Web Based OPC Client

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Thread Starter

Barry

My company manufactures wind turbines. They are controlled by Cutler Hammer PLCs. We have an OPC server (KEPServer) that communicates with the PLCs through a VPN of course. I want some kind of web based solution that communicates with the OPC server to monitor and control the PLCs. We will be continuously adding wind turbines, so it needs to be unlimited data points and be updated while running. Sounds easy enough right? One possible solution that I have found is DataNet OPC Web-based Data Monitoring Software. Any others?
 
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William Sturm

There are so many options, I wouldn't know what exactly to recommend. Search the word SCADA and you will find plenty of companies who can sell you a system.

Bill Sturm
 
What features do you need? I have a couple of solutions that you might find interesting. Both of these are GPL licensed Free/Open Source Software.

The first is HMIServer. This provides a web based HMI along with a communications server. It has a built in Modbus/TCP client. I believe that the current Cutler Hammer PLCs have a Modbus/TCP gateway. so you won't need the OPC server. HMIServer is designed to provide a single client (master) connection.

The second is MBLogic. This has the same web based HMI as HMIServer, but adds soft logic and the ability to make multiple Modbus/TCP client (master) connections and also supports Modbus/TCP server (slave). The soft logic system can be ignored if you don't need it, and you can just use the HMI and communications capabilities.

Both systems have built-in web based system monitoring and on line documentation. Both are free and have unlimited tag counts. MBLogic allows an unlimited number of client (master) and server (slave) connections.

They can be found here:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/mblogic/

HMIServer is in the MBTools package, while MBLogic is in the MBLogic package. The direct download page is here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mblogic/files/

The documentation is duplicated on line here:

http://mblogic.sourceforge.net/

I am presently working on updating the documentation for a new release of both. The new release has extensively updated and expanded the graphics and made them easier to use. This should be out in a few days (as soon as I have finished the documentation and done the final testing). If you have any questions about what will be in the update, let me know and I will be happy to answer them.

It's all based on standard web technologies, so updating a screen simply means updating the web page and refreshing the page in your web browser. It is all done with HTML, SVG, and Javascript, so there is no ActiveX or Java involved. You can create your own custom graphics using standard SVG (XML based vector graphics).
 
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Patrick Barker

My name is Patrick Barker and I am the Business Development Manager for Mobiform Software. We have developed a HMI using the latest technologies from Microsoft. We offer a solution to monitor and control you manufacturing process.

Our software comes with built in connectivity to OPC servers, but we can extend Status to talk with any kind of data source you may have. So you can monitor the speed of a motor, and notice changes in motor performance and perhaps stop down time by switching the load to another motor to service the motor in question. You can also set up alarms so if the value of a item reaches a user defined threshold you can fire a alarm that allows workers to know there is a problem.

You can now monitor and control your process over the internet using Silverlight. This allows for a greater range of control, if you have plants in 2 different states and want to monitor the process from one central location.
If this is something that could benefit your organization please let me know and I can schedule a web meeting to demonstrate Status. I would love to take the time and explain Status to you so you can see how this could be beneficial for your organization.

If you are interested in downloading a trial of our software. www.statusvision.com

If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to call or email me.

Patrick
pbarker [at] mobiform.com
 
Hello,

Do you have OPC client interface?

I have an application with existing OPC server and need to publish some of the tags on the web.
 
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