Brew software / hardware integration questions

86turbodsl · Feb 4, 2015

Hello,

I'm working on designing a new brewstand, and i'm trying to plan ahead for the possible addition of automation. i'm well versed in automation direct products, and have a full legal version of their software. I'd like to better understand how to integrate the hardware side of control with the software side. I like the looks of advanced HMI software, but i'm uncertain how to integrate other functionality i would like.

What i want to do is: Have a PC with a database of recipes i have brewed and like and i would select the recipe which then sets up the inputs to the brew, such as mash schedule, boil times, temps, etc. I don't really want to have to look up a recipe on one computer and type in the information to an HMI each time that controls the PLC.

Is something like this existing, or not really?

Thanks in advance.
Mark

trimixdiver1 · Feb 4, 2015

The C More HMI from AD have a recipe fiction. I haven't played with it yet, other than seeing the data it needs to work. I was going to use it as a mash profile selector. I have 4 steps in my Do More, so if I only need 2 steps the timers will just pass the scan if they are at zero.

muhteeus · Feb 5, 2015

There are many ways to go about save/load recipe via different protocols. I have used a VBA script to send ethernet messages to a CLX. There are also easy ways to push CSV or TXT over serial. You could also setup recipe creation in the PLC.

More specifics on your soft/hardware would help

.

Regards,
muh

ClaudiusB · Feb 5, 2015

The C-More AutomationDirect display can handle recipes very easily.
I select the recipe and the data is written to the PLC memory. Behind each recipe button is a recipe sheet (spreadsheet).

86turbodsl · Feb 5, 2015

muhteeus said:
There are many ways to go about save/load recipe via different protocols. I have used a VBA script to send ethernet messages to a CLX. There are also easy ways to push CSV or TXT over serial. You could also setup recipe creation in the PLC.

More specifics on your soft/hardware would help .

Regards,
muh

Well, i had thought to use a DL-06 for hardware, i don't have any hmi selected yet, but i had thought that a pc with a database and advanced hmi might be a starting point. I thought the c-more was more of a display, but it sounds like Claudius is using it for data storage as well?

muhteeus · Feb 5, 2015

86turbodsl said:
Well, i had thought to use a DL-06 for hardware, i don't have any hmi selected yet, but i had thought that a pc with a database and advanced hmi might be a starting point. I thought the c-more was more of a display, but it sounds like Claudius is using it for data storage as well?

Yeah the cmores have some capability. I like the advanced hmi route, it is what I chose!