October 10, 2011 - Eplan's Operational Sequence module documents the functional timeline of a machine/plant by using convenient process descriptions. It offers the choice between a functional diagram or a GRAFCET standard. PLC programmers will benefit from the seamless documentation, controlling the interactions of actuators and sensors. It has become increasingly difficult to represent a functional timeline for machines and plant systems clearly, because of an ever-increasing complexity and the mechatronic interaction of sub-elements, even though it is an indispensable component for planning a steering and control system. Operational Sequence includes process descriptions into the overall control systems documentation.
The software offers various flexible ways of describing these operational processes: frequently used function diagrams as well as the newest version of GRAFCET diagrams (Graphe Fonctionnel de Commande Etapes/Transitions) are supported as well. The benefits are clear: The PLC programmer receives timely information about the necessary actuators and sensors and their desired operational interaction and timeline. It provides valuable preplanning time for machine controls and accelerates the engineering processes. Changes to electrical and fluid engineering plans can then be integrated into the process descriptions automatically and documented perfectly afterwards.
Insert values - and done
The Device navigator is the central dialog for inserting Eplan functions into a function or GRAFCET diagram. It doesn't matter if the function has already been placed into the schematic, or if it will be created as a new device. Only the values for time/step scales, as well as the process sequence, must be entered into the diagram after placement. The necessary forms are included and values may even be inserted as macros quite easily. The only remaining manual step will be the process sequence with the aid of graphic elements such as polylines.
An automatic translation into foreign languages is available right from the start, as well as other quality increasing functionalities in the process sequences.
