Radioline-Selection-Tool

Introduction

This selection tool can be used to help guide the selection of Phoenix Contact Radiolines, antennas and cables. This tool does not take quantities or IO into consideration. It will guide through the total cable length, gain of the system as well as asisstance with the different connection options. Once complete, you are able to download a CSV of the BOM created.

This tool is a PLCnext project which means it can be run both on a PLCnext control hardware. It can also be run on the simulator

Instructions

Requirements

• PLCnext Control AXC F 2152 (with FW 2024.0 LTS or newer) or Simulator
• PLCnext Engineer 2024.0.2 LTS or newer
• The project Radioline Selection.pcweax

Download and Run the Project

When running the libraries, you may find that there is an error. It doesn't look like the libraries extract in the same way. The PLCnextBase Library expects to be in the following format: PLCnextBase_1_x_1.pcwlx PLCnextBase_1_x_1 (folder) |_ PLCnextBase.pcwlx |_ PLCnextBaseServices.pcwlx

If you highlight the error, it should tell you the expected destination. Once complete, delete the library and re-add by Adding User Library

Navigate to the eHMI

1. Select Radio

This will allow you to choose between the 2.4GHz and 900MHz radios.

2. Select Antenna

Depending on the radio choice, it will guide you to the available antenna options.

If you choose an RSMA antenna, you will not be able to continue and it will generate. Otherwise,

3. Select a surge device

4. Select a pigtail (between the Radio and Surge)

5. Select a Cable

Complete

Once complete, it will calculate the total Gain and Length of cable.

You can also download the generated CSV file by clicking on the DL CSV button.

Reset is also like it says, will reset everything for you. Note, if there are certain changes made to the selection, it will delete any incompatible products to be selected again.

Simulator

As mentioned, this can also be run on a PLCnext Simulator all on the computer (like other PLCnext projects). To be able to do this, it requires a couple of steps. There are simulators for the AXC F 2152 and AXC F 3152 but in this example, we will change it to the option of AXC F 1152 as it does not require a license and this project can easily run on one CPU.

Prerequisites

The Simulation needs to be downloaded and installed. For this example, it uses the 2023 LTS as it is the latest available at the time of publishing.

1. Go to the PLCnext Engineer product page.
2. Navigate to the section Downloads > Software
3. Download and install Simulation_Setup_AXCF1152_2023.0.exe

Running the Project with the Simulator

1. If you download the project Radioline Selection_Simulator.pcweax, skip to step 5.
2. On the right-hand side, in the search box, type in 1152 to find it easier

4. Right click on the AXC F 1152 Rev >= 00/2023.0.0 and click copy
5. On the left-hand side, click on the controller under project that says ... AXC F 2152 and click Replace

6. This project will now be using the AXC F 1152. *Note: The name of the controller does not change and may still indicate it is a AXC F 2152. You can change in the controller Settings > Ethernet > Name of Station or Project > Online Controllers > Name of Station (Project)
7. To start up the simulator, double click on the controller under Plant > Project (...AXC F 1152) and open the Cockpit tab
8. In the drop-down change it from TCP/IP to Simulation

9. Right click on the controller and click Connect
10. The simulator will start up and will take some time.
11. You will be prompted with a login popup, similar to what is expected with normal PLCnext Control Hardware.
12. Enter the details username: admin, password: plcnext
13. You are now connected and able to write the project as you would to physical hardware

Note: Because this simulator is running on your localhost machine, there will be some minor differences with the URLS. Use the buttons for the eHMI and WBM in the Cockpit