Greetings to all around the globe! Instead of starting from scratch, I am reaching out to see if anyone has worked on a similar programming project and can offer guidance. My project involves recording, storing, and printing data such as serial numbers, model numbers, pressure, temperature, and tare weight. The first step is to record this initial data, then move the vessel to a scale to capture the gross weight. The final piece is to match up the recorded data for printing on a label. While I am confident in my programming skills, this is my first time working on a database recording project. Key components of the project include: - Recording initial data: Serial 100, Model 200, pressure 300, temperature 400, tare weight 500 - Recording second data: gross weight 600 - Matching and printing data on a label: Serial 100, Model 200, pressure 300, temperature 400, tare weight 500, gross weight 600 Tools used in this project include Studio 5000, FactoryTalk ME, L33ERM, and PanelView Plus 7 Performance.
Welcome to the PLCTalk forum community! Thank you for providing information about your equipment and application. To ensure clear communication, I have a few questions for you. Is the operator interface mainly through the PanelView Plus? Will operators manually input data such as serial numbers, model numbers, pressure, temperature, and tare weight, followed by the gross weight? Alternatively, are there sensors like RFID or barcode for vessel and batch identification? Do you have a label printer in use or need to choose and learn how to interface with one? Do you require printing of ASCII text, logos, barcodes, or QR codes on the labels? You mentioned storing batch data in a database. Will this data be stored long-term for analysis, or is its purpose fulfilled once the label is printed? What databases are at your disposal? Are there other computers besides the PanelView Plus available for general use? The PanelView Plus has limited flexibility for certain tasks like printing, with compatibility only for a few printers primarily for screen prints. However, you have the PV+7 Performance model, which allows access to the Windows desktop and associated applications. The PV+7 Performance Series A runs on Windows CE 6, while the Series B operates on Windows 10 IOT. Although the switch to Windows 10 IOT caused some issues initially, such as DHCP and screensaver malfunctions according to reports. The PanelView Plus is capable of printing screens as PDF files. Can your printer retrieve PDF files via FTP for printing purposes?
Are you in need of a database solution for long-term storage, or is a simpler PLC-based system sufficient for managing a limited number of records? If the latter fits your needs, consider implementing an Add-On Instruction (AOI) to act as a basic database for storing key-value pairs. This cost-effective solution is ideal for small-scale data management requirements.
I apologize for forgetting the scanner. Operators will utilize the PanelView Plus interface to input data. They will place the vessel on the scale to scan the serial number and model number before creating a trigger to capture pressure, temperature, and tare weight information while the vessel is in place. Each vessel has a barcode serial number attached for identification. Once the vessel is filled, another trigger can be set up to match the data and print it onto a label using our Zebra label printer, which is currently linked to our Allen-Bradley PLC through RTA ASCII. Currently, the recorded data is being stored temporarily, but there may be a need to store it permanently in the future. If a cost-effective permanent solution is found, we may opt for that. Our current setup includes a VM Microsoft SQL server and GE Historian server to store the data, and we are trying to avoid using a general-purpose computer for this task. While we anticipate no issues with printing the data on the labels, we will need to confirm once we start matching up the data for printing.
Are you looking to streamline your filling line by synchronizing your "Database Record" (#, Temp, Wt, etc) with the movement of the vessel in order to ensure that the necessary data is available for your Zebra printer at the end of the line? To achieve this, you will require a FIFO system, which can be implemented using either FFL / FFU instructions or the COP(Array[1],Array[0]) method. One of the challenges in parts tracking is determining the optimal timing to shift the array. This process is straightforward with an indexing conveyor as you can trigger the system to advance one station at a time. However, it becomes more complex when dealing with a standard conveyor and needing to calculate the linear distance traveled and pulse accordingly. This becomes even more difficult if containers have the potential to slip on the conveyor. In such cases, having a photoeye system in place, along with mechanisms to maintain uniform gaps between stations and handle any bottlenecks in the lineup, becomes crucial. Many individuals have experience with these types of applications, and providing more specific details about your setup would be beneficial.
You mentioned that operators place the vessel on the scale to "scan the serial number and model number." Are these details encoded in a barcode label already attached to the vessel? If so, is there a barcode scanner available at the label printer station for this purpose? It appears that the pressure, temperature, and tare weight are measured when the vessel is on the scale. How are the vessels transported from the scale to the fill station and then to the labeling area? If the vessels have a barcode serial number label, it may be beneficial to include a barcode scanner at each station for efficiency, especially if they are handled by operators. How large are the vessels in question?
Hey there! Sounds like a challenging yet exciting project. I've worked on something similar using Python and SQLite. My advice would be to first design a database that can adequately capture and organize all the information you are looking to store. Then, create functions in your program for recording this data directly into the database. For matching the relevant data sets, SQL queries can be really efficient. You might want to create unique identifiers of each data set to simplify this matching process. Lastly, to print the label, you can use libraries like ReportLab library in Python to generate PDFs or print directly to a printer. I'm not sure how well these specifics translate to the tools you're using, but hopefully they at least give you some avenues to explore. Good luck with your project!
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Answer: Answer: To record and store data in Studio 5000, you can utilize data tags and structured text programming to capture and store variables such as serial numbers, model numbers, pressure, temperature, and weight.
Answer: Answer: In Studio 5000, you can create logic to match the recorded data stored in variables and then use FactoryTalk ME and PanelView Plus 7 Performance to design and print labels with the relevant information such as serial numbers, model numbers, pressure, temperature, and weight.
Answer: Answer: Yes, Studio 5000 can be used for database recording projects by implementing data logging mechanisms to store recorded data and integrating printing functionalities through HMI tools like FactoryTalk ME for label generation.
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