MULTIPROG® SUITE, the open technology platform

Apart from the fact that the MULTIPROG® SUITE as open base for manufacturer-specific automation solutions results in significant time and cost savings, the platform with the integrated tools MULTIPROG®, SYCON and ProVisIT offers you as the user the leading tools for IEC programming, bus configuration, connection and visualization in one framework.

Complete performance and all advantages of modern automation software "under one roof"!

Workspaces offer an overview

Each of the tools integrated in the MULTIPROG^® SUITE is housed in its own workspace.

This way, you can easily switch between IEC 61131 programming, visualization, bus configuration, connection of the variables and process data and the PROFInet configuration via mouseclick. At the same time, each workspace can be freely configured, i.e. depending on your requirements, you can combine elements and controls of the different workspaces.

Common data management

The SUITE is completely responsible for the data management of each tool. You do not need to manage individual files (device files, bus configuration project, visualization project etc.), or worry about the consistency of the data: MULTIPROG^® SUITE stores the data of all tools in one project and is completely responsible for their management.

IEC 61131 programming with MULTIPROG

A central component of the Suite is the IEC 61131 programming system MULTIPROG^®, with all features that are provided by the standalone version: Apart from many other features, powerful editors, clear project management, comfortable debug functions for tests, commissioning and maintenance as well as support of various resources are also available. All these functions enable intuitive and target-oriented programming.

Integration of the XML Component Builder into the IEC 61131 programming.

Due to its open architecture, MULTIPROG^® enables integration of external program parts. These so-called add-ins enable the data exchange via the Automation Interface and allow system configuration using XML. Additionally it is possible to distribute a PLC program over several PLCs and debug them simultaneously.

For integrating the XML PROFInet Component Builder, an internal add-in was developed. This add-in exports the interface description of a component, which always corresponds to one PLC in this first step, to XML. The inputs and outputs of a PROFInet component are defined in an additional variables grid column inserted by the add-in. After creation of the PROFInet XML component description, they can be connected in the Connection Editor.

[MULTIPROG in detail]

Bus configuration with SYCON

SYCON is a field bus configurator which has been designed to configure communication-capable field bus devices of different manufacturers in one project.

The configurator works independent of the bus, different field bus types can be edited and combined in one project.

In accordance with the FDT Specification 1.2 (Field Device Tool Specification), the bus configuration is used as a framework for DTMs (Device Type Manager) which are provided by the field device manufacturers as configuration software.

The bus configuration provides two very simple possibilities to set up the bus application: By dragging the required bus devices from the Device Catalog to the Graphical Network View via drag & drop or dragging them into the netProject window, which displays the bus application as a tree structure. When inserting and moving devices, it is automatically ensured that the hierarchical structure of the bus application is not violated.

Supported fieldbus systems: PROFIBUS, CANopen and DeviceNet.

In cooperation with Hilscher, KW-Software will support soon the new Hilscher netX controller, a high integrated network controller, designed as system-on-chip. Thus, also Ethernet-based real-time fieldbus systems, such as EtherCat, Ethernet/IP, Powerlink, PROFINET and SERCOS III are supported.
For information about the availability of the master stacks for the Ethernet-based real-time fieldbus systems please contact Hilscher (see link).

[www.Hilscher.com]

Process data assignment with SYCON

Once the bus application has been configured with the required devices using the bus configuration, you can map the global variables of the PLC program onto the bus devices in the workspace "Process data view".

Data assignment between process signals and IEC variables is very simple and safe via drag & drop. This way, also variables and signals of different data types can be linked: The Process Data Assignment allows the connection of the most commonly used data types by splitting the signals into single bits or by grouping several signals automatically. The software monitors the validity of the connections already during editing. Non permitted assignments cannot be created in the first place.

In order to simplify work for you even more, you have the option to create variables for available signals via mouseclick and assign these directly to the respective signals.

Visualization with ProVisIT

The machine visualization software ProVisIT can be found in the "Visualization" workspace of the MULTIPROG^® SUITE. The complete performance range, identical with the standalone development version, is available to you. Of course, this includes ProVisIT Runtime that is used to switch the visualization project online. The data of the visualization project are automatically integrated into the MULTIPROG^® SUITE project.

[ProVisIT in detail]

Connection of PROFInet components (CBA) - without time-consuming programming

In the PROFInet Connection Editor, you define the communication relationships of the associated controls (PROFInet components) in a simple and clear way. Connecting in this graphical way substitutes the programming of the communication relationships which was necessary until now. Afterwards, the connection information is downloaded to the PROFInet automation devices, so that each device knows its communication partners, communication relationships and the information to be exchanged.

The PROFInet Connection Editor is an optional module that can be obtained and used together with the Hilscher PROFInet stack. For further information please contact Hilscher (see link at end of the page).

Background information on PROFInet components

To facilitate PROFInet engineering, a manufacturer-embracing engineering concept was defined which enables a clear distinction between the manufacturer-specific device configuration, parameterization and programming of the manufacturer-independent engineering on system level using the Connection Editor. These connections ensure that the communication relationships are established and the data between the PROFInet devices are exchanged.

In principle, a distinction is made between the control logic programming of individual modules and the design of the entire plant. A system-wide application is created in three steps: First of all, the component creation is performed by the machine or plant manufacturer. Afterwards, the individual devices are programmed and configured as usual using the corresponding manufacturer-specific tools which generate an XML file for the component view. Finally, this is followed by the component connection of the created PROFInet components with the manufacturer-independent PROFInet Connection Editor described above.

The approach of the PROFInet Connection Editor for communication of the controls with each other solves the challenge of PLC-to-PLC communication within a system/plant and makes it possible to simplify engineering. This is particularly achieved by the integration of the IEC 61131 programming, the bus configuration, the PROFInet connection and the visualization into the MULTIPROG ^® SUITE.

[www.Hilscher.com]

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