• fastCenter - automation solutions
• fastCenter Components
  • fastView- Visualization component
  • fastProject - batch control, collecting process relevant data, report generation
  • fastStudio - complete integrated development environment for creating software applications
• fastControl - PLC program execution and fieldbus configuration for Master device
• fastHMI - control system to deploy control logic
• fastSCADA - complete integrable process control solution

fastCenter - automation solutions

fastCenter is a development platform for customer specific automation solutions ranging from low-end SoftPLC solutions through middle-size control systems featuring DCS and visualization up to full-scale integrated SCADA systems.

fastCenter offers a common development workspace for all tasks concerning creation and deployment of an automation solution regardless of how complex the solution is. Development environment supports:

• IEC 61131 standards languages for PLC and Project Server programming;
• Creation of visualization objects.

The environment, called fastStudio, incorporates libraries to provide functional units ranging from PLC programs for device control up to visualization control panels, editors for configuring project components, and compilers to generate the output.

fastCenter based automation solutions ensure the following possibilities:

• Hierarchical architecture with object-oriented design;
• Hierarchical user access and permissions system;
• ISO quality standards assurance with advanced alarm system and events log;
• Report system with relevant historical data acquisition, storing and retrieving;
• Multilanguage support including major European and Asian languages.

Application areas

fastCenter was initially aimed to create customer specific SCADA solutions for monitoring, visualization, management and control of complex production processes (batch production of articles according to sophisticated technological process) with

• Project specific extendable libraries of:
  • Equipment and Field bus elements;
  • Smart graphical objects for Visualization;
  • AE Messages;

• Process based Physical model (equipment specific);
• Project specific Batch control (acc. to IEC 61512.1 and IEC 61512.2 );
• Alarms and Events system (according to Customer’s request);
• Project specific customizable visualization;
• Multi-language support.

In our solutions we use:

• Visualization (fastView, Pro-face);
• PLC (fastControl, Siemens S5 and S7, Beckhoff CPUs);
• Fieldbus systems and industrial networks (EtherCAT, PPOFIBUS-DP, CAN Bus, Ethernet);
• Frequency inverters (NORD, SEW, SIEMENS, LENZE).

fastCenter Components

fastCenter has a modular structure to ensure distribution of tasks among its components, correct and clear interaction of all parts, scalability of the whole system and each separate module, and a possibility to share development workspace among several participants.

The following components must be emphasized:

• fastControl Design - development environment for fastControl (run-time component for PLC and field-bus which is delivered as a separate control layer solution).
• fastView - visualization component.
• fastProject - Project Server realization with Batch Control, data acquisition, sharing and storing, and alarms and reporting system.
• fastStudio - common development environment for all components.

fastView - Visualization component

Features

• Detailed process displaying and immediate access;

• Highly customizable enhanced visualization with extendable library to create any kind of HMI, even for very sophisticated processes;
• OPC connection to PLC via Project Server with Alarms and Events functions.

Design fastView

Design of process visualization is made in fastStudio, which has a powerful graphics workshop. Primitive objects for visualization elements are vector graphic based, bitmaps can be used through import.

Script engine is based on IEC 61131-3 Structured Text, JScript is optionally supported.

Visualization elements are stored in Visualization Library. The elements are reusable and can be instantiated. Parameterization of instances is performed in Property Browser.

Wizards for binding of visualization elements to Equipment Configuration.

Usage of Alarms and Events functions for process visualization.

Run-time

Visualization process includes the following features:

• Access to all relevant controls;
• Immediate dispalying of alarms and events using standard or custom reactions;
• Animated objects and possibilities of online debugging.

Different visualizations can be used for different types of HMI within one project.

System requirements

• Operating systems:
  • Windows XP
• Hardware platforms:
  • x86
  • Portable PC (Mobile Client)
• CPU:
  • Pentium IV, 1.7 GHz compatible or higher
• Memory:
  • 512MB

fastProject - core element of fastCenter based SCADA solutions.

fastProject is responsible for

• Data exchange between control layer (fastControl) and visualization (fastView) via Equipment Configuration;
• Batch control
• Collecting process relevant data and report generation.

fastProject runs on MS SQL Server.

fastProject allows communication of SCADA with information systems (MES, ERP, QMS) for deep vertical integration into company information network.

Functions

• Production tracking with material consumption calculation and reporting;
• Batch control according to IEC 61512-1;
  • Recipe management;
  • Part management;
  • Product flow control;
• Hierarchical alarm analysis;
• MTBF statistics and maintenance schedules;
• Historical data acquisition and reporting system;
• Thin and thick clients support;
• Remote access;
• Connectivity;
  • OPC;
  • XML;
  • SECS/GEM;
  • possibility to introduce other specific connections;

System requirements

• Operating systems:
  • Windows XP
• Hardware platforms:
  • x86
• CPU:
  • Pentium IV, 2 GHz compatible or higher
• Memory:
  • 2GB

fastStudio - complete integrated development environment for creating software applications

fastStudio - Complete integrated development environment for creating an application from low-end control device up to SCADA system.

fastStudio stores all elements, objects, and configurations in MS SQL database.

Advantages

• Object-oriented approach to all components;
• Scalable and customizable system;
• Ready-to-use libraries.

Libraries and editors

fastStudio offers a complete set of libraries and editors required to create, deploy and troubleshoot an automation solution, including:

• Soft PLC Editor - full-fledged design environment with built-in IEC Library and online PLC debugger.
• Fieldbus Library and Editor - a full-fledged design environment with built-in online PLC debugger.
• Device Library - counterparts of electrical and mechanical engineering components required for creation of physical model.
• Equipment Configurator - design environment for creation of physical model, including wizards and import/export functionality.
• AE Conditions Library - library of Alarms and Events conditions with built-in editor.
• AE Messages Library - library of AE Messages, which are used for AE Conditions. The Messages are translatable.
• Visualization Library - library of visualization elements and visualization workshop.
• Reports Editor - a workshop to create or customize reports, that can be generated from collected historical data.

System requirements

• Operating systems:
  • Windows XP
• Hardware platforms:
  • x86
• CPU:
  • Pentium IV, 2 GHz compatible or higher
• Memory:
  • 2 GB

fastControl

fastControl is run-time environment for PLC and Fieldbus processors to execute PLC program and provide fieldbus configuration for Master device(-s). The program and configuration are created, configured and compiled in fastStudio using IEC and Fieldbus libraries respectively.

Connection of fastControl to Project Server is carried out over OPC DA by providing PLC data segment for control and Fieldbus namespace for bus monitoring at Project Server side.

PLC Processor

PLC Processor performs loading and execution of a program compiled in design environment. At program design stage PLC logic is created out of IEC library using IEC 61131-3 languages, retains are configured and links to Fieldbus configuration are established. Such approach makes PLC part of fastControl is scalable exactly to size required by the application.

PLC Processor supports:

• IEC 61131-3 standard languages:
  • ST - Structured Text;
  • SFC - Sequential Function Chart;
  • FBD - Function Block Diagram.
• Multiple PLCs function for Distributed Control System;
• Easy connection to 3rd party PLCs (Step 5/7, Allen-Bradley, etc.);
• Visualization (Pro-face) or other applications (over OPC).

Fieldbus Processor

Fieldbus Processor receives the configuration from development environment, uploads the configuration to relevant Master devices and ensures interaction between the network and PLC by providing an interface in the form of signals.

Fieldbus configuration is a compiled unified structure, where configurations of each separate fieldbuses and/or networks of different types are arranged in a single unit allowing integration into one common system.

Fieldbus and network systems are implemented in the Fieldbus Processor as add-ins, which are specific for each particular manufacturer.

At the moment the following standards are supported:

• PROFIBUS (Hilscher, Beckhoff, Softing);
• CAN (Softing);
• EtherCAT;
• Ethernet;
• Serial port;
• K-bus.

System requirements

Operating systems:

• Windows CE and XP
• RTX
• Linux (planned)

Hardware platforms:

• x86;
• Beckhoff PC.

CPU:

• Pentium IV, 1,7 GHz compatible or higher;
• CX1000.

Memory:

• 28 MB (WinCE);
• 256 MB (WinXP);
• 512 MB (RTX).

fastControl Design

fastControl is a run-time component, which ensures execution of PLC program and data exchange with industrial network or field bus. PLC program and network/field bus configuration are created and compiled in development environment, then downloaded to fastControl.

Below there is an example of using fastControl for EtherCAT driven application.

Network configuration is created with an EtherCAT Configuration Tool (for exaple KPA Studio EtherCAT), then imported to design environment (fastStudio), where it is converted into a unified structure, linked to PLC programm, then both Fieldbus configuration and PLC program are compiled and uploaded to fastControl run-time environment.

fastHMI

fastHMI - is a middle-size control system built on fastCenter platform. fastHMI includes control layer to deploy control logic and operating components, and visualization to provide graphical user interface to interact with the machine.

Control layer is realized on fastControl, visualization is created with fastView.

Due to connectivity features other visualizations can be used.

fastHMI offers the following advantages:

• IEC 61131-3 standards based SoftPLC;
• DCS with multi PLC function;
• Highly customizable enhanced visualization with extendable library;
• Different graphical user interfaces;
• Direct access to PLC variables and parameters.

System requirements

• Operating systems:
  • Windows XP;
  • Windows CE (fastControl only);
  • RTX (fastControl only);
  • Linux (fastControl only).
• Hardware platforms:
  • x86;
  • Portable PC (Mobile Client) (fastView only);
  • Beckhoff PC (fastControl only).
• CPU:
  • Pentium IV, 1.7 GHz compatible or higher;
  • CX1000 (fastControl only).
• Memory:
  • 128 MB (WinCE for fastControl only);
  • 256 MB (WinXP for fastControl only);
  • 512 MB (fastView).

fastSCADA

fastSCADA is a complete integrable process control solution with control layer (fastControl), Project server (fastProject) and visualization (fastView).

fastSCADA is characterized with the following benefits:

• Production tracking with material consumption calculation and reporting;
• Batch control according to IEC 61512-1;
• IEC 61131-3 standard DCS;
• Hierarchical alarm system;
• MTBF statistics, historical data acquisition and reporting system;
• Thin and thick clients support;
• Remote access;
• Connectivity (OPC, XML, SECS/GEM) .

Due to connectivity features other visualizations and PLC systems can be used.

Connection protocols allow integration of fastSCADA to factory information systems (MES, ERP, QMS).

System requirements

• Operating systems:
  • Windows XP;
  • Windows CE (fastControl only);
  • RTX (fastControl only);
  • Linux (fastControl only).
• Hardware platforms:
  • x86;
  • Portable PC (Mobile Client) (fastView only);
  • Beckhoff PC (fastControl only).
• CPU:
  • Pentium IV, 2 GHz compatible or higher;
  • CX1000 (fastControl only).
• Memory:
  • 2 GB;
  • 128 MB (WinCE for fastControl only);
  • 256 MB (WinXP for fastControl only);
  • 512 MB (WinXP for fastView only).