TwinCAT for Dummies!!!

By
Timothy P. Blaeser, M.Ed.
Table of Contents

Part I: What is TwinCAT PLC Control?..................................................6

A. Overview.................................................................................................6
What is TwinCAT PLC Control?..........................................................6
How was TwinCAT named?................................................................6
B. What Can I do with TwinCAT?
IEC 1131-3..........................................................................................6
C. What are the features of TwinCAT
1. Languages......................................................................................7
2. Test without PLC.............................................................................7
3. Changes during operation...............................................................7
4. Reusability.......................................................................................7
5. Heterogeneous environment...........................................................7
6. High-level language libraries...........................................................7
7. SCADA systems..............................................................................8
8. Standardized interfaces..................................................................8
9. Remote access...............................................................................8
10. Intuitive develop-ment environ-ment.............................................8

Part II: TwinCAT PLC Control Overview........................................10

How is a Project structured?...................................................................10
How do I set up my Project?....................................................................11
Note:........................................................................................................11
How can I test my project?......................................................................12
Note:........................................................................................................13
Summary......................................................................................13
 Part I: What is TwinCAT PLC Control?

A. An Overview of Twincat PLC Control

Overview

If you read this manual and follow the examples you

will be on your way to programming industrial machines and
PLCs with the world’s most versatile and omnipresent software
platform.

What is TwinCAT PLC Control is a complete development

Twin environment for your PLC. Use of the editors and debugging
CAT functions is based upon the proven development program
PLC environments of advanced programming languages.
Cont
rol? TwinCAT PLC Control puts a simple approach to the
powerful IEC language at the disposal of the PLC
programmer.

Use of the editors and debugging functions is based upon

the proven development program environments of advanced
programming languages.

TwinCAT utilizes a universally recognized standard of

programming, which makes it very easy to use!

How was TwinCAT stands for The Windows Control and Automation
Twi
 nC
AT
na
me
d?

A. What Can I do with TwinCAT?

IEC 1131-3 With TwinCAT PLC, the PLC programmer can obtain easy
access to the powerful language resources of IEC 61131-3.

B. What Are the Features of Twincat?

The following 10 features were implemented during the

course of TwinCAT PLC development:

1. TwinCAT PLC supports different programming languages:

Lan instruction list (IL), structured text (ST), sequential function
gua chart (SFC), function block diagram (FBD) and ladder
ges diagram (LD).

2. Test The integrated software PLC allows you to test the PLC
with program without external hardware.
out
PLC
3. Programs can be modified "online" in the PLC.
Cha
nge
s
duri
ng
ope
rati
on

4. Existing PLC program blocks are reusable

Reu
sabil
ity

TwinCat can be integrated into a heterogeneous network

environment thanks to the use of system-independent and
5. Hetero- widespread network protocols.
gene
ous For example, an Oracle database running under UNIX can
envir exchange data with TwinCAT via TCP/IP and can process
on- this data further in a PDA or PPS system or can specify
ment parameters within TwinCAT PLC in order to influence the
production process.
6. High-
leve Complex algorithms can be developed in C/C++ or
Assembler, for example, in order to address them from
l TwinCAT PLC. There are many third-party vendors of such
lan libraries who deal with specific task areas.
gua
ge
libr
arie
s

7. SCADA
syst Some manufacturers of SCADA systems (Fix32, InTouch,
Citect, Genesis, Wizcon, etc) offer direct driver support for
ems linking to TwinCAT

8. A link to other programs and computers, even through a

Sta network, is possible thanks to standardized open interfaces
nda (OCX, DLL, etc).
rdiz
ed
inte
rfac
es

9. Central programming of distributed control systems through

Re a network (including ISDN) is possible thanks to the fact that
mot the programming and run time environments are separate.
e
acc
ess
10.
Intui Simulation according to the example of technically matured
tive high-level language development environments (e.g. visual
deve C++), breakpoints, single step mode and tracing of variables
lop- etc. are possible using TwinCAT PLC, as is the case with
men modern development environments
t
envi
ron-
men
t