Write tags from Siemens PLC into AB PLC

Ignition
1

Hi all,

I have a customer who has mostly AB equipment, but a couple of robots with Siemens PLCs. The Siemens programmers have set up some tags which I am reading into an Ignition 8.3 environment. I would like to send a couple of pieces of that data to an Allen-Bradley PLC.

Historically the way I’ve done this is with a Profinet to Ethernet/IP gateway, but that seems overkill for just half a dozen tags which essentially amount to “Siemens robot #3 is running, AB machine #3 can outfeed into it” when I have Ignition right there.

Is there a “best practice” way to bounce the data from the Siemens tags into the AB PLC? I know that I could do a change script on the Siemens tags to write to some AB tags, but I’m wondering if there’s something a little more elegant that can set up an OPC tag that is “bound” to another OPC tag, or similar.

If there’s not a specific “best practice” way, how do you normally solve this problem*, and why do you choose this method over other possible methods?

*other than “use a profinet to ethernet/IP gateway”

2

I would use the Republish Tag Action from my Integration Toolkit.

3 Likes
3

Somehow I knew you’d show up soon with a solution involving your integration toolkit. Less than two minutes is impressive though :wink:

Edit: wait, is the toolkit free? I thought all of your modules were paid. I don’t think I’d have any luck trying to convince the client to pay for a module when I can do it with half a dozen tag change scripts for free, but if it’s a free module, that might change the picture…

4

Yes, the toolkit is free. As is my Blob Server.

5

Phil's Integration Toolkit is available in Edge as well too, so you don’t have to worry about needing to have different code for edge vs standard :slightly_smiling_face: (most 3rd party modules aren't authorised for installation on Edge)

6

Strictly speaking, it is available as a bonus for buying one of my two Edge-eligible modules.

7

Ah, from memory they are competitively priced for edge, right?

8

Yes, I opened a vein. :smiling_face_with_tear:

1 Like