Phoenixville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/20/2010 -- PLC Software for Allen Bradley Control Logix and Compact Logix to Visual Studio .NET was just released by INGEAR, INGEAR NET.LOGIX 3.0 Universal Installation and Setup Program allows users to download INGEAR Visual Studio .NET class library for Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix programmable automation controllers.
http://www.ingeardrivers.com/netlogix/netlogix_download.htm. Within minutes users write automation and control applications in Visual Basic .NET or Visual Studio C#.
The better the information plant personnel have regarding operations, the greater the ability to manage costs, output, quality, and ultimately – profitability. Some of the most valuable data lies within the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that automate assembly lines. Manufacturers typically deploy PLCs machine-by-machine, however, accessing that data can be a real challenge.
Recognizing the growing importance of this data, manufacturers are looking to integrate plant floor operations with enterprise applications; PLC vendors have been offering solutions to improve communications with their devices. Rockwell Automation, a world leading manufacturer of PLCs, offers its customers a software connectivity solution built on the Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) standard to enable connectivity between human machine interface (HMI) software packages and Allen Bradley PLCs. One OPC connectivity solution, which Rockwell Software offers is its RSLinx software. The RSLinx connector is an OPC Data Access 2.0 compliant server that provides communication services for Rockwell Automation’s Allen-Bradley brand of PLCs.
Once a user builds an interface application with an HMI development tool, the RSLinx software provides the drivers and other connectivity components that enable communications with the PLC. Users are then required to purchase individual RSLinx copies for every machine on which they wanted to run their application, along with annual software maintenance fees for each cop. An off-the-shelf Microsoft.NET technology solution enables manufactures to develop an open standard HMI using user-friendly tools; Googling the phrase “.NET PLC driver” will lead to http://www.ingeardrivers.com
The INGEAR.NET software from CimQuest is a set of runtime free class libraries that simplify building, developing, and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code:
- one of which manages the PLC,
- one manages the data that are read from or written to that PLC,
- one manages groupings of methods, properties, and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.
It includes a direct Ethernet communication channel to the PLCs enabling developers to write HMI interfaces to PLC controls or acquiring data from them. No additional third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools, such as OPC Servers, are required. This simple programming model by CimQuest InGear contributes to faster response times and ease of use and ultimately – profitability.
CimQuest INGEAR
http://www.ingeardrivers.com
Chuck Karwoski
plc.net@ingeardrivers.com
Toll Free: 1.866.935.7979 | Telephone: 1.610.935.8282