Connecting an HMI to an Allen-Bradley PLC

ControlLogix, CompactLogix & FlexLogix PLC Families

Communicating with a CompactLogix, ControlLogix, FlexLogix, or any Allen-Bradley PLC that supports the Common Industrial Protocol over Ethernet (EtherNet/IP - CIP) is simple using any of Maple System's HMI series. All our Maple System's HMI support EtherNet/IP - CIP, and easy to use features like automatically importing tags from the controller or intuitive browsing of complex User Defined Type (UDT) tags will have you up and running in no time. For a full list of the ControlLogix controllers, please see : Rockwell Automation's ControlLogix product page. Likewise, for a list of CompactLogix controllers, please see : Rockwell Automation's CompactLogix product page.

EtherNet/IP CIP

Setting up an EtherNet/IP - CIP connection to a controller of this family is easily handled in four steps:

Step 1: Connect the controller to your development PC running EasyBuilder Pro using a standard Ethernet cable. Make sure the PC and PLC are on the same subnet.

Step 2: Add a new Device/Server in the EBPro project for this HMI and select: Allen-Bradley Compact/ControlLogix Free Tags (EtherNetIP-CIP Preferred) as the driver to use.

img: Setup CIP Device

Step 3: Set the IP address in the Settings of the new Device.

img: Setup IP Address

Step 4: Finally, save the settings in the Device Properties window and click Get Tag Info... in the System Parameter Settings window, the HMI will automatically contact the controller and download any loaded tags for use immediately in the HMI project.

img: Get Tag Info...

You can now configure any of the objects available in EasyBuilder Pro by simply placing the object, selecting your Allen-Bradley Controller as the PLC and browsing to the tag you want to use.

img: Select a Tag

Once you are ready to test your project you can run it in the Online Simulator or download to an HMI.

For more information on setup specifics, please take a look at the Controller Information Sheet for the Allen-Bradley Compact/ControlLogix Free Tags EtherNet/IP - CIP protocol.

EtherNet/IP - CIP Controller Information Sheet

Help Topics Related to the EtherNet/IP CIP protocol...

Micro800 Series PLCs

The Micro800 PLC family is Allen - Bradley's latest line of cost effective and capable PLCs. These range from fixed IO models without an Ethernet port (Micro 830) to the highly expandable Micro870. These PLCs can be made even more capable and cost effective by combining them with an HMI from Maple Systems. Our HMIs support all of the communication options available on the Micro800 series. This combiniaton brings all of the features of EasyBuilder Pro HMI software to your Micro800 based control system. For a complete list of Micro800 controllers available from Allen-Bradley please visit the Micro800 PLCs page.

CIP

The Micro800 series controllers support (CIP Serial) and models with Ethernet ports support EtherNet/IP - CIP. Maple Systems HMIs support both options. To use a CIP Serial first visit our Controller Cable page to make to get the correct communications cable for your HMI and PLC.

For more information on using this driver refer to the Controller Info Sheet:

Modbus RTU or TCP

The Micro800 series PLCs can be configured as Modbus servers. Maple Systems HMIs can be configured as modbus clients. This option is a convenient and easy solution to use with Micro800 series PLC that don't have an Ethernet Port. For PLCs with Ethernet ports HMIs also support Modbus TCP. To use an RTU connnection first visit our Controller Cable page to get the proper serial cable.

Refer to the Micro800 series User Manual for instructions on configuring the controller as a Modbus server and for a address mapping.

Follow these instructions to set up an HMI project to connect to the Micro800 using Modbus:

Step 1: Create a new EasyBuilder Pro project for your HMI. In the System Parameter Settings window click on the New Device/Server... button.

Step 2: For a modbus RTU connection select Modbus RTU Master (or RTU over TCP) or for a Modbus TCP/IP connection select Modbus TCP/IP Master for the Device type

Step 3: Click on the Settings... button and configure the com port settings to match the settings in the PLC or for Modbus TCP connections configure the the IP address of your PLC.

Step 4: Configure your screens using the objects available in EasyBuilder Pro. Configure the address in the objects by setting the Device to your PLC and configuring the address for the register you want to control / display in the PLC.

For more information on using this driver refer to the Controller Info Sheet

MicroLogix and SLC 500 PLC Families

No matter what MicroLogix or SLC 500 model you are using, our HMIs will easily communicate to it with built-in features. You can choose from our full line of HMIs and use our DF1 PCCC protocol over Ethernet, DF1 serial drivers for models without a built in Ethernet port, or use a DH485 driver to connect via an RS-485 port. You will have full access to PLC data files, and can program your HMI project with our familiar EasyBuilder Pro HMI software. For a complete list of MicroLogix controllers available from Allen-Bradley please visit thier MicroLogix product page.

DF1 Over EtherNet/IP

For MicroLogix and SLC 500 models with a built in Ethernet port an easy way to get connected is to use our DF1 over EtherNet/IP protocol. Use the following steps to set up this protocol:

Step 1: Create a new EasyBuilder Pro project for your HMI. In the System Parameter Settings window click on the New Device/Server... button.

Step 2: Select Allen-Bradley SLC and Micro (EtherNetIP-DF1) for the Device type

Step 3: Click on the Settings... button and configure the IP address of your PLC.

Step 4: Configure your screens using the objects available in EasyBuilder Pro. Configure the address in the objects by setting the Device to your PLC and configuring the address for the register you want to control / display in the PLC.

For more information on using this driver refer to the Controler Info Sheet

DF1 Serial

All of our HMIs are equiped with a serial port that can connect to any MicroLogix or SLC 500 plc using the DF1 Serial Protocol. There are two options for this driver: BCC or CRC, depending on the type of error checking the PLC is configured to use.

Step 1: Make sure you have the correct communications cable for the HMI and PLC you are using. To get the correct cable refer to our Controller Cables page.

Step 2: Create a new EasyBuilder Pro project for your HMI. In the System Parameter Settings window click on the New Device/Server... button.

Step 3: Select Allen-Bradley SLC and Micro (DF1 Serial-BCC) or Allen-Bradley SLC and Micro (DF1 Serial-CRC), depending on the error checking method you are using, for the Device type

Step 4: Click on the Settings... button and configure the com port settings to match the com port settings of the PLC.

Step 5: Configure your screens using the objects available in EasyBuilder Pro. Configure the address in the objects by setting the Device to your PLC and configuring the address for the register you want to control / display in the PLC.

For more information on using this driver refer to the Controler Info Sheet.

DH485

Maple Systems HMIs do not support the DH+ interface, as an alternative the HMIs support the DH485 protocol, which is the Data Highway protocol over an RS-485 serial port.

Step 1: Make sure you have the correct communications cable for the HMI and PLC you are using. To get the correct cable refer to our Controller Cables page.

Step 2: Create a new EasyBuilder Pro project for your HMI. In the System Parameter Settings window click on the New Device/Server... button.

Step 3: Select Allen-Bradley SLC500 and Micro (DH485) for the Device type

Step 4: Click on the Settings... button and configure the com port settings to match the com port settings of the PLC.

Step 5: Configure your screens using the objects available in EasyBuilder Pro. Configure the address in the objects by setting the Device to your PLC and configuring the address for the register you want to control / display in the PLC.

For more information on using this driver refer to the Controler Info Sheet.

Note: The DH485 driver supports only a point to point single HMI to single PLC connection.
Note: The DH485 driver cannot be used with a 1747-AIC peripheral port.

Help Topics for MicroLogix Controllers

Connecting Maple Systems HMIs to Rockwell Allen-Bradley controllers

Control/Compact/FlexLogix

Micro800

MicroLogix / SLC - 500