August is IEC Month at Horner!

• When it comes to automation programming, Ladder Logic remains the number one language.
• This, however, is ever changing and the ability to mix and match multiple languages is becoming critical.
• Using Cscape, from Horner Automation, programmers can increase the flexibility of their control systems through IEC programming.

Horner Automation offers some of the most powerful, versatile, and flexible programmable control products available anywhere. Nowhere is that flexibility more evident than in the choices in Cscape logic programming styles for the Horner Automation OCS All-in-one Controllers. Here in the United States especially – Ladder Logic remains the number one language for automation. However, that is changing as more and more programmers embrace the flexibility of being able to mix and match multiple languages in a single machine control application. And when you are talking multiple control languages – of course you are talking IEC programming. 

IEC Programming on Automation Controllers

Here at Horner, we’ve been offering IEC programming for our products as part of our free Cscape software for more than fifteen years. And in the past two to three years – we’ve been expanding our implementation to support larger applications, higher performance, and advanced simulation and troubleshooting techniques. This month, our Tuesday Livestreams topics revolve around Cscape programming. If you are familiar with IEC but not Horner’s implementation, or if you are familiar with Horner products but not IEC, this series is for you! Join us every Tuesday in August to learn more.

IEC Training Sessions from Horner Automation

Additionally, Horner is offering our first ever IEC Training here in the U.S. This course will focus strictly on IEC61131 application development in Cscape. Learn more about Horner’s training sessions below:

Horner OCS All-in-one Controllers can use multiple logic styles. All of which are available in our standard application programming software Cscape. These logic styles include traditional “register-based” Advanced Ladder Logic, more modern “variable-based” or “tag-based” Advanced Ladder Logic, and the IEC61131 industry standard. The Standard OCS Factory Training and Advanced OCS Training courses focus on Advanced Ladder Logic. This course will focus strictly on application development in Cscape. Over the first day-and-a-half, the following topics will be covered:

• Introduction to the IEC61131 Standard
• Introduction to the Cscape IEC61131 programming environment
• Cscape Standard IEC61131 vs Cscape Enhanced IEC61131
• Classroom and Hands-on Experience with the following programming languages: Structured Text, Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram, Sequential Function Chart
• Variable Handling topics: Memory Mapping for Real-world I/O, Arrays, Structures, Bitfields, Enumeration
• HMI Screen Creation
• Networking
• Troubleshooting Techniques – Basic & Advanced

Easy to Download on Cscape

IEC61131 programming languages continue to have support in their original form in our free Cscape software. Starting with Cscape 9.9 SP4, numerous optional “Enhanced” features include:

• 2MB Logic Program capacity
• Increase in Variable space – up to 128kBytes of variable storage
• Online Logic Change (modify logic without stopping the logic scan)
• Optimization of Code Efficiency
• Up to 50% faster scan rate
• Enhancement of Debugging features
• Simulation support (software feedback opt-in required)
• Support for LREAL, LINT, and LWORD, and Enumerated variables

Enhanced IEC Overview

The following enhancements are available in Enhanced IEC mode:

• Introduction of fully tag-based addressing
• Increased Variable space – up to 128kBytes of variable storage – The current system works by mapping allocated variables to the PLC %R space. At the time of development, the OCS was limited to 9999 %Rs. Moreover, the enhanced development will remove the link between variables and %R’s and will simply allocate 128kBytes of variable storage – equivalent to 64000 %R registers.
• Reduced scan time
• More powerful Debugging and Simulation features – Breakpoints, Tracepoints can be set in the logic files. Step in, step out, and step over are available for IEC code. In simulation mode, user can run the program locally on the PC to test and debug during the development phase.
• Support for Online Logic Change – With the addition of online change, the application running in the unit will never be interrupted, even when making updates. The logic running in the OCS can be modified without putting the unit to idle mode. Amazingly, this is ideal for programs which require long periods of start up or shut down so that logic changes can be made without waiting for the machine to start or stop so that logic can be downloaded.
• Introduction of Exception Handling – Allows user to trap errors which previously was difficult to find and frequently cause technical support calls
• Support for LREAL, LINT and LWORD Datatypes – Enhanced IEC mode supports LREAL (64-bit floating-point number), LINT (64 Bit Signed Integer) and LWORD (64 Bit Unsigned Integer) data types.
• Bitfield Support – User can give meaningful name to every bits of a particular program variable
• Support of Enumerated Datatype – Added support to enumerated data types

Enhanced Features

• Enhanced Settings and Data Types
• Bitfields
• Enumerated Data Type
• Structures
• Debugger Windows
• Breakpoints
• Tracepoints
• Call Stack Window
• Runtime Window
• On Line Change
• Simulation
• Stepping