Data logging and PLC control in MV is simple if the sensor produces ASCII output or the PLC accepts ASCII commands to query status. If the interface is binary then it would be better to use C tools to interface with it and perform translations to make sure you don't malform Pick items. Some more information about the PLC interface or sensors would be helpful.
Check out MaxStream's line of RS-232 and RS-485 PnP radios. http://www.maxstream.net/ We have a pair of 9XStream (900Mhz)PKG-U radios (~$250 each) linking a parcel scale in-line with our packing conveyor. It takes a little tweaking to get working with a Digi server, but it works flawlessly and transparently. I have a small serial C program that takes an ASCII query, sends it to the tty, and then returns the ASCII result to me. That eliminates serial port coding completely. It's called sjinn, but I symlinked it to "rs232". *nix example: CMD = 'SH rs232 -d /dev/ttya25 -p 7e1 -b 19200 -s"\h02\hH\r" -r7 --wait .3' That sends a query string over ttya25 using 7E1 @ 19200BAUD wait .3 seconds between send and read ( provides 'real-time' scale polling ) read 7 characters before returning There should be serial tools like this for Win32 as well. If you want some help, send me some info on the devices and I'll see what I can do. I've interfaced with a lot of serial hardware. Most recently, the SMDR logger facility on my Toshiba phone system. Glen http://mvdevcentral.com http://picksource.com > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Brutzman, Bill > Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 3:02 PM > To: '[email protected]' > Subject: [U2] Factory Floor Automation - Serial Connectivity ? > > > We would like to be able to gather machine motion into UniVerse. TTL data > from a sensor could go to a serial or USB port on a PC indicating when a die > tool is up or down. Thus, we would be able to capture press activity, > logging data. > > There are a few books on www.amazon.com on how to write a VB/serial/USB > application. This data could be sent to a SQL database to talk with > UniVerse. > > There must be a better/cheaper/faster/more_direct way. Perhaps something > with Java or a PLC thing. We are using Dynamic Connect. > > One of those "stamp" controllers to ethernet or wireless would be ideal. > > Suggestions would be appreciated. > > Bill Brutzman > Manager, IT > HK MetalCraft Mfg Corp > PO Box 775 > 35 Industrial Road > Lodi NJ 07644-0775 > > 973.471.7770 x145 > 973.471.9666 .fax > > www.hkMetalCraft.com <http://www.hkMetalCraft.com> > > [demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/octet-stream which > had a name of Brutzman, Bill.vcf] > ------- > u2-users mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ ------- u2-users mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
