Abstract : This paper introduces FactoryLink 7.5 and SIMATIC NET, and describes how to build a supervisory control system for a slab continuous casting machine using FactoryLink 7.5 and SIMATIC NET. This provides a good solution for solving the communication problem between the supervisory control software and the PLC. Keywords : HMI, Configuration Explorer, communication, OPC server [b][align=center]The application of FactoryLink 7.5 and SIMATIC NET in the JiGang's CCM XIN Lezhong[/align][/b] (No.3 Steel-making Plant of Jinan Iron & Steel Co., Jinan, 250101, China) Abstract : This paper introduces the functions of FactoryLink 7.5 and SIMATIC NET, and finds an HMI system of CCM, which provides a good way to solve communication between SCADA and PLC. Keywords: HMI, Configuration Explorer, communication, OPC server 1. Introduction to FactoryLink FactoryLink, as the commercial name of UGS Tecnomatix Production Automation, monitors, guides, and controls industry processes, enabling customers to optimize their manufacturing processes and products. Built on an advanced open architecture, FactoryLink provides customers building vertical applications across numerous industries with the highest performance and flexibility. FactoryLink boasts high scalability and can be used to build applications of any size, from the simplest Human-Machine Interface (HMI) systems to the most complex and demanding Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, offering exceptional flexibility. The No. 1 slab continuous casting machine at Jinan Iron and Steel Group's Third Steelmaking Plant uses FactoryLink 7.5. FactoryLink provides comprehensive and advanced tools, allowing users to configure applications to perfectly meet customer needs. Its applications span real-time HMIs, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and industry information management, making its functionality limitless. 1.1 Configuration Explorer: The Configuration Explorer is an intuitive environment for configuring and running FactoryLink server applications on a network. A user can access multiple FactoryLink servers, or multiple users can configure a single FactoryLink server simultaneously. This distributed access significantly improves application development efficiency. The Configuration Explorer provides a hierarchical view similar to Microsoft's browser, navigating through the FactoryLink application. As shown in Figure 1: [align=center] Figure 1 Factorylink 7.5 Configuration Manager[/align] The Configuration Manager uses application objects, thus promoting the concept of object-based configuration. The system also includes various SCADA functions, such as alarms, data entry, and communication. FactoryLink applications can be built simply by dragging and dropping the desired 'objects' into the application. Application object technology has unprecedentedly improved productivity. It features: 1) Completely avoids repetitive configuration work; 2) Reduces the possibility of configuration errors; 3) Significantly reduces the application development cycle; 4) Applications are easier to maintain; 5) Configuring applications using drag-and-drop application objects is easy, and data can be directly imported from Excel. 1.2 Client Builder The Client Builder is a tool for building dynamic process visualizations. The Client Builder is very easy to use and intuitive, providing unique features and productivity for building user interfaces customized to the requirements of HMI and SCADA applications. Many advanced features are standard in the Client Builder, such as panoramas and zoom, support for multiple displays, layering, zoom stabilization, data buffering, and many other features. The Customer Creator is a suite of ActiveX containment units, allowing any compatible third-party ActiveX controls to be plugged into its configuration. It includes ActiveX controls for viewing alarms, trend charts, and database queries within FactoryLink. ActiveX file support enables real-time graphics to be integrated into other content within a web browser. The Customer Creator incorporates a Microsoft Visual Basic application, allowing users to easily write and extend functionality using an open and standards-compliant environment. By modifying properties in VBA scripts, any graphical object, such as drawings, animations, symbols, mimics, and user silhouettes, can be fully customized. As shown in Figure 2: [align=center] Figure 2 Factorylink 7.5 Client Editing Screen[/align] Gain powerful object orientation using hierarchical and object-oriented graphical symbols. Every time a symbol is modified, all changes are propagated to other visualizations and real-time links. Symbols and information libraries are included within the product or can be user-defined and shared with other projects. Real-time process visualization keeps operators informed and in control. 2. Introduction to SIMATIC NET SIMATIC NET V6.0 is an open and versatile communication system provided by Siemens for industrial control. It enables network communication between PLCs, mainframes, workstations, and personal computers in the industrial field. To accommodate the diverse needs of automation engineering, SIMATIC NET offers various communication networks tailored to different environments. These networks conform to German or international standards and include: 1) Industrial Ethernet; 2) AS-I; 3) PROFIBUS; 4) PROFIBUS-PA. The SIMATIC NET system includes: 1) transmission media, network accessories, and corresponding transmission equipment; 2) protocols and services; 3) communication processors (CP modules) that connect PLCs and computers to the LAN. The OPC server is provided with the SIMATIC NET software CD. The basic principle of OPC (OLE for Process Control) is that OPC client applications can communicate with the OPC server through a standard, open, multi-vendor interface. The OPC server provides: Data Access Interface 2.05, Alarm and Event Interface 1.02 (Single Event), standardization across automation products from different manufacturers, a consistent, user-friendly interface for different components, accessibility from every computer in an industrial network/WAN, high-performance data access via a client interface (C++), ease of use via an automation interface (VB) or data control including an OCX, Internet communication via an XML DA interface, and grouping of variables (items) for high-volume data access in a short time. 3. FactoryLink 7.5 Communication with SIMATIC NET The basic automation control system (Level 1) of the Jinan Iron and Steel Group's No. 3 steelmaking slab continuous casting machine adopts the S7 series products from the German company SIEMENS, forming a basic automation control level integrating instrumentation and control. The PLC mainly uses S7-300, S7-400, and C7 series as master stations, and remote I/O, frequency converters, and other intelligent units as slave stations. The master station communicates with the slave stations via the PROFIBUS_DP fieldbus. The computer operating system software uses Microsoft Windows 2000, the PLC programming software uses Siemens Step 7.0, and the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software uses UGS Tecnomatix Factorylink 7.5. Since the PLC is a Siemens product and the SCADA software is Factorylink 7.5, communication between the two requires a third-party medium. Siemens' SIMATIC NET 6.0 OPC server software effectively meets this communication requirement. By configuring the SIMATIC NET OPC server, communication is established between the field PLC, the Factorylink 7.5 SCADA software, and the SIMATIC NET OPC server. This allows for the acquisition of real-time signals from the field Siemens PLC and the transmission of field device signals and control signals, fulfilling the monitoring and control functions of the field devices. Simultaneously, as shown in Figure 1, the communication variables for the SCADA software need to be defined in the Factorylink 7.5 configuration manager's OPC Server Definition. 4. SIMATIC NET OPC Server Configuration After successful installation of the SIMATIC NET software, a shortcut icon for Station Configurator will appear on the PC desktop, and an icon for Station Configuration Editor will also appear in the taskbar. Click the icon to open the Station Configuration Editor configuration window, as shown in Figure 3: [align=center] Figure 3 SIMATIC NET OPC Server Configuration[/align] Select slot number one, click the Add button or right-click and select Add. In the Add Component window, select OPC Server and click OK. Select slot number two, click the Add button or right-click and select Add. In the Add Component window, select TCP/IP Interface to complete the Ethernet network interface configuration. After configuring the above two items, the OPC server configuration is complete. 4.1 Symbol File Creation Use the 'Symbol File Configurator' function of SIMATIC NET v6.0 to generate a symbol file Cjj_cc.ssd from the variables in the field PLC program and store it in the C drive's Geng directory. As shown in Figure 4: Configure the symbol file Cjj_cc.ssd using the SIMATIC NET v6.0 Commissioning Wizard, as shown in Figure 3: [align=center] Figure 4 Symbol file Cjj_cc.ssd configuration wizard[/align] This establishes communication signals between the SIMATIC NET OPC server and the PLC program, enabling the SIMATIC NET OPC server to understand the meaning of variables in the PLC program and perform corresponding processing to meet the needs of the production site. 4.2 Network Logical Topology Configuration Then, configure the network logical topology using SIMATIC NCM PC Manager. This organically combines the field PLCs and the host monitoring computer through the network logical topology diagram, building a bridge for network communication. Simultaneously, configure the IP address used by the PLCs when communicating with the host computer, so that the host computer can know which PLC the signal is transmitted from, facilitating corresponding processing. As shown in Figure 5: [align=center] Figure 5 PLC and Upper Monitoring Computer Logical Network Diagram Topology Configuration Diagram[/align] The basic configuration of communication function related options is now complete. Afterwards, simply download the corresponding upper computer configuration to SIMATIC NET via the 'download' function in the 'PLC' menu using SIMATIC NCM PC Manager to complete the configuration. 5. Configuration Check Now that the SIMATIC NET OPC server configuration is complete, simply check if the 'Status' display of the IE_Geneal and OPC Server options in the Station Configuration Editor is normal. If the status is as shown in Figure 6, it indicates that the OPC server is configured correctly, the communication problem between the SIMATIC NET OPC server and the PLC is solved, and the communication requirements between the PLC and the upper computer can be met. [align=center] Figure 6 OPC Server Configuration Check[/align] Conclusion: The functions of SIMATIC NET have solved the communication problem between the upper monitoring software (Factorylink 7.5) and the PLC, realizing the monitoring and control functions of the field production equipment. This paper presents an effective solution to the communication problem between PLC and upper-level monitoring software. About the author: Xin Lezhong, male, engineer, mainly engaged in the research and design of industrial field electrical automation technology. Contact information: Tel: 13864105869, 0531-88847025; E-mail: [email protected]; Address: Electrical Automation Workshop, No. 3 Steelmaking Plant, Jinan Iron and Steel Group, Shandong Province, 250101, China.