Logiclab Software PLC¶
LogicLab is an integrated development environment (IDE) full compliant with the IEC 61131-3 standard. Always striving to offer edge-cutting solutions, LogicLab can boast a lot of useful features for PLC developers, besides a very user-friendly interface and the support for a wide range of processors and communication protocols. Thanks to LogicLab, it is possible to turn into completely operational PLC any kind of hardware, from the simplest to the most powerful, there’s no system requirements. It is also possible to use virtual target to turn computers into PLC. AXEL, other than LogicLab, offers a complete suite of software solutions, able to cover every aspect of PLC developing. The whole AxelAutomationSuite, included LogicLab, can be freely downloaded at the website: https://www.axelsoftware.it/en/download
Logiclab IDE¶
The following section is applicable to:
Logiclab provides an IDE (integrated development environment) for Windows. Using the Logiclab IDE, control applications can be developed, tested, and compiled for the Logiclab runtime, both Linux and Windows. A typical IDE project environment is presented in the image below.
See the following section for instructions on installing the Logiclab IDE to a Windows PC: Logiclab IDE Installation
Logiclab Runtime¶
The following section is applicable to:
Logiclab runtime has both Linux and Windows version, which can apply to different real time operating systems. However, there is no download explicitly on official website.
For non-PRC customer, please contact Axel for Logiclab runtime software and license at: https://www.axelsoftware.it/en/contacts/ For PRC customer, please contact Nxtrol for Logiclab runtime software and license at: https://www.nxtrol.com/about.html
Logiclab IDE Installation¶
The following section is applicable to:
Setup a PC with a 64-bit version of Windows [ 7 (Service Pack 1 or higher) / 8 / 10 ] installed.
On the Windows PC, open a web browser and download the 64 bit version of Logiclab from the following website:
For non-PRC based customers: https://www.axelsoftware.it/en/logiclab/
For PRC based customers: https://www.nxtrol.com/download.html
Note
You will need to create a free account before the download becomes available.
Install Logiclab IDE by running the installer downloaded earlier (Name format should be: “LogicLabAutomationSuite_x.x.x_xxxxxx.exe” for PRC customer should contain keyword CN in name).
Follow the installation prompts.
Check the Getting Started section from Axel for more setup options.
Logiclab Example Applications¶
Since Logiclab is distributed through different channel in different geo locations, there are different samples provided by Axel and Nxtrol respectively:
Nxtrol application #1: Logiclab EtherCAT connection¶
EtherCAT is a widely used fieldbus protocol for PLC, CNC controller and robotics controller to connect IO, sensors and servo motors through standard Ethernet port. In this sample, a step by step guide is provided to setup EtherCAT master and slave configuration from scratch.
For more details in Chinese, please refer to: https://www.nxtrol.com/h-nd-27.html
Nxtrol application #2: Logiclab ModbusTCP connection¶
ModbusTCP is supported in Logiclab to communicate to traditional devices. In this sample, you will be able to see how ModbusTCP configuration is set.
For more details in Chinese, please refer to: https://www.nxtrol.com/h-nd-26.html
Nxtrol application #3: Logiclab Motion Control Development Kit demo with RTMotion and LinuxCNC¶
Based on Intel x86 processor, Nxtrol has released a IEC61131-3 based edge computing development kit called Logiclab Motion Control Development Kit , which has several different configurations, which is based on Intel Celeron, Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7. This development kit can support both real time control and IT-OT converge.
Intel ECI platform has laid a solid foundation for Logiclab Motion Control Development Kit such as Linux RT kernel, OPC-UA and TSN. By deeply integrating with these components, Logiclab can support fieldbus such as Modbus、CANopen、EtherCAT as well as MQTT and OPC-UA to talk to other edge computing nodes. The RTMotion PLCopen library and the LinuxCNC library integration enables Logiclab to do real time motion control as well.
For more details in Chinese, please refer to: https://www.nxtrol.com/h-nd-25.html
Axel application #1: Basic Demo¶
This is a simple demo to show some basic features of LogicLab, related to IEC standard; it contains: examples coding for all 5 languages of the standard, declaration and usage of functions and function blocks, arrays and mapped variables.
For more details，please refer to: https://www.axelsoftware.it/en/introduction-to-logiclab-demo1/
Axel application #2: Motion Demo¶
This is a more complex demo to show how to make and configure a Motion control application, over EtherCAT network, with LogicLab.
For more details, please refer to: https://www.axelsoftware.it/en/introduction-to-logiclab-demo2/