Iec 61499

Ignition
1

Do you want to have 61499 capibilities in Ignition?
[poll]

  • Yes
  • No
    [/poll]
    This is not a request to implement this standard. More of a survey to see what the demand might be. I ask because we are implementing this in our product and I’m wondering if we should be looking at creating a module for Ignition as well.

For more information about this standard see here

2

Well I came into an organization that used a custom soft PLC from a contractor that only supported function block that matched this spec. It was horrible but that was I think largely due to the implementation. I came in and helped select the next PLC which was between ISaGraf and Rockwell both which support this standard. I wrote a converter to port the whole thing to Rockwell function block diagrams.

Most of the control developers would only use function block and ladder at that time and would not consider structured text because that was too much like programming. However after a little introductory training on how much easier it was to do a lot of the stuff in structured text that was horrible to read/write in function block they will now only use structured text to develop.

My comments on this are function blocks are really only useful for PID loops or similar real time functions where you have a handful of inputs and outputs. I’ve seen some useful stuff in LabView, BizTalk or SqlServer Integration Services where the function block/flow diagram works but generally I have only seen it as cumbersome and gets in the way and offering little value. Not criticizing and I certainly dont have the widest exposure to other users of Ignition.

3

Todd,
Personally I agree with you. But I'm a programmer :smiley: . In this case it's a customer driven thing. I'm familiar with ISaGraf. We have their softPLC in another product. I think we are going to provide both methods (graphical and command line) to enter calculations.