I have a project where I need to convert an AB SLC500 program to a GE Fanuc 90-30 program. Currently, I am using LM90 software but will soon be transitioning to Proficy ME. My main query revolves around addressing a bit in the ladder logic using an integer word (%R) in GE systems, as opposed to exclusively using bit registers (%M). For instance, in my AB logic, I utilize N9:20 as a message file along with bits N9:20/0 through N9:20/15 for individual messages within that file. I am curious if there is a similar approach in GE programming that I am not familiar with. Any insights on this topic would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Steven.
Hello, although I am not an expert on GE equipment, I have thoroughly reviewed all the available documentation and could not find any information regarding the %R bit reference. Best of luck in your search, Mark. For more information, please visit http://www.peakhmi.com/
The GE 90-30 system does not support addressing %R memory at the bit level; however, it does allow you to copy a %R address to a %M address. When performing this action, make sure the %M address is on a byte boundary, such as %M81 or %M89. To execute this task, use the MOV_WORD instruction, which will transfer all 16 bits of the %R word to 16 consecutive %M addresses, starting with the one you specify for bit 0 of the %R word. For instance, if your GE equivalent of AB N9:20 is %R920, utilize the MOV_WORD instruction with %R920 as the source and %M113 as the destination. In this scenario, %M113 will represent bit 0 of %R920 (N9:20/0), %M114 will correspond to bit 1 (N9:20/1), and so on, up to %M128 representing bit 15 (N9:20/15).
Fantastic, this is exactly what I needed. I appreciate the responses. Thank you!
When the Genius network is not involved, I prefer using %G bits for this type of data, which can be utilized as either a "WORD" or "BOOLEAN". With a total of 1280 bits available, one can perform mathematical computations, apply masks, or other "WORD" functions by addressing the words on byte boundaries as suggested by Steve. Additionally, each individual bit address can serve as a contact or coil. It is important to note that these bits are always retentive, which can be advantageous for data storage, although they can be "cleared" as necessary.
There is indeed a method called BIT_TEST_WORD, but it may be more efficient to avoid using this instruction. Instead, you can transfer your data to M, T, or G memory to access the bits directly, as recommended by others.
Hi Steven, I believe you can use similar techniques in GE programming. You can reference individual bits of a word with a "." operator, much like you would in AB. For example, %R0001.10 would refer to the 10th bit of word %R0001. If you are planning to use it for messages as you described, you might need to use the MATH_BOX to perform bitwise operations on it in order to manipulate or query individual bits. Moving to Proficy ME should not change how those work, it's more of a matter of personal preference and finding what works best in your system. I hope this information helps you with your project.
Hey Steven, it sounds like you're migrating from Allen Bradley's SLC500 to GE's 90-30 series - quite a task! I understand your question about the addressing differences. In GE controllers, word-level bits can be addressed using integer word references similar to your AB example. Let's suppose you are using %R0001 as your message file. You can access the individual bits within this word by appending the bit number to the word reference, like %R0001/0 through to %R0001/15. It's not too dissimilar to the AB approach, just remember the syntax is slightly different. Hope this helps and good luck with your conversion project!
Hi Steven, in Proficy ME for GE systems, you can use an array of bits to correlate with your AB's use of bits within an integer. For instance, if you would use N9:20/0 in AB, you would use %R20[0] in Profify ME. It provides a similar level of granularity in your control while using integer words. Additionally, while navigating this transition, it may be helpful to thoroughly map out corresponding data types and designations in both systems to ensure a smooth conversion of your program.
Hi Steven, I believe you're on the right track. It has been a while since I worked on a project involving GE 90-30, but I'll share what I remember. Instead of using a numeric file like N9:20, you'd utilize a word address (%R) that can also reference each individual bit in that word. This is similar to your AB logic. So, your "%R file" can be used as your "Message file" and %R0001/0 through /15 can be addressed like your N9:20/0 to N9:20/15. This logic adapting might need some getting used to. I recommend trying out with some small test projects just to make sure you understand how GE handles this before applying it to a large-scale project. Hope it helps!
Hey Steven! When transitioning from AB to GE Fanuc, you can definitely work with integer words in Proficy ME to handle your messaging logic. Instead of using bit registers directly, you can utilize the "TO" and "FROM" instructions alongside bitwise manipulation to reference specific bits within your integer word (%R). For example, if you have an integer %R1, you can perform a bitwise AND operation to check or set individual bits, similar to how you would be using N9:20 and its bits in your AB program. This approach gives you the flexibility to handle your messages efficiently within the Proficy environment. Hope this helps, and good luck with your project!
Hi Steven! Great question—transitioning between different PLC platforms can definitely be a challenge. In GE Fanuc, you can handle similar functionality using the %R registers with bit manipulation. While GE doesn’t have an exact equivalent to your AB message file structure, you can store your messages in an integer word and use the BIT operator to access the specific bits you need. For example, if you have a message stored in %R1000, you can access individual bits with something like %R1000.0 for the first bit, %R1000.1 for the second, and so on. Just keep in mind that you'll need to ensure you set up your logic to correctly interpret these bits since GE's logic might handle things a little differently than AB’s structured files. Hope this helps!
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Answer: Answer: In GE systems, you can address bits in ladder logic using an integer word (%R) by specifying the word number followed by the bit number within that word. For example, to access bit 3 of word 5, you would use %R5:3.
Answer: Answer: In GE programming, you can achieve similar functionality to AB SLC500's message file and individual bits addressing by using integer words (%R) to store messages and then accessing specific bits within those words as needed.
Answer: Answer: To adapt your existing AB logic to GE's programming structure, you can store messages in integer words (%R) and access individual bits within those words to represent different messages, similar to how you handled it in AB SLC500.
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