Interfacing to the process

SIMATIC WinAC software PLCs support access to the process I/O via PROFIBUS DP and PROFINET IO. The PROFIBUS or PROFINET interface modules from the SIMATIC NET product range and the integrated interfaces of the SIMATIC PC are used for this purpose.

Technological tasks

There are various ways of solving technological tasks with WinAC:

SIMATIC Runtime Software – this includes for example Standard PID Control or Easy Motion Control – provides a series of libraries for technological functions, which are directly processed by SIMATIC WinAC.

• SIMATIC function modules such as FM 350 or FM 351 can be used simultaneously in an ET200M station on PROFIBUS or PROFINET.
• An open integration of specific technological tasks can be achieved by means of the WinAC ODK for the SIMATIC WinAC software and slot PLCs.
• The isochronous mode via PROFIBUS DP of WinAC RTX and WinAC Slot allows for exactly reproducible response times and is the basis for precise and fast control applications.

Communication

SIMATIC WinAC supports SIMATIC communication both locally on the same PC and over the SIMATIC networks PROFIBUS and Industrial Ethernet/PROFINET. The following communication connections are possible:

• Programming and commissioning by means of STEP 7 both locally and remotely from a PG/PC
• Visualization with WinCC or WinCC flexible either locally or over a network
• Communication with other WinAC or S7 systems
• Open communication (TCP/UDP) via the PROFINET interface
• PROFINET CBA

Interfacing to visualization

The SIMATIC HMI products WinCC flexible and WinCC have full access to all data and functions of SIMATIC WinAC in accordance with the demands placed on Totally Integrated Automation. They can be operated both locally on the same PC as SIMATIC WinAC and remotely over the supported networks.

Even the SIMATIC Touch and Operator Panels cooperate with SIMATIC WinAC without any restrictions. In this case the access via the PROFIBUS DP or PROFINET IO interface of the SIMATIC WinAC is particularly useful, as this enables the devices to be operated "on site" with minimum wiring outlay.

The SIMATIC NET OPC-Server, which is included in the delivery of WinAC, alternatively allows access to process data through commercially available visualization systems.

Access to process data

The SIMATIC NET OPC server offers an open access to process data through any OPC client application.

In addition, access to process data from standard Windows applications such as Excel or Access can be carried out simply via the OPC Data Access Automation Interface.

Programming

SIMATIC Software

The PC-based controller is programmed and configured with STEP 7 and the SIMATIC engineering tools for production engineering. For this purpose, all SIMATIC programming languages are also available for WinAC.

The SIMATIC programming languages fulfill the DIN EN 6.1131-3 standard. This minimizes the familiarization and training time.

In addition, the program modules which were programmed for SIMATIC S7 controllers can be reused in WinAC.

STEP 7 for all aspects of the control task:

• Configuring of control and communication:
  All characteristics of the PC-based control and the interplay with additional SIMATIC components are handled by STEP 7. All configuring data are centrally and consistently stored at a single location.
• A complete spectrum of programming languages:
  STEP 7 and the STEP 7 engineering tools offer a wide spectrum of programming languages for all aspects of control tasks.
• Local and remote programming:
  The complete network connection of SIMATIC STEP 7 allows for both the local programming of WinAC on the same PC and the remote programming over LAN or WAN.
• Efficient debugging:
  STEP 7 offers efficient support for the testing and commissioning of the control programs. This includes for example online modification of programs, the display and control of variables or single-step processing.

SIMATIC iMap

The actual control functionality of the PC-based controller is programmed using STEP 7.
The interconnection of system components and machine which was generated with WinAC RTX and PROFINET CBA, is implemented with the open tool SIMATIC iMap.