First Steps

Tip

Use the search at the top right of this page to quickly find the topics you are looking for.

After starting the software for the first time

Once you have started the software, a table with the PLC-Lab 3D Player logo appears:

At the very top left you can see the Open button. Here you can select a 3D model and open it.

When started, the device server is automatically started (green window) and stored in the Windows system tray (info area at the bottom right of the Windows taskbar). This program is used to communicate with the PLC.

If necessary, you can find out more about the Device Server here…

User interface

No. Description
1 Open button to open a 3D plant.
2 RUN button to start the simulation.
3 Selecting the target system.
4 Configuration of the target system.
5 Selecting the station. A 3D system usually has 1 station. Larger 3D systems can have multiple stations. Each station has its own I/O address space.
6 Configuration of the station, e.g. symbol offset addresses.
7 Tags button: Display tags (inputs and outputs).
8 View button: show or hide information.
9 Settings button: General Settings.
10 Info button: Displays the documentation of the 3D system. It is displayed in the standard browser.
11 Display: Program is in STOP or RUN mode.
12 Button: Console for support issues.
13 Buttons: Language settings
14 Button: Display tutorial window.
16 Button: Show online manual (these pages)
17 Button: Start license manager.
17 Button: Show dialog Information about…

Quick Guide

Here's how it works in a nutshell:

  1. Select the 3D model via the Open dialog. See [1] in the image above.
  2. You can see the documentation of the 3D plant via the Info button [9].
  3. Select the target system or the device. See [3] in the image above.
  4. Configure the target system. See [4] in the image above. With a S7-1200, for example, you have to enter the IP address of the PLC.
  5. Via the RUN button [2] you can start the simulation.

Tip

With [4] you can export the variables (I/O) of the 3D plant. This way you don't have to tediously create the variables in your programming tool.

Tip

If the item Autopilot is present in the device list, then you can see the plant in action without having to write a PLC program. Please refer to the documentation of the 3D system for more information.

Tutorial window

When you open a 3D model for the first time, the tutorial window appears. Here the most important things are described interactively.

Tip

We highly recommend that you follow this short interactive tutorial. It takes only a few minutes. Afterwards you will be familiar with the PLC-Lab 3D Player.

Workflow

How exactly does the simulation workflow look like?

From selecting the 3D model to variable export to creating the PLC program and virtual commissioning (simulation).

We have compiled all this here:

PLC-Lab 3D Player Workflow