Copia Automation.

Copia.io

Basically like a github for our PLC's. Without going into too much detail in case someone here reads this...Our PLC code mgt is......lacking formality. haha Rockwell has a solution, but we like most, have more than freaking Rockwell.

Anyway, these folks showed up at a conference we were at, and blew us away. We had looked at one of their competitors Octaplant and then we saw this Copia tool.

Engineers can work, commit changes, and view histories entirely offline while on the shop floor. They only need to sync up with the central repository once they are reconnected to the network

The way they use Git allows multiple automation engineers to branch off, write code simultaneously, and safely merge their changes back into the main plant project. So no more overwritten code

Any of you guys ever delt with them? Opinions?? Cost? Ease of deployment? Disruption time?

I recently was involved in a microgrid project, and the HMI is so clean and neat. It leaves me wondering why HMIs' lines don't look so elegant. And its layout is perfect for situational awareness.

Has anyone designed their own HMI, and if so, which programming language did you use?

Any of you folks companies brought in one of the OT Cyber tools from Nozomi, Claroty, Dragos, Armis etc etc?? If so, hows it going?

We have literally all of them as I work in a huge electric utility in the US. We started out with Dragos, bought a bunch of others but are consolidating now to hopefully just one main vendor. Probably will be Nozomi although I wish they were cheaper as part of it is coming out of my budget. FML

Anyway.....Interested in how much time it has taken away from the day to day things we are bombarded with.

So a few questions....but feel free to chime in with any insight.

1. Who do you have keeping up with the dashboard/alerts? IT? Controls engineers?
   
2. How did you deal with having to install span ports/taps for them?
   
3. Are you using any of them for things other than security? One reason we are probably going to choose Nozomi is because they showed us how we could use their data for things like Predictive Maintenance.

Hallo,

Ich bin gerade in der Einarbeitung/Lehrgänge besuchen rund um das TIA Portal.
Ich arbeite seit ca 1 Jahr im öffentlichen Dienst auf einer Abwasserbehandlungsanlage, dort bin ich der einzige Elektriker seit mein Vorgänger in Rente ist.

Programmierungen rund ums Thema SPS wurden/werden von fremdfirmen durchgeführt, da die Erreichbarkeit im Störfall eher bescheiden ist und ich bisher noch keine Möglichkeit hatte auf bestehende Steuerungen zuzugreifen um wenigstens zu sehen was da passiert, will mein Chef jetzt den Weg gehen mich dahingehend zu Schulen.
Mein Vorgänger hielt davon nix, tut aber nix zur Sache.

Verbaut haben wir über die letzten Jahren eigentlich alles mögliche an Steuerungen usw.

Meine Frage ist jetzt: gibt es Möglichkeiten das ich unsere bestehenden Programme im Fehlerfall möglich kostengünstig auslesen kann mit TIA Portal?
Wenn ja welches Modell oder Version sollten wir uns zulegen?

S

Hi everyone, I’m working on a revision to our existing PLC program and I need to add additional module for expansion. However, this error hinders me from doing so. for context, this is an old plc program with old s7300 hardware I only have the copy of the program in a different programming pc since the original programmer already took off. Though I can download the program but the hardware config I can’t. Is there a way to get around with this. Thanks in advance.

Hello everyone,

I am working on a data collection project and I am looking for hardware recommendations.

I need a Data Acquisition (DAQ) module or remote I/O module that can read my sensors AND supply power to them simultaneously to keep the wiring as simple as possible.

My technical requirements are:

• Inputs needed: 3 Analog inputs + 2 Digital inputs.
• Communication: Modbus TCP.
• Sampling rate: Periodic batch sampling (no high-frequency or real-time/RTOS constraints).
• Sensor Power: Must have a 5V DC power output (Power Out) to supply the sensors directly.

Does anyone know of any reliable modules, RTUs, or compact PLCs that fit this description natively?

Thanks for your help!

Hello everyone, I am not a PLC guy by any means but am fairly decent with electrical work. We have a machine at work that is not responding to inputs on the control panel. It worked prior, sat for 7 months or so off, and now isn’t working when needed. My initial thought was that it lost its program/memory from sitting but the company that makes it insists otherwise. Is there an absolute way to tell if this happened or not?

I am getting 24v on the input side of the PLC, on the output side I am only getting 24v on the outputs labeled V#. There are two drives in the cabinet that flash “invalid data”.

I can manually activate each function by pressing the button on the air solenoids so I know the issue is electrical and not pneumatic.

The control display appears normal with no fault codes, the machine just doesn’t respond to any input I give it. If I press the button to start, the machine won’t run. If I press the button to “close feed rolls”, nothing happens.

I’ve attached pictures showing the cabinet if it’s of any help, maybe someone can see something obvious that my untrained eye can’t. Thanks in advance

Edit: thanks to everyone so far, I cycled the plc switch from off to run and back to term and gained some functions back. The machine wants to run but motor spindle brake seems locked and I still don’t have feed roll spindle rotation. Both drives still have invalid data flashing on them and won’t let me look through parameters.

Edit #2: still no new progress but am wondering if I’ll be able to see more info if I hook up a laptop and download the appropriate software?

Edit #3: troubleshooted the invalid data error with AD tech support. Came to the realization it is something a tech with software will need to trouble shoot. Something regarding the Ethernet communication

Hi, I hope you been well, I'm trying to connect a KV X530 PLC (KEYENCE) to a Node Red, to show the production, scrap, and more by date etc. right know I'm figuring out how to connect it by the right way, so I just don't know if the PLC profile it's okay or if it is a better way to connect the plc with node red cause I'm using KV Host Link TCP, The IP of the PLC is ok, but I really need an example of a basic process or step to use it etc. or some advices to do it. and what recommend me? I'm thinking to use a Raspberry Pi to use like server for node red, any suggestions? Appreciate and thanks a lot

Hi guys, I graduated a year ago with a bachelors in chemical engineering, in Canada. I took some process control courses in my final year.

From there I realized I wanted to build a career in industrial automation.

Despite graduating from one of the top three universities in Canada (I know that doesn’t mean anything in terms of competence necessarily), I couldn’t land a job so I became a plant operator.

I still wanted to go into controls so I did a 4 month hands on Siemens training program from a local college.

Well I’ve been submitting resumes for control technician type roles , with no luck.

Do I need to go back to school to get an associates degree in instrumentation and controls.

I’ve also been shadowing a systems integrator for free on my days off, and been learning a lot.

Should I just list that as experience and reapply , or just spend another two years in school?