Workflow
Using the plugin concept of the XCAD interface, you can enrich both the AML file and the TwinCAT project to generate the highest possible added value in the exchange between the ECAD software and TwinCAT. Each plugin can be enabled or disabled and configured as needed in the XCAD Interface Options. The basis of the plugins is, among others, the so-called tag tables in AutomationML. They represent lists of variables (tags) that are derived on ECAD side from the information of the channels configured there. These tags are connected to the channels of the hardware components via links in the AutomationML.
Enriching the I/O topology in the TwinCAT project
It is possible to automatically adjust the channel variables of the I/O topology, which are associated with a tag in the AutomationML, in TwinCAT when importing the AutomationML file. This means that the standard variable names, such as "Input" for an EL1008, are replaced by the tag name. In addition, the comment of the tag can be adopted for the channel variable. This allows the user to draw conclusions about the use of the channels more easily and quickly. (Plugin: Rename channel variables)
Using the template identifier attribute in AutomationML, a preconfigured template in .xti format for one of the hardware components can also be loaded during import. In this way, certain settings that cannot otherwise be made on the ECAD side can be set automatically.
Generating TwinCAT PLC project content
Based on the tag tables, one or more global variable lists (GVLs) can be created in a PLC project and corresponding variables can be generated from the tags, which are assigned to the GVLs. The names of the variables are derived from the tag names and can be adapted to a valid PLC variable name using a converter, if necessary. In addition, the tag comment is written over the corresponding PLC variable. (Plugins: Convert PLC variable names, Create global PLC variable list) These variables of the PLC project can finally be automatically linked to the corresponding channel variables of the I/O topology. (Plugin: Create PLC variable links) Time-consuming manual linking is therefore no longer necessary.
See also