ActuatorBridge

Namespace

ZApplication

The actuator bridge offers an interface to control several actuator instances, which are instantiated in the application. It is possible to communicate through publish and subscribe structures from external applications (i.e. HMI) or other PLCs. In a Zeugwerk Application communication structures are instantiated in ZGlobal.com, in general these structure should be instantiated in a location that is accessible by external applications.

This object should offer a very basic interface to command several different actuators without any other observations or external limits. It should only be used by skilled operators because usually actuators are used inside more or less complex processes and without any checks there could be done damage on the mechanical system easily. If an operator should not use an actuator directly, it is recomended to implement separate sequences in which all necessary checks despite other sensors or systems can be done.

However, commanding an actuator without any checks can sometimes also be useful and neccessary especially in the commissioning phase of an application.

FUNCTION_BLOCK ActuatorBridge

Constructor

FB_init

In order to let the actuator bridge function correctly, it is neccessary to call its cyclic method somewhere in the application For Zeugwerk Framework application this is done by an object manager which gets initialized by providing its instance here with the parent input

METHOD FB_init (
 bInitRetains : BOOL,
 bInCopyCode : BOOL,
 parent : ZCore.IManagedObject) : BOOL

Inputs

bInitRetains BOOL

if TRUE, the retain variables are initialized (warm start / cold start)

bInCopyCode BOOL

if TRUE, the instance afterwards gets moved into the copy code (online change)

parent IManagedObject

Interface to the ManagedObject that is the parent of this object

Returns

BOOL

Properties

LoadBalancer

Returns the load balancer of this bridge, which in turn can be used to adjust how the bridge updates its componeents

PROPERTY LoadBalancer : ILoadBalancer

Property Value

ILoadBalancer

Methods

AddActuatorDigital

All actuator types are extending the same Base class ActuatorDigital hence it is very simple to add an actuator to this actuator bridge. This method is used to add the actuator and the communication structs for publish and subscribe communication direction.

The publish and subscribe structures have to be accessible for other applications, PLCs or also protocols like OPC-UA. In a Zeugwerk Application communication structures are generally instantiated in ZGlobal.com.

METHOD AddActuatorDigital (
 actuator : REFERENCE TO ZEquipment.ActuatorDigital,
 publish : REFERENCE TO ActuatorDigitalComPublish,
 subscribe : REFERENCE TO ActuatorDigitalComSubscribe)

Inputs

actuator REFERENCE TO ActuatorDigital

Instance of an actuator instantiated in the plc

publish REFERENCE TO ActuatorDigitalComPublish

actuator publish structure instantiated in the plc (usually separated from the actual application code like Global.com)

subscribe REFERENCE TO ActuatorDigitalComSubscribe

actuator subscribe structure instantiated in the plc (usually separated from the actual application code like Global.com)

SetLogger

Setting a logger instance allows this instance to log commands that it receives over the com interface. Leaving this function block without a logger instance (logger=0) disables logging for this object.

METHOD SetLogger (
 logger : ZCore.ILogger)

Inputs

logger ILogger

interface to a logger instance