Create a Virtual PLC in FT Logix Echo

Summary

In this informative video, Henry Gillan, a mechatronics specialist, guides viewers through the process of creating a virtual PLC using Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk Logix Designer. He demonstrates how to emulate a PLC for virtual commissioning and testing PLC code without physical hardware. The tutorial covers setting up the virtual environment, downloading a PLC program, and running it in a virtual commissioning tool, offering a valuable resource for automation professionals.

Takeaways

• 📚 Henry Gillan introduces himself as a mechatronics specialist focusing on electric supply and equipment.
• 🛠️ The video demonstrates how to create a virtual PLC using Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk Logix Designer software.
• 🔌 The virtual PLC can be used for virtual commissioning and testing PLC code without the need for physical hardware.
• 💻 The FactoryTalk Logix Designer dashboard is the starting point for setting up the virtual environment.
• 📦 The process involves adding a new chassis and then adding a controller to it within the software.
• 🔍 An existing PLC program is used to create a processor, which is associated with the loop back address of the computer.
• 🔄 The virtual PLC communicates with the FactoryTalk Link Network browser, indicating successful setup.
• 🎯 Studio 5000 Logix Designer is used to target the virtual PLC and download a program to it.
• 🔄 The virtual PLC's state can be monitored in the device status panel of the FactoryTalk Logix Designer dashboard.
• 🏁 The virtual PLC is initially in 'remote program' mode, indicated by the Run light being off.
• 🚀 The program can be downloaded to the virtual PLC and then placed in 'run' mode for testing in a virtual environment.

Q & A

Who is the presenter of the video?

The presenter of the video is Henry Gillan, a mechatronics specialist.

What is the purpose of the video?

The purpose of the video is to demonstrate how to create a virtual PLC using Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk Logics Echo and to download a PLC program to it for virtual commissioning and testing.

What is FactoryTalk Logics Echo?

FactoryTalk Logics Echo is a software that can emulate a virtual PLC for purposes such as virtual commissioning and testing PLC code without the need for physical hardware.

What is the first step to create a virtual PLC in the video?

The first step is to open the FactoryTalk Logics Echo dashboard and add a new chassis to the devices panel.

How do you add a controller to the virtual PLC?

You add a controller by clicking on 'ADD controller' from ACD and then navigating to an existing program to create a processor from.

What is the loop back address and why is it important?

The loop back address is the address for the personal computer that the virtual PLC will communicate with. It is important for establishing the connection between the virtual PLC and the computer.

How can you check if the virtual PLC is communicating with the network?

You can check the communication by using the FactoryTalk Links Network Browser, which will show the virtual PLC communicating with it.

What software is used to download a program to the virtual PLC?

Studio 5000 Logix Designer is used to target the virtual PLC and download a program to it.

What state should the virtual PLC be in before downloading a program?

The virtual PLC should be in 'remote program' state, indicated by the Run light being off.

How can you place the virtual PLC in run mode after downloading the program?

After downloading the program, you can place the virtual PLC in run mode remotely through the FactoryTalk Logics Echo dashboard.

What is the final step in using the virtual PLC for virtual commissioning?

The final step is to test the code in the virtual environment, which now has a program running in it, using tools like Emulate 3D.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 Introduction to Virtual PLC Creation

Henry Gillan introduces himself as a mechatronics specialist and outlines the purpose of the video: to demonstrate the creation of a virtual PLC using Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk Logix Designer. The video will guide viewers through the process of downloading a PLC program to the virtual PLC and running it as a virtual commissioning tool. The introduction also encourages viewers to subscribe to the ESN TV YouTube channel for more automation and support content.

🛠️ Setting Up FactoryTalk Logix Designer

The tutorial begins with opening the FactoryTalk Logix Designer dashboard and navigating to the devices panel. Here, the user is instructed to add a new chassis and then a controller from an existing program. The process involves creating a processor from the program, which will display the name of the processor and the loop back address for the user's computer. The user is advised to proceed with the default settings and add the controller to the virtual environment.

🔄 Establishing Communication with the Virtual PLC

After setting up the virtual PLC, the video script describes how to use the FactoryTalk Links Network Browser to establish communication with the virtual PLC. The user is guided to observe the virtual PLC's communication status and ensure it is successfully interacting with the network browser.

📡 Downloading and Running the PLC Program

The script then moves on to the process of downloading a PLC program to the virtual PLC using Studio 5000 Logix Designer. The user is shown how to target the virtual PLC and initiate the download process. Once the program is downloaded, the script explains how to change the state of the virtual PLC from 'remote program' to 'run' mode, allowing the user to test the code in a virtual environment.

🚀 Conclusion and Next Steps

The final part of the script wraps up the tutorial by summarizing the steps taken to create and operate a virtual PLC. It also suggests that viewers can now use the virtual PLC for virtual commissioning with tools like Emulate 3D. The video concludes with a thank you note to the viewers for watching.

Keywords

💡Henry Gillan

Henry Gillan is the presenter of the video, likely an expert in mechatronics and electric supply equipment. His role in the video is to guide viewers through the process of creating a virtual PLC using Rockwell Automation's Factory Talk Logix Designer. His name is mentioned at the beginning of the script, establishing the authority and expertise of the presenter.

💡Mechatronics

Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field that combines mechanical engineering, electronics, computer engineering, and control systems. In the context of the video, Henry Gillan is a specialist in this field, which implies that the video will cover technical aspects of PLCs and their virtual emulation, a topic relevant to mechatronics.

💡Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation is a company that provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions. In the video, the software used to create the virtual PLC is from Rockwell Automation, indicating that the company's products are central to the video's tutorial.

💡Factory Talk Logix Designer

Factory Talk Logix Designer is a software application used for designing and programming Rockwell Automation's PLCs. The script mentions using this software to create a virtual PLC and to download a PLC program, making it a key tool in the process demonstrated in the video.

💡Virtual PLC

A virtual PLC, as discussed in the video, is an emulation of a physical Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) that operates within a software environment. This allows for virtual commissioning and testing of PLC code without the need for actual hardware, which is a significant aspect of the video's content.

💡Virtual Commissioning

Virtual commissioning is the process of testing and verifying the control system of a machine or industrial process in a simulated environment before physical implementation. The video aims to show how to use a virtual PLC for this purpose, which is an important application in the field of industrial automation.

💡PLC Program

A PLC program is a set of instructions that control the operation of a Programmable Logic Controller. In the script, the process of downloading a PLC program to the virtual PLC is described, which is essential for testing and commissioning in a virtual environment.

💡Studio 5000

Studio 5000 is an integrated development environment (IDE) used for programming and configuring Rockwell Automation control systems. The script mentions using Studio 5000 to download a program to the virtual PLC, indicating its role in the process.

💡Emulate 3D

Emulate 3D is a tool mentioned in the video for virtual commissioning. Although not detailed in the script, it suggests that Emulate 3D could be used in conjunction with the virtual PLC to create a more comprehensive testing environment.

💡Chassis

In the context of PLCs, a chassis refers to the physical structure that houses the components of the controller. The script describes adding a chassis in Factory Talk Logix Designer, which is the first step in creating a virtual PLC.

💡Controller

A controller in the script refers to the part of the PLC system that manages the logic and operations of the industrial process. The process of adding a controller to the virtual chassis is a key step in setting up the virtual PLC environment.

💡Loop Back Address

The loop back address mentioned in the script is the address used by the virtual PLC to communicate with the computer running the emulation software. It is an essential technical detail for setting up the virtual environment correctly.

💡Remote Program

Remote program is a mode in which the PLC operates, allowing for programming and configuration from a remote location. The script describes the virtual PLC being in remote program mode, which is necessary for downloading the PLC program.

💡Run Mode

Run mode is the operational state of the PLC where the program is executing. The script explains how to place the virtual PLC in run mode after downloading the program, which is the final step in preparing the virtual environment for testing and commissioning.

Highlights

Introduction to Henry Gillan, a mechatronics specialist with experience in electric supply and equipment.

Objective to demonstrate the creation of a virtual PLC using Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk Logix Designer.

Emphasizing the use of virtual PLC for virtual commissioning and testing PLC code without physical hardware.

Instructions on subscribing to the ESN TV YouTube channel for automation and support needs.

Description of FactoryTalk Logix Designer as a software for PLC emulation.

Guidance on opening the FactoryTalk Logix Designer dashboard and accessing the devices panel.

Process of adding a new chassis to the virtual environment within the software.

Explanation on adding a controller to the chassis and creating a processor from an existing program.

Observation of the virtual PLC's communication with the network browser through FactoryTalk Links.

Demonstration of targeting the virtual PLC using Studio 5000 Logix Designer for program download.

How to check the virtual PLC's state in the device status panel and change it to 'remote program'.

Instructions on downloading a program to the virtual PLC and placing it in 'run mode' remotely.

Suggestion to minimize the FactoryTalk Logix Designer dashboard and let it run in the background.

Opening the same PLC program in Studio 5000 Logix Designer to find and download to the virtual PLC.

Advising on testing the code in the virtual environment for virtual commissioning.

Recommendation to use tools like Emulate 3D in conjunction with the virtual PLC for commissioning.

Closing with a thank you note and a music outro.

Transcripts

hi I'm Henry Gillan The mechatronics

Specialist with electric supply and

equipment in this video I'm going to

show you how to create a virtual PLC

using Rockwell automations Factory talk

Logics Echo then we'll download a PLC

program to that virtual PLC and put it

in run mode for use as a virtual

commissioning tool but before we get

going be sure to subscribe to the ESN tv

YouTube channel for your Automation and

support

needs

[Music]

Factory talk Logics Echo is a software

that can be used to create an emulation

of a virtual PLC this virtual PLC can be

used for things like virtual

commissioning and testing PLC code

without actually having physical

Hardware first let's open up the factory

talk logic's Echo dashboard you will see

on the left hand side of the dashboard

window a devices panel panel this

device's panel is where you will add

chassis and plc's let's start by adding

a new chassis we're just going to call

it chassis then into the chassis we're

going to add a controller click on ADD

controller from ACD then we're going to

navigate to an existing program that

we're going to use to create a processor

from you will see a popup window that

shows the name of the process processor

that you're creating and it'll also show

the loop back address for your personal

computer you can leave everything as is

and say add let's go over to our Factory

talk links Network browser and watch as

our virtual PC begins to communicate

with the network browser once the

virtual PLC starts communicating with

Factory talk links Network browser you

can Target it using Studio 5000 logic's

designer and download a program to it

back in in Factory talk Logics Echo

dashboard you can open up the device

status panel and see what state the

virtual PLC is in our PLC is currently

in remote program we can tell because

the Run light is off you can change this

state to run remote or program we're

going to leave it in remote mode so that

we can download our program to the

processor and then place it in run mode

remotely you can now minimize the

factory talk logic's Echo dashboard and

let it keep running in the background

now we're going to open up that same PLC

program that we use to create the

virtual PLC once the program is open in

studio 5000 logixs designer we can

browse for our virtual PLC using who

active once you find the virtual

PLC you can just hit the download button

like

normal download the program to the

virtual

PLC and you can see now that the the

virtual PLC is in remote

program we can then place our virtual

PLC in run

mode and then test our

code in this new virtual

environment that's it you're now ready

to use this virtual PLC with a program

running in it for virtual commissioning

using a tool like emulate

3D thanks for

watching

[Music]