Simulate with a virtual system

Grafcet-Studio can be linked/connected to the following programs:

  • PLC-Lab
  • PLC-Lab Runtime (Runtime version from various technical books)
  • FACTORY I/O V2
  • SPS-VISU V4 (discontinued, replacement is PLC-Lab)

The sensors on the virtual machine/system are used as input signals, and the outputs in the table of symbols are written to the virtual machine's actuators. The result: the Grafcet controls the virtual system and you no longer have to modify the inputs manually.

Info

Grafcet-Studio has to be in simulator-mode for the link to work, i.e. Simulator needs to be selected in the Grafcet Engine window. You do not need to make any additional settings in Grafcet Studio.

PLC-Lab

In PLC-Lab many different target systems can be used. Responsible are the so called Devices. The device Sim is used to establish a connection with Grafcet-Studio.

Starting Grafcet-Studio version 2.5.0.0 PLC-Lab can be remote controlled. (PLC-Lab version V2 or newer is required, PLC-Lab Runtime is not supported). This enables a very comfortable simulation:

  • If Grafcet-Studio is switched to Watch mode, then PLC-Lab is automatically switched to RUN mode.
  • If the Watch mode is stopped, then automatically the RUN mode in PLC-Lab is stopped.
  • Both programs can be arranged side by side by pressing a button.
  • In Grafcet-Studio the matching PLC-Lab project can be linked: File name with path. By pressing a button in Grafcet-Studio the PLC-Lab project can be opened in PLC-Lab.

The Remote control window can be found in Grafcet-Studio (>=V2.5.0.0) in a Tab window next to the Grafcet-Engine window:

PLC Lab Runtime

S7AG (WinSPS-S7) mode has to be enabled in PLC-Lab Runtime:

FACTORY I/O

Driver MHJ has to be used in FACTORY I/O.

Info

Grafcet Studio Standard or Grafcet-Studio Pro needs to be used for the link with FACTORY I/O to work. FACTORY I/O does not support Grafcet Studio Starter.

IO Settings

If you do not change the settings, the digital input and output addresses start at 0 and the analogue input and output addresses at 256.

You can change the start addresses in the Grafcet Engine window in the settings for the simulator:



The addresses are addressed from top to bottom in the symbol editor. Make sure that the individual symbols have exactly the same address used in the virtual system.