How to send data to PLC with HMI recipe?

Is it possible to change different types of parameters with one touch? Imagine - one touch on the HMI visualization panel makes your manufactured product change beyond recognition. For example, from a classic whole wheat sandwich to a gluten-free cupcake with strawberry filling. Two completely different flour products involve not only different ingredients, but also different cooking processes. Changing production data manually is more prone to error. As is known, errors require additional time resources, which are reflected in the company's expenses. To make it easier to manage control panel data, we have created a video material. In this video, we will show you how to send data to a PLC with an HMI recipe

In this article we will look at:

• What is an HMI recipe?
• Why is the HMI recipe used?
• What are the 5 main functions of an HMI recipe?
• In which industries is the HMI recipe applied?
• Where is the HMI recipe stored?
• How to change HMI recipe?
• Assitance with HMI recipe creation

What is an HMI recipe?

So, in order to send data from HMI (Human Machine Interface) to  PLC (Programmable Logic Controller),it is necessary to use appropriate communication protocol and connection between HMI and PLC. The most commonly used protocols for such situations are Modbus TCP, Profibus, Profinet or Ethernet/IP.

An HMI recipe is an EBpro visualization development object that allows you to easily display, edit and send a bunch of pre-defined behaviors in a grouped way to the PLC variables. That is - one touch allows you to define the values of up to 100 variables of yours PLC.

In a manufacturing environment, a recipe (process recipe or batch recipe) sets up machine settings for consistent material handling or production, or batch raw material composition proportions and process flow. In both cases recipe is the basis of the quality of the vital process and the repeatability of the product.

Why the HMI recipe is used ?

HMI recipes are used when a company produces several products with the same equipment with different production parameters. The HMI recipe is an excellent automation solution to be able to ensure a quick and accurate transfer of production settings from one product to another. If the company produces only one product, then the HMI recipe is not needed, since its production parameters are not changed. The data is simply stored in an automation system that repeats itself regularly.

What are the 5 main functions of an HMI recipe?

• Ensuring correct product ingredients
• Maintaining a correct production process
• Simplifying the operator's work
• Reducing of human  factor errors to a minimum
• Ensuring product quality and repeatability

In which industries is the HMI recipe relevant?

• In biotechnology and pharmacy
• In food and beverage production
• In the production of household, agricultural and industrial chemicals
• Format, force, pressure, vacuum, temperature, etc. in setting and changing levels in any current sector.

Where is the HMI recipe stored?

The two main options for storing an HMI recipe are in the HMI panel or in the PLC controller. It is only practical to store recipes in a controller if there are a few simple steps to be performed and there is only one controller. Using this storage method, creating, viewing, and modifying recipes is difficult because most controllers do not support recipe functionality. Most HMIs support recipe functionality. This makes creating, viewing and editing them much easier.

How to change HMI recipe?

Primary HMI recipe data is stored in the internal HMI memory so that it can be further transferred to the PLC or simply viewed and corrected on the HMI screen. However, there are several options for adding and changing recipe data.

1. Editing an HMI recipe via the HMI panel screen. The simplest option is to add and correct recipe data directly through the HMI panel screen, where the data is entered manually.
2. Editing an HMI recipe with a USB stick. The second option for adding a new recipe is with a USB stick. The recipe database in the internal HMI memory is updated with the new recipe that the technologist has perfected and saved on an external data medium. In this way, only the technologist's recipes can enter the HMI memory.
3. Correction of HMI recipe via LAN network. A third option is to get the recipe over a LAN. In this solution, we can connect to another HMI on the network and get the recipe we need from it. Or the technologist can connect directly to the HMI Web server and make the necessary additions to the recipe by uploading the necessary recipe file.

Help with HMI recipe creation

If you do not manage to create a HMI recipe on your own, then we invite you to watch our prepared video on this topic or contact ZTF Lāsma engineers.

Other articles and videos about HMI visualization panels:

1. How to synchronize Weintek HMI data with MySQL database?
2. 6 most convenient methods to exchange data with Weintek HMI pane
3. PLC and HMI compatibility determination in 1 minute