TwinCAT PLC – IEC 61131-3 Multi-PLC on the PC
Software PLC for Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista
The TwinCAT PLC is programmed in accordance with IEC 61131-3 independently of the manufacturer. Online connections with PLC run-time systems around the world can be implemented with TCP/IP or via fieldbuses on the IPC.
TwinCAT PLC programming system
TwinCAT PLC offers all the languages in the IEC 61131-3 standard and has a powerful development environment for programs whose code size and data regions far exceed the capacities of conventional PLC systems.
Online connection via networks
Changes to programs or data are supported by a very powerful link to the run-time systems, which can also operate over a network. All the usual facilities of a PLC are available.
Any Windows programs, for instance visualisation programs or Office programs, can access TwinCAT data via Microsoft interfaces or control the PLC.
Practically oriented properties
- all defined programming languages: IL, FBD, LD, SFC, ST and CFC
- certified in accordance with base level (IL/ST)
- structured programming with modular program management
- recompilation while PLC runs with maximum data retention (online change)
- convenient library management
- source code storage in target system
- criterion analysis
- conversion between languages
- incremental compilation
- all common data types, structures, arrays, including multi-dimensional arrays
- programming support: auto-format, auto-declare, cross reference, search/replace
- project compare
- program converting in different languages
- connection with source code management tools
TwinCAT multi PLC
IEC 61131-3-languages
Diagnosis using standard PC techniques
Changes of any size to program and data can be carried out “online”. Error location and correction (debugging) is supported by aid of a very powerful link to the run-time system. This can also be used over a network. All the usual features of a PLC are available.
Debugging features
- Online connections with PLC run-time systems around the world can be implemented with TCP/IP or via fieldbuses.
- online change of new variables, instances or programs at run-time with maximum data retention
- online monitoring of variables in variable lists, watch windows, editors
- online status and powerflow (accumulator contents) of programs and instances
- triggering, forcing and setting variables
- single step, breakpoints
- step into, step over
- display of the current call stack
- Watch list shows a selection of variables.
- Trace function records variable values for every cycle.
- online management of all variable names and structures across the whole system
- TwinCAT ScopeView as a graphical diagnostic and analysis tool for the display of values
powerful debugging
| Technical data | TwinCAT PLC |
|---|---|
| PC hardware | standard PC/IPC hardware, no extras |
| Operating systems | Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista, Windows NT/XP Embedded, Windows CE (only run-time) |
| Target systems | PC (x86), Windows CE devices, Beckhoff Fieldbus Controllers (BCxxxx, BXxxxx, IL230x-Cxxx) |
| Real-time | Beckhoff real-time kernel as a component of TwinCAT |
| Run-time system | max. 4 multi-tasking PLCs each with 4 tasks in each PLC run-time system, development and run-time systems on one PC or remote programming via TCP/IP |
| Memory | process image size, flags area, program size, POU size, number of variables only limited by the size of the user memory (max. 2 GB under NT/2000/XP/Vista) |
| Cycle time | 50 µs upwards selectable (typically 1 ms) |
| Link time | 1 µs (Intel® Core™2 Duo) |
| Programming | IEC 61131-3: IL, FBD, LD, SFC, ST, CFC, powerful library management |
| Debugging | online changes in programs and variables, online monitor, execution control, breakpoints, write, force, step, data trace, remote debugging via TCP/IP |
| Remanence | remanent and persistent data, UPS supported storage on hard disk, storage in NOVRAM as option |
| I/O system | free choice of fieldbus: EtherCAT, PROFIBUS DP/MC, CANopen, DeviceNet, Interbus, SERCOS, Lightbus, Ethernet, PC hardware (printer port, COM port, USB), PC cards: generic memory DPRAM support |
| Connectivity | variable access via OPC, Beckhoff ADS OCX/DLL, .NET |
| Ordering information | |
|---|---|
| TwinCAT PLC | licence for using the IEC 61131-3 PLC automation software, including programming software and run-time system |
| Options | |
|---|---|
| TwinCAT PLC Controller Toolbox | The TwinCAT Controller Toolbox library contains blocks for basic controllers (P, I, D), complex controllers (PI, PID), pulse width modulation, ramps, signal generators, filters. |
| TwinCAT PLC Temperature Controller | IEC 61131-3 software library for TwinCAT PLC for temperature control |
| TwinCAT PLC Hydraulic Positioning | IEC 61131-3 software library for TwinCAT PLC for controlling hydraulic axes |
| TwinCAT PLC Modbus RTU | IEC 61131-3 software library for TwinCAT PLC with Modbus RTU function blocks for serial communication with Modbus devices |
| TwinCAT PLC Serial Communication | IEC 61131-3 software library for TwinCAT PLC for communication via serial Bus Terminals or PC COM ports |
| TwinCAT PLC Building Automation | IEC 61131-3 software library for TwinCAT PLC for execution of basic functions in the building automation area (basic library) |
| TwinCAT Engineering Interface Server | The TwinCAT Engineering Interface Server integrates drivers for interfacing with Microsoft Visual Source Safe or Subversion. |