How do you offer Modbus support?
We provide a special kernel that runs our logic engine to interface with the
non-compliant hardware. When our kernel is installed, it also includes additional Modbus drivers
for supporting Modbus/RTU as master or slave as well as Modbus/TCP slave and master. We also support
Modbus/TCP via UDPs, recommended for even more performance.
back to top
How does the Anchor IEC 61131 standard based software get downloaded into I/O brains which
supports only flowchart programming?
The Modbus support is part of our kernel and directly supported via our Anchor
Process Automation Workbench (AnchorPAW™), which has an IEC 61131-style ladder programming environment,
supporting Modbus mapping of variables. These variables are then mapped on the brain and available for
SCADA or other brains accessing these variables via Modbus/TCP, Modbus/RTU for either reading or writing.
back to top
What skills are necessary for AnchorPAW™
and AnchorPLC™ users?
Users should be familiar with IEC 61131-3
control programming. Familiarity with other programming
languages is beneficial to learning IEC 61131-3 languages.
What skills are necessary for AnchorCP™
users?
Familiarity with Cathodic Protection
using rectifiers is necessary. There is no programming to
do at all with this product.
back
to top
What skills are necessary for AnchorFLOW™
users?
Knowledge of AGA gas flow computing requirements
is necessary. IEC 61131-3 control language programming skills
are desirable if user desires additional features.
back
to top
What differentiates Anchor process
control products from other such packages?
Anchor products offer instant code generation,
a high speed compiler, efficient generated code, symbolic
tag names, user defined function blocks, and an unlimited
number of tasks. Additionally, the Company offers superior
technical support.
back
to top
Do your products
require a dedicated system?
For server based systems, no. Due to the
low overhead requirements of our system, our products work
quite well with higher overhead HMIs and application programs.
AnchorPLC typically shares the server with the HMI server
application. For Opto 22 RTUs, yes.
back
to top
How does your Logic package work
in my environment?
From the Process Automation Workbench
(AnchorPAW™) engineers develop control applications
using IEC 61131-3 languages. Once applications are built,
they are downloaded to target control nodes for execution
and monitoring.
back
to top
How many points do you support?
Our products are available with various
point count licenses. We offer systems with:
• 64 Variables
• 256 Variables
• 1024 Variables
• and Unlimited Variables.
back
to top
What is the smallest configuration
your products require?
We run on Intel-based Windows NT platforms
with 10 Meg disk space and 32 Meg memory. Of course, you
will need more memory if you have other HMI products running
on the same platform.
back
to top
What is IEC 61131-3?
The IEC 61131-3 standard is an international
specification for five control languages. The IEC is the
International Electrotechnical Committee constituted to
standardize many international technical issues regarding
the various aspects of control. Of the five control languages
specified, three of the languages are graphical in nature
while two are textual or script languages. These languages
represent an international standard to provide an OPEN definition
of control languages to support the development of automated
control systems. The intent of these definitions is to provide
a consistent control development environment to any control
developer, regardless of the control vendor chosen. The
IEC 61131-3 standard for control is equivalent to definitions
in the operating system arena that resulted in the POSIX
definition. Like the POSIX definition, IEC 61131-3 provides
an OPEN standard, accepted internationally.
back
to top
What is ladder logic?
Ladder Logic is one of the IEC 61131-3
graphical languages. It is a graphical representation of
logic originating from the hardware model of relay logic.
The three main elements of Ladder Logic are:
• contact or Relay
• coil and
• special function block.
The connection of these elements together in a logic diagram
represents a Ladder Logic program.
back
to top
What training options are available
when I purchase an AnchorPAW/AnchorPLC package?
Our software comes with a detailed Help
section which will get IEC 61131 trained users going. Training
is available at the customer facility or in our Colorado
offices in IEC 61131-3 Languages and Anchor softlogic instruction.
Depending on experience levels, classes may be 1 to 5 days.
Additionally, telephone conference call training is available.
back
to top
How much do your products cost?
Pricing depends on the number of variables
desired and the number of development and runtime systems
needed.
Click here
to request pricing information.
back
to top
Are evaluation versions of AnchorPAW,
AnchorPLC, AnchorFLOW and AnchorCP available for download?
Yes, please e-mail
us information about your application, your company
and its products with your request for information on obtaining
an evaluation version.
back
to top
How do I get a license when the
evaluation version is expired?
You may call, e-mail, or fax us for a
quote on the products and services you need. Then a purchase
order or credit card information can be called, faxed, or
mailed in and we will provide you with a software key.
back
to top
Does AnchorPAW work with Intellution,
Citect, or other HMIs?
Yes. AnchorPLC for Opto provides Modbus/TCP
and Modbus/RTU capability for high performance data exchange
with these products. AnchorPLC also provides a direct interface
to the Intellution database for additional performance.
back
to top
Does AnchorPAW provide an ST editor?
We recommend VIM, a language sensitive
editor. Any text editor of your choice will create and modify
structured text function blocks. AnchorPAW will find the
functions if they are stored in the UserFunctions directory.
back
to top
How can I tell what is going on
when my application is running in AnchorPLC?
AnchorPAW can monitor AnchorPLC global variables.
back
to top
I see tasks on the AnchorPAW configuration.
What is a task?
AnchorPAW uses task constructs to tell
AnchorPLC where to start program execution and how to prioritize
routines. Each task represents a separate executing program
in the AnchorPLC system.
back
to top
What logic elements can I use in
an AnchorPAW?
AnchorPAW understands normally open and
normally closed coils and relays, positive and negative
transition sensing coils and relays, and set and reset coils.
In addition you can write your own special function blocks
in LD or ST.
back
to top
Can I operate on strings with AnchorPAW?
Yes. With its C-like structured text
language elements, AnchorPAW enables you to manipulate strings
up to 1024 bytes long.
back
to top
What do you
mean by real-time control?
Real-time relates to performance,
which varies according to the platform. For us real-time
means servicing highest priority tasks first, so we provide
pre-emptive multi-tasking. The system runs all tasks to
completion in priority order.
Anchor software
products - Logic at its best!
Reliable, Open, Affordable
|
Email Us!
