Hydrogen-Fuel Cell

I would like share with you how to perform the modbus TCP/IP communication between Micro PLC VersaMax and HMI Ifix 5.0 from GE Fanuc Automation.  VersaMax are nano or micro PLC from GE Fanuc Automation. There are several type of VersaMax :

1. VersaMax Nano 10 (6 in/4 out built-in discrete I/O)
2. VersaMax Micro 14 (8 in/6 out built-in discrete I/O)
3. VersaMax Micro 23 (13 in/10 out built-in discrete I/O and 2 in/1 out built-in analog I/O)
4. VersaMax Micro 28 (16 in/12 out built-in discrete I/O)
5. VersaMax Micro 20 (12 in/8 out built-in discrete I/O)
6. VersaMax Micro 40 (24 in/16 out built-in discrete I/O)
7. VersaMax Micro 64 (40 in/24 out built-in discrete I/O)

Based on the right picture, only VersaMax Micro that compatible with I/O expansion units. Up to 4 I/O expansion units or 176 I/O points could connected to VersaMax Micro with series connector cable. Almost all type expansion units could embedded to VersaMax Micro. These are several capabilities on VersaMax Nano and Micro that make them very suitable for small base  applications :

1. Up to 9K words of memory
2. 1.0 μsec. per boolean operation execution
3. Floating-point math
4. Real-time clock
5. PID close loop cotrol
6. Motion capability
7. High-speed counters
8. Subroutines
9. Add on module communication, like modbus RTU, TCP

These are materials breakdown on my own experience projects using VersaMax :

1. VersaMax Micro 40 I/O
2. Analog Expansion 6 I/O – UEX626
3. Communication module from RS-232 to TCP/IP – IC200UEM001
4. Baterai backup memory to ensure real time clock function
5. Cross ethernet cable (RJ45 to RJ45) and Serial RS-232 Cable (RJ-45 to DB9)
6. Ifix 5.0 SCADA software
7. PumpKIN Utility software
8. Ifix 5.0 Modbus driver software
9. Proficy Machine Edition software

First step is how to connecting the VersaMax 40 to Proficy Machine Edition.  You need to make or buy serial RS-232 cable with interface port RJ45 to DB9. If you plan make by yourself please following these addressing pin number for port RJ45 and DB9 or Manual of VersaMax Micro 40 (GFK 1645E). Then turn on VersaMax 40 and click online mode on Proficy Machine Edition to perform the PLC programming and online monitoring.

Second step is configure communication module IC200UEM001 so could used for modbus interface protocol. As default IC200UEM001 have configured for TCP/IP protocol, so you could communicate VersaMax 40 to Proficy Machine Edition or HMI via cross ethernet cable directly. To configure IC200UEM001 as modbus interface protocol, you have to replace GEF_SRTP_V1.0.rom firmware with Modbus_TCP Server_v1.0.rom firmware. You could using PumpKIN Utility to do that.

The detail explanation about using PumpKIN Utility could be found in Manual IC200UEM001 (GFK2436B). Until this step you have succesful configure VersaMax 40 to support modbus TCP/IP protocol communication. The important thing that you haveto know is the VersaMax modbus register mapping. Bellow is the modbus register mapping :

Integer/Float Data

• %R00001 = 400001  (unsign integer)
• %R00002 = 400002 (unsign integer)
• etc

Input Bool Data

• %I00001 = 100001
• %I00002 = 100002
• etc

Output Bool Data

• %Q00001 = 000001
• %Q00002 = 000002
• etc

Third step is install Ifix 5.0 SCADA and MBE I/O Server into your PC or laptop. MBE I/O Server is Modbus driver for Ifix 5.0. Ifix 5.0 using this driver to communicate to other hardware or system by using an open modbus protocol. Please following these step :

1. Click Ifix 5.0 shortcut
2. Click SCU (System Configuration Utility)
3. Click Configure
4. Enable SCADA support
5. Find I/O Driver Name : MBE Modbus Ethernet and choice it by click Add
6. Click Configure the I/O Driver
7. Click Connect to MBE I/O driver
8. Please save your SCU configuration
9. After you could connect MBE I/O driver please add and enable new ethernet port channel
10. Add and enable a new device for IP static configuration, maximum block modbus register, relay timeout, addressing mode and bit mode swapping register.
11. Add a new block modbus register for integer/float (400001 ~ …), input (100001 ~ …), output (000001 ~ …). I suggest you to spit that 3 modbus register for easy configuration and checking. Please download these example MBE Configuration.
12. Please save your MBE configuration

Start Ifix 5.0 then go to Application -> Database Manager. On this database manager all of tagname/variable that used for HMI Ifix 5.0 saved here. After all tagname/variable have define well on here, you have ready to perform graphical and visual basic programming HMI Ifix 5.0. I hope this short sharing knowledge/experience could help you to using Ifix 5.0 and Modbus configuration of VersaMax 40. If you have any idea or need more explanation please contact me as soon as possible. I would like help.

Tags: HMI/SCADA, Modbus, PLC/PAC