Home Support PLC programming

PLC programming.

 The page is Under Construction (2012-0517)

myCNC controller contains Motion Controller (MC) and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) onboard.

PLC is a virtual machine running inside myCNC. All the peripherals of myCNC controller mapped
into PLC registers, so PLC has access to it. icro program can be loaded into the PLC from internal
flash memory. Most of PLC micro-programs are assosiated with Miscellaneous M-functions.

PLC procedure can be called directly from NC-program by running selected M-function or from the
myCNC GUI. Calling PLC function can be assigned to any event (press, release, toggle) of the GUI
on-screen buttons.


While running PLC procedure from NC-code there are two possible modes - synchronous and
asynchronous-

  • In synchronous mode myCNC Motion controller calls PLC procedure and wait till the procedure
    is finished; then continue motion program;
  • In asynchronous mode Motion program and PLC procedure are running simultaneously.

There are inter-process messages from PLC to the Motion controller. By using theis messages it's possible
to skip running current motion-line, soft-stop, abort running motion program.

 

All source files for PLC procedures are situated in "profiles/Current_Profile/plc/src" folder. PLC source files
should be compilated with PLC-compiler.

Executable binary PLC-microprograms are situated in "profiles/Current_Profile/plc/bytecode" folder.
Compilation scripts ("plc.make.sh" for Linux and "plc.make.bat" for MS Windows) are situated in
"profiles/Current_Profile/plc".

Duriing compilation with the scripts all bytecode binary files are packed into ROMFS disk image "eeprom.rom",
that is placed in "profiles/Current_Profile/plc.data".

While the myCNC software starting the "eeprom.rom" disk image is uploaded into myCNC control board.
Since it's done, PLC programs can be loaded and executed by calling PLC procedure name
(filename of PLC procedure)

 

 

PLC control system variables.

 

PLC controller contains list of system variables that may be used in PLC program for peripherals access,
interprocess communication, variables initialization and general purpose. List of variables is shown below


PWM, ADC and DAC are unsigned 12-bit values. Complete range for these variables is 0…4095 (in hex 0…0xfff)

Table 1. PLC variables for access to ADC, DAC and PWM

 Variable name Description  Comments
 eparamExternal parameter. 
 Valule of this parameter may be
initialized in the myCNC GUI before
running PLC procedure
 messageMessage parameter. Non-zero value in this
variable make signal to send message from
the PLC either to Motion controller or Host
PC software or any other units (ie THC control)		 
 variable
 var00
Address of system register. This parameter is
used together with Message parameter and
"parameter" while sending mesages. 		 
 parameter
 var01
 Value of system register. This parameter is
used together with Message parameter and
"variable" or "command" while sending mesages. 		 

 var01, var02, ...
var16

 General purpose variables.Value of this variables may be
initialized from xml configuration
files before PLC procedure running.
 proc PLC process id
(Obsolete) May be used by myCNC
GUI to display current running
state of PLC procedure.
 vexit PLC Virtual machine exit code
Exit code of PLC procedure. May be
used to identify whether the procedure
normally finished or aborted with error code.
 command
 var00		 Enumerated command/message id
to myCNC control software. This variable
is used with PLCCMD_REPLY_TO_MYCNC
message to send info to Host PC software.		 
   
   
pwm01PWM channel #1
 12 bit unsigned value
pwm02PWM channel #2 12 bit unsigned value
pwm03PWM channel #3
 12 bit unsigned value
pwm04PWM channel #4 12 bit unsigned value
adc01
ADC channel #1
 12 bit unsigned value
adc02ADC channel #2  12 bit unsigned value
adc03ADC channel #3  12 bit unsigned value
adc04ADC channel #4  12 bit unsigned value
dac01
DAC channel #1  12 bit unsigned value
dac02
DAC channel #2  12 bit unsigned value

 

There are PLC functions:
  • getport(int port_number);
  • setport(int port_number);

to read/write binary inputs & outputs of myCNC control board.

 


 

do{}while loops and PLC processing time.

 

PLC virtual machine runs do-while loop and make a sleep for 1msec before perfrom jump to the start of the loop.
This is mechanism to make delays and timeouts in PLC procedures.

A sample below is procedure for clear Servo alarm. It turn on servo-alarm relay, wait 0.5 sec and
then turn-off the relay.

Clear Servo-Alarm PLC procedure

portset(1); //turn ON relay to clear alarm

timer=0;
do{ timer++;}while(timer<500); //make delay for 500 msec

portset(1); //turn OFF relay

exit(99);    //exit from PLC procedure with normal state.

 

 

 

 

Access to the boards peripherals through PLC.

myCNC controller boards (myCNC-ET1, myCNC-ET2, myCNC-UP3) contains wide range of peripherals (PWM,
binary Inputs, relay and transistor open collector outputs, DAC outputs, ADC inputs).
All listed peripherals are mapped onto predefined PLC variables.


PWM, ADC and DAC are unsigned 12-bit values. Complete range for these variables is 0…4095 (in hex 0…0xfff)

Table 1. PLC variables for access to ADC, DAC and PWM

 Variable name CNC control peripheral
pwm01PWM channel #1
pwm02PWM channel #2
pwm03PWM channel #3
pwm04PWM channel #4
adc01
ADC channel #1
adc02ADC channel #2
adc03ADC channel #3
adc04ADC channel #4
dac01
DAC channel #1
dac02
DAC channel #2

 

There are PLC functions:
  • getport(int port_number);
  • setport(int port_number);

to read/write binary inputs & outputs of myCNC control board.

 



Interprocess communication.

PLC controller may send messages to either to Motion controller or to myCNC cotrol software.

There are variables:

  • "message" - non-zero value in this varable is a signal to myCNC control to parse the message;
  • "variable" - Value is Address of parameter, ttah should be changed in Motion of myCNC controll;
  • "parameter" - There is new value of the register;

 

Table 2. Enumerated PLC messages

Message
 Number Description
PLCCMD_MOTION_CONTINUE
1001 Command to Motion control to
continue motion program
PLCCMD_MOTION_SKIP
1002

Command to Motion control to skip
current motion command and continue
running from the next motion line.

PLCCMD+MOTION_SOFT_SKIP
1003
Command to Motion control to
skip current motion command, perform
soft deceleration and continue running
motion program from the next line.
PLCCMD_MOTION_PAUSE1004
Pause running Motion program
PLCCMD_SET_CNC_VAR
1010Set global CNC register/variable
to given value.
PLCCMD_SET_THC_VAR
1011
Set THC (Torch height control board)
register to given value.
PLCCMD_MOTION_ABORT1032 Abort running Motion program.
PLCCMD_THC_START1050Start torch height control (THC) system
PLCCMD_THC_STOP1051
Stop torch height control (THC) system
PLCCMD_THC_PAUSE
1052
THC pause 
PLCCMD_THC_CONTINUE1053
Resume working THCsystem
PLCCMD_WATCHBIT1_ON ...
PLCCMD_WATCHBIT4_ON 		1060 ...
1063
Turn On watching for watch-bit #1 ... #4
PLCCMD_WATCHBIT1_OFF1064 ...
1067
Turn Off watching for watch-bit #1 ... #4
PLCCMD_WATCHBIT5_ON ...
PLCCMD_WATCHBIT8_ON 
1068 ...
1071
Turn On watching for watch-bit #5 ... #8
PLCCMD_WATCHBIT5_OFF ...
PLCCMD_WATCHBIT8_OFF
1072 ...
1075
Turn Off watching for watch-bit #5 ... #8
PLCCMD_PLC_RESTART
1099 Restart running PLC program.

 

The message will be parsed by the controller while PLC controller is in Idle(Pause) mode. To do the pause do-while loop for 2-10 miliseconds
should be added after each message.

There is "torch jump" implemented via THC control from PLC procedure is shown on a example below-

  • Message to THC control - Turn on jog motion up;
  • Do 1s pause (the torch will be moving up for this time);
  • Message to THC control - Turn off jog motion;
  • Do 10ms pause (wait toill the message will be delivered to the THC);

    "Torch jump" for 1 second

    //include files that describe pre-defined constant parameters like
    //PLCCMD_MOTION_CONTINUE, PLCCMD_MOTION_SKIP etc
    #include src/common.const.h


    // ----- start jog-up motion -----
    variable=THC_VAR_JOG;
    parameter=1;     //up direction
    message=PLCCMD_SET_THC_VAR;
    texit=timer+1000;
    do{timer++;}while(timer<texit); //1s pause - time for jogging-up


    // ----- stop torch -----
    variable=THC_VAR_JOG;
    parameter=0;<-->//stop
    message=PLCCMD_SET_THC_VAR;
    texit=timer+10;
    do{timer++;}while(timer<texit); //10ms pause to deliver the message to THC;

     

 

 

 

Asynchronous mode (simultaneous running PLC procedure
and Motion program).

There are Motion commands and PLC procedures calls in NC program normally. myCNC controller runs
the program step-by-step. Just one command (motion command or PLC procedure) is running at
one time. This is synchronous mode.

In asynchronous mode PLC procedure may send a message to the Motion controller to resume running.
If next commands in the program are Motion commands, PLC procedure and Motion program will be running
simultaneously. If some other PLC procedure will appear in the program, current PLC procedure will be
aborted and the next will start.

 

 

The next example shows how to make "1 second blink" of relay #1 (output 0) while motion program running.
PLC procedure should be called in the start of NC program

 

"1 second realy blink" while motion

//include files that describe pre-defined constant parameters like
//PLCCMD_MOTION_CONTINUE, PLCCMD_MOTION_SKIP etc
#include src/common.const.h
#include src/pins.h

// ----- send message to Motion controller to resume motion -----
variable=PLC_MOTION_CONTINUE;
texit=timer+10;
do{timer++;}while(timer<texit); //10ms pause to deliver the message to Motion control;

//Perform blink of relay #1 each second (1000 ms)

timer=0;
blink=0;
do{
timer++;
if (timer>1000)
 {
   timer=0;
   blink=blink^1;
   if (blink!=0)
    {
      portset(0);  //turn on relay #1
    };
   if (blink==0)
    {
      portclr(0);  //turn off relay #1
     };
  }
}while(1); //10ms pause to deliver the message to Motion control;

exit(99);

//the procedure is endless and will be aborted by loading and running the next PLC procedure

 

 

PLC procedure Variable initialization from the myCNC GUI.

Let's see an example. PLC procedure M03 perform spindle turn-on. Beside spindle relay turn on we need
to perform a pause and wait till the spindle achieve working speed. t's possible to make fixed delay in the
M03 procedure, but it is not really convenient and we like to have this value configurable from
the myCNC GUI.

The solution is described below.

We have "M03.plc" procedure in plc-source folder. We need to create xml configuration file with the
same name and "xml" extension on this place- "M03.xml"

 Content of the xml os shown below:

"M03.xml" - delay configuration for spindle turn-on procedure


<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<plc-configuration version="1.0">

    <plc-function name="M03">
        <message>M03 Spindle CW</message>
        <message_ru>M03 Старт шпиндель</message_ru>
        <message_pl>M03 Włącz wrzeciono</message_pl>
        <item>
            <value number="5" name="plc-var-spindle-on-delay" suffix="ms"
type="slider" min="0" step="100" max="5000">1000</value>
            <message>Spindle On Delay,ms</message>
            <message_ru>Время на включение шпинделя,мс</message_ru>
            <message_pl>opóźnienie włączenia wrzeciona, ms</message_pl>
        </item>

    </plc-function>
</plc-configuration>


There should be xml-section "plc-function" in the file. attribute "name" of plc-function section should be
the same as PLC procedure name ("M03" for this example). Fields "message", "message_ru", ... "message_xx"
contain message that will be displayed on myCNC GUI Settings dialogfor this PLC procedure (message text
will be selected depends on current language settings).

Section "item" describes address of PLC variable, that we need to initialize, initial value, values range, step and
text labels to build control item on Settings dialog:

  • Attribute "name" contains name of PLC variable to have access to it from other GUI control elements;
  • Attribute "number" is the Address of variable in PLC procedure. Address "5" means that variable "var05"
    will be initialized to given value;
  • Attributes "min", "max", "step" define values range for the variable;
  • Attribute "suffix" defines label text after displayed variable value in the GUI control;
  • Attribute "prefix" defines label text before displayed variable value in the GUI control;
  • Attribute "type" defines type of GUI control (most used types are "slider", "radiobutton");

 GUI element for the variable initialization is shown on a picture-

M03 spindle on delay CNC control software

 

M03 procedure listing is shown below

"M03.plc" - spindle turn on procedure with delay implementation


//Turn on Spindle procedure
#define spindle_relay 1
#define on_delay var05

portset(output_spindle);  //turn on spindle relay

timer=0;
do{timer++;}while (timer<on_delay); //delay for Spindle

exit(99);   //normal exit.


There are "define" statements are used in the PLC program to simplify reading/understanding the code;

According to "M03.xml" configuration file "var05" variable contains right value for turn-on delay.

 

 

External parameter (eparam) initialization.

myCNC control software makes initialization of "eparam" variable for most of miscelanneous (M-) codes.

For spindle turn-on assosiated procedures ("M03" - turn on cw, "M04" -turn on ccw,  "SPN" - change speed
on-the-fly) "eparam" contains spindle speed value (S-value).

For rest of functions "eparam" contains L-register value in low 16-bit word and P-register value in high 16-bit word.

Modified M03 procedure, that reads spindle speed from "eparam" variable and set it through DAC output is shown below-

 

"M03.plc" - spindle turn on procedure with delay implementation and
setting spindle speed through DAC channel

//Turn on Spindle procedure
#define spindle_relay 1
#define on_delay var05

 

//include files that describe pre-defined constant parameters like
//PLCCMD_MOTION_CONTINUE, PLCCMD_MOTION_SKIP etc
#include src/common.const.h
#include src/pins.h
 

portset(output_spindle);  //turn on spindle relay

#include src/common.const.h
#include src/pins.h

//define var00 and var01 as command and parameter to convenient reading the code
#define command var00
#define parameter var01

#define on_delay var05

//assingn spindle speed and test for correct range (12-bit unsigned value)
val=eparam;
if (val>0xFFF) {val=0xFFF;};
if (val<0) {val=0;};

//set given spindle speed through DAC channel
dac01=val;
//turn ON spindle relay
portset(output_spindle);

//send to myCNC Host software new data about current spindle speed for correct displaying
command=PLC_MESSAGE_SPINDLE_SPEED_CHANGED;
parameter=eparam;
message=PLCCMD_REPLY_TO_MYCNC;
timer=0;do{timer++;}while (timer<10);//pause to push the message with Spindle Speed data

//perform pause to spindle achieve given speed
timeout=on_delay+timer;
do{timer++;}while (timer<timeout); //delay for Spindle reach given speed

//normal exit from the procedure
exit(99);


 

 

 Next sample shows how to make probing with flexibly given port number and pin state. It is "M88" procedure.

 

"M88.plc" - probing procedure

//procedure for watching on given sensor number, given state and break current motion
//used for homing, surface measure, tool length measure etc
 

//include files that describe pre-defined constant parameters like
//PLCCMD_MOTION_CONTINUE, PLCCMD_MOTION_SKIP etc
#include src/common.const.h
#include src/pins.h

#define input  var00
#define state  var01

//read from eparam port number and port state
input=eparam&0xFFFF;
state=eparam>>16;

timer=0;

//send to the Motion controller message to resume motion
message=PLCCMD_MOTION_CONTINUE;
texit=timer+2; do{ timer++;}while(timer<texit); //pause to push the message

//initialize ready flag
ready=0;

do
{
 timer++;
  //read given port current state
 a=portget(input);
  //set ready flag if given port is activated; active state depends on given "state"
 if (state==0)
 {
    if (a==0) {ready=1;};
 };
 if (state!=0)
 {
    if (a!=0) {ready=1;};
 };

}while(ready==0); //if ready flag set, exit from the loop

 

//send message to the Motion controller to STOP running current line
//and go to the next line (SKIP current line);
message=PLCCMD_MOTION_SOFT_SKIP;
texit=timer+2;
//make 2ms delay to deliver the message to the Motion controller
do
{
  timer++;
}while(timer<texit);
exit(99);


 

 

 

Direct running PLC procedures form myCNC GUI.

myCNC GUI active elements (Push Buttons and Toggle Buttons) generate events while press/release.
There are a few types of actions that may be assigned for this events.

Action "direct-plc" runs given PLC procedure with "eparam" assigned to given value.

Sample of myCNC GUI screen for 3x mill is shown below.

 

A line from cnc-config.xml configuration file, that describes on-screen M03 button are shown below-

 
M03 on-screen button configuration

 

<gitem where="M-toolbar" image="button-m03" action="plc-run:M03/#5524" height="90" type="button"/>


 While pressing the M03 button PLC procedure "M03" will be running with "eparam" variable initialized to value
from Global Register number 5524 (which is actually is Spindle speed)

 

 




 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 
 

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