. For example, in this case, we are watching the configuration of an M-Duino 42+ Ethernet industrial controller. If we put the switch to the right position (ON), the digital outputs Q0.5, Q0.6 and Q0.7 will be activated, but if the switch is in the left position (OFF) we will activate the analog outputs A0.5, A0.6 and A0.7.
In this case, all of the switches have to be in the ON position.
Q0.5, Q0.6 & Q0.7 enabled - A0.5, A0.6 & A0.7 disabled
The connection between an Arduino board and LabVIEW:
First of all, you are going to look for the sketch called LIFA_Base following the steps in the first screenshot: Este equipo -- Disco local(C:) (or the letter that your local disc has) -- Archivos de programa (x86) -- National Instruments -- LabVIEW 2019 (or the version that you downloaded) -- vi.lib -- LabVIEW Interface for Arduino -- Firmware -- LIFA_Base. Once you found it click on it and an Arduino IDE window is going to pop up on your computer.
After that, go to this window and click Tools -- Board (Your PLC family) + Model (Your PLC) + Port and select your PLC Arduino family, your specific model and the serial port where it is located and transfer the code to your Industrial Shields PLC with the arrow on the top left of the screen (second icon).
Build the following electrical circuit:
The Leds
The connections can be done in any of the digital outputs of the PLC. The equivalence of the Arduino board pins with your PLC for industrial automation is in our webpage, selecting your family and model and going into the file named User Guide in the Pinout section.
The resistors should be 220 Ohm.
There has to be a cable that connects two pins in the controller Arduino; the one called 5Vdc with the QVdc of the pins you are going to use.
A power supply (12-24 Vdc) is needed to power up your programmable logic controller (PLC) apart of the USB connection from it to your computer.
The Leds
The connections can be done in any of the digital outputs of the PLC. The equivalence of the Arduino board pins with your PLC for industrial automation is in our webpage, selecting your family and model and going into the file named User Guide in the Pinout section.
The resistors should be 220 Ohm.
There has to be a cable that connects two pins in the controller Arduino; the one called 5Vdc with the QVdc of the pins you are going to use.
A power supply (12-24 Vdc) is needed to power up your programmable logic controller (PLC) apart of the USB connection from it to your computer.
Industrial Arduino based PLC programmed with LabVIEW