How do I connect LabVIEW 8.2 to an Allen Bradley PLC?

[SeanWat]

How do I connect LabVIEW 8.2 to an Allen Bradley PLC?  I am looking for any documentation or help with this topic.

Thanks,
Sean

[Justin D]

Hi Sean,

There are a number of ways to connect to your PLC and it all depends on what interfaces your PLC supports.  Most customers using Allen-Bradley PLC's use RSLinx OEM to communicate with the PLC.  This program contains an OPC server and you can retrieve the data from the OPC server using either LabVIEW's datasocket VI's or the Datalogging and Supervisory Control (DSC) module for LabVIEW.

Connecting LabVIEW to an OPC Server through a DataSocket Connection

LabVIEW DSC Module

If you don't have the Allen-Bradley OPC server you can use our Industrial Automation OPC Server (IA OPC) providing your specific PLC is listed under the supported devices for this OPC server.

NI Industrial Automation OPC Servers

Devices Supported By the IA OPC Server

-Justin D

[Donald]

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SeanWat wrote:
.... I am looking for any documentation or help with this topic.

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There's also Using RSLinx OPC Server which goes into a bit of detail regarding the AB end of things. It is ~5 years old and thus is a bit dated ... but it may help.

[unclebump]

You might be able to get a modbus card for allen bradley. Then use the NI modbus library. It also depends on how much data you need to read. 100's use serial port. 1000's use opc server and ethernet.

Message Edited by unclebump on 11-17-2006 10:26 AM

[Graham_D]

Donald wrote -

   There's also Using RSLinx OPC Server which goes into a bit of detail regarding the AB end of things. It is ~5 years old and thus is a bit dated ... but it may help.

Yes - unfortunately it is outdated. I've posted a spearate query requesting information on the settings for an ethernet connection - not many people will still be using the DF-1 port.