Introduction

This example demonstrates configuring and using a Phoenix Contact PLCnext controller with digital and analog I/O modules to build a basic control system. It includes a Web UI to read and set the I/O values, as the PLCnext lacks a built-in display port.

This example explains:

• Configuring the PLCnext controller
• Adding the PLCnextIO server and I/O modules to the system
• Connecting data from the I/O module channels to the control system
• Scaling analog values from raw input values to meaningful control system values
• General recommendations and tips

Project Overview

The project utilizes a Phoenix Contact PLCnext controller and 2 I/O modules: digital input and output, analog input and output. The analog values are scaled from the physical I/O module value to meaningful control system values.

Wires connect the digital output channel DO0 to the digital input channel DI0, and the analog output AO0 to the analog input AI0 channel. This enables setting a value on the output and reading the value on the input channel.

The WebUI allows you to set values on the output channels and display the values read from the input channels. Note that raw analog values may differ between input and output cards. See the PLCnext documentation for details on this behaviour.

How to Run the Example

To run the example from CDP Studio, open Welcome mode and find it under Examples. Next, in Configure mode right-click on the system project and select Run & Connect. See the Running the Example Project tutorial for more information.

The system runs on a PLCnext; therefore, you must go to Configure mode, select Deploy Configuration, pair the PLCnext, and select the PLCnext as the device.

CDP Studio comes with different toolkits, including one for the PLCnext. Which toolkit to use depends on the device operating system version and CPU type. It is, therefore, recommended to run the Toolkit Detector script to discover which toolkit has the best fit.

The PLCnext setup is covered in the PLCnext I/O Introduction. See also the PLCnext Toolkit documentation.

The WebUI starts after the application runs on the controller and CDP Studio will connect to the running application. In Configure mode, select the application, either in the Block Diagram or Table Editor, scroll down in the property list, find the WebURL property, paste the URL into your browser, or click on the small globe icon.

Project Description

The hardware used is a Phoenix Contact PLCnext, and the following I/O modules are installed in this order:

• AXL-F-AI2-AO2-1H Analog Input and Output
• AXL-F-DI16-1-DO8-2-2A-2H Digital Input and Output

The analog ports are set up to and wired so they output and read current (I).

This project uses a three-layer architecture, separating the application layer from hardware-specific elements for modularity and easier maintenance. This separation allows you to change the controller or modules without affecting the application itself, avoiding physical dependencies or raw analog values within the application logic.

The WebUI connects to the control system in the application layer. Through the WebUI, you can set the analog output value, SetAnalogOut, from 0 to 100 using a slider; this value is then scaled to the correct I/O module raw value, AnalogOutRaw. The analog output is physically wired to the analog input, and the analog input I/O module reads the value, which is displayed in the WebUI as ReadAnalogIn and AnalogRawIn.

Similarly, you can set the digital output using a checkbox and see the corresponding digital input value.

You can modify the example if you do not have identical I/O modules. Just replace the modules, move the routings and make sure that you update the scaling points matching your I/O module.

Important Concepts and Recommendations

Relation Between Physical Connectors and Logical CDP Signals

The following figure shows a simplified representation of input and output I/O modules. Physical wires connect to the left side () for input modules, while CDP signals are output on the right (). For output modules, you connect values to CDP input signals on the left side of the I/O block ().

Scaling the Analog Physical Values

Analog I/O modules measure or set values, e.g. from 4 to 20 mA. These modules use raw values, such as setting 0 to represent 4 mA and 32000 for 20 mA. Check the Phoenix Contact documentation for module-specific details. Converting these values to meaningful application-specific units is recommended.

For example, to set the speed in rpm, then 4 mA = 0 rpm and 20 mA = 100 rpm, use a Signal in your application with a value range of 0-100 and then use the scale operator to transform the sensible application value to the raw I/O value when writing to the I/O module.