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Setting up a Logix5000 PLC

Requirements

  • Allen-Bradley Edition or Ultimate Edition
  • Compatible Logix5000 PLC with Ethernet connection
  • RSLogix 5000

Sample Project

Assembling with a CompactLogix

This tutorial gives you step-by-step instructions on how to use a CompactLogix to control Factory I/O. Although this guide exemplifies with a CompactLogix, the same steps apply to a ControlLogix PLC.

Setting up communication between PC and PLC

  1. Connect the PLC to the network.

  2. Assign an IP address to the PLC.

    To complete this step you should refer to the CompactLogix Controllers User Manual 1769-UM011, which describes methods to assign an IP address to the controller.

  3. Start RSLinx and open the driver configuration dialog by selecting Communications > Configure Drivers from the menu.

    open driver configuration

  4. Add an EtherNet/IP driver.

    add ethernet/ip driver

  5. You should now be able to find the controller under the newly added driver.

    device found

Connecting Factory I/O to the PLC

  1. In Factory I/O click on FILE > Driver Configuration to open the Driver Window.

    open driver window

  2. Select Allen-Bradley Logix5000 from the driver drop-down list.

    select logix5000 driver

  3. Open the driver Configuration Panel by clicking on CONFIGURATION.

  4. Insert the controller's IP address into the Host field. On this panel, you can also define how many I/O Points to use, as well as the controller's tags they reference.

    driver config

    Each I/O point name (e.g. BOOL_IN_0) represents an existent PLC tag. It is defined by setting a Prefix (1) and an Offset (2) index which will be added to the prefix for each point created (e.g. BOOL_IN_3). Count defines the number of I/O points to use for each data type. You may choose any prefix you wish, as long as each I/O point has a matching tag defined on the PLC.

    See Logix5000 Configuration.

  5. Press Esc to return to the Driver Window. Now, click on CONNECT to connect to the PLC. A successful connection is indicated by a green icon next to the selected driver, as well as next to the driver's name displayed on the status bar.

    tag error

    When connected to a PLC, non-existent tags or tags with an error are grayed out. Hover the mouse cursor over a grayed-out point to get relevant information about the error.

Creating Tags in RSLogix 5000

  1. Open a project in RSLogix 5000.

  2. Right-click on Controller Tags and select Edit Tags.

    edit tags

  3. Add a new tag with BOOL_IN_0 as name, and BOOL as a data type. Continue adding tags until each one has a matching input I/O point in Factory I/O.

    A fast way to complete this step is to copy and paste the previously added tag. RSLogix will automatically increment the index.

    create tags

  4. Now repeat the same process and add BOOL_OUT_0 up to BOOL_OUT_15. These will match the output I/O points of Factory I/O.

  5. Select Communications > Download to send the new program to the PLC.

    download to the plc