PLCs are commonly used to control, monitor, or error proof production processes. Some factories may opt for fully automated lines, while others adopt a hybrid approach with some manual operations and some automated steps. But even in fully manual assembly lines, it is ever more common to find PLCs for data acquisition, error proofing, and to control assembly tools such as the Kolver K-DUCER.

The K-DUCER has been compatible with industrial PLCs via the industry-standard Modbus TCP network protocol from day 1, but today Kolver is making it even easier for automation engineers to interface Siemens S7 PLCs with the Kolver K-DUCER!

We are releasing a library for TIA Portal (compatible with v16 and later) that provides function blocks built by Kolver’s team that encapsulate the most commonly used remote control and data acquisition operations of the KDU-1A.

Engineers will no longer have to program logic around the Siemens-provided MB_CLIENT function blocks, or refer to the K-DUCER Modbus Map to determine which Modbus addresses to read and write and which Modbus function codes to use, or decide how to implement the Modbus TCP polling efficiently.

Instead, they can just drag and drop the appropriate function block from the library, connect the relevant inputs and outputs, and run the blocks as needed.

The library contains the function blocks for the following commonly used functionality:

• Checking if the KDS screwdriver is ready to operate
• Enabling or disabling the KDS screwdriver
• Selecting a program or sequence
• Retrieving all of the data of the last screwdriving result (torque, angle, and much more)
• Retrieving the array of graph data of the torque-time and torque-angle graph of the last result
• Execute a tightening (remote control of the screwdriver for automatic machines) asynchronously until the operation completes according to the program parameters configured in the KDU-1A

All function blocks used should be maintained enabled via the EN input, and can be started at will via the “enable_oneshot” input.

The only other input required is a TCON_IP_v4 instance representing the IP Address endpoint of the KDU-1A in the network.

Each function block provides appropriate outputs for the data, status, and errors relevant to its functionality.

Automation engineers can also use these function blocks as starting points to build additional functionality as necessary.

A sample project utilizing the library is also provided with the download.

For more information on library usage within TIA Portal, see https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/document/109738702/libraries-in-the-tia-portal