Studio 5000 & RsLogix 5000 Produced and Consumed Tags

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the concept of produced and consumed tags in Studio 5000 and RSLogix 5000, specifically for Controllogix and Compactlogix PLCs. These tags serve as a more reliable communication method between Allen Bradley PLCs compared to traditional messaging instructions. Understanding how to implement produced and consumed tags will enhance your programming efficiency and system reliability.

Step 1: Understanding Produced and Consumed Tags

• Definition: Produced tags are data points that a PLC sends out, while consumed tags are those that a PLC receives.
• Advantages:
  • Deterministic communication, meaning the data transfer time is predictable.
  • More reliable compared to MSG instructions, reducing the risk of data loss or delays.

Step 2: Creating a Produced Tag

1. Open your Project: Launch Studio 5000 and open your existing PLC project.
2. Navigate to Tags: In the project tree, find the 'Tags' section.
3. Add a New Tag:
   • Right-click on the “Tags” and select “Add New Tag”.
   • Name your tag appropriately (e.g., ProducedData).
   • Set the data type according to the information you want to transmit (e.g., INT, DINT).
   • Check the option for 'Produced' to indicate this tag will send data.
4. Configure Properties: Adjust any necessary properties such as initial value or access rights.

Step 3: Creating a Consumed Tag

1. Open the Tags Section: Again, navigate to the 'Tags' section in your project.
2. Add a New Consumed Tag:
   • Right-click and select “Add New Tag”.
   • Name the tag (e.g., ConsumedData).
   • Choose the same data type as the produced tag.
   • Check the option for 'Consumed' to indicate this tag will receive data.
3. Set Up the Communication Path:
   • Ensure the path to the producing PLC is correctly configured in the tag properties.

Step 4: Establishing Communication Between PLCs

• Network Configuration: Make sure both PLCs are on the same network and can communicate.
• Utilize the Produced Tag in Logic:
  • Incorporate the produced tag into your control logic where you need to send data.
• Use the Consumed Tag:
  • Reference the consumed tag in the receiving PLC’s logic to utilize the incoming data.

Step 5: Testing the Setup

1. Download the Program: Ensure both PLCs have the latest program downloaded.
2. Monitor Tags: Use the tag monitor feature in Studio 5000 to see real-time data flow between the produced and consumed tags.
3. Check for Errors: Look for any faults in the communication path and verify data integrity.

Conclusion

Produced and consumed tags in Studio 5000 and RSLogix 5000 offer a robust solution for inter-PLC communication. By following these steps, you can effectively set up and test your tags for reliable data transfer. As a next step, consider exploring more advanced features or integrating these tags into larger projects for enhanced functionality.