Print
PDFWhat is Compact FieldPoint?
Compact FieldPoint is an easy-to-use, highly expandable industrial control and measurement system composed of rugged and dependable I/O modules and intelligent communication interfaces. Download your NI LabVIEW application onto the embedded real-time controller for stand-alone data logging, monitoring, and advanced control. Plus, connect to virtually any sensor type with the wide variety of I/O modules, such as thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), strain gages, 4-20 mA sensors, and a variety of digital signals from 5-30 VDC and 0-250 VAC. The Compact FieldPoint I/O modules filter, calibrate, and scale raw sensor signals to engineering units and perform self-diagnostics to look for problems, such as an open thermocouple.
Compact FieldPoint network communication interfaces automatically publish measurements with an Ethernet network. Access I/O points nearby or miles away on the network using the same simple read/write software framework. To boost the memory storage capacity, use removable CompactFlash or USB mass-storage devices for logging data.
Figure. 1. Compact FieldPoint system.
How do I select the components for my Compact FieldPoint rugged, intelligent I/O system?
As explained in the Compact FieldPoint virtual tour, Compact FieldPoint systems consist of the following components: controller interface, I/O modules, backplane, and connector blocks. Use the NI online product advisor to build your Compact FieldPoint system.
How do I get started performing measurements or controlling actuators with Compact FieldPoint?
Compact FieldPoint is very easy to use and can help you quickly begin performing industrial control and measurement. Getting started is a simple three-step process:
- Install the hardware
- Configure the controller
- Read or write the I/O channels
View the 5-minute Compact FieldPoint Out of Box video for instructions on hardware installation, configuration, and LabVIEW programming. In LabVIEW, you can connect to any physical I/O channel with just a few mouse clicks. This video demonstrates connecting a LabVIEW Waveform Chart to thermocouple input channel 0.
Related Links:
How to Network FieldPoint to a Host Computer with Ethernet
How to Add a FieldPoint Controller to a LabVIEW Project
How do I embed my LabVIEW application on Compact FieldPoint for reliable stand-alone operation on the real-time controller?
Tight integration between the LabVIEW software environment and real-time hardware targets, such as Compact FieldPoint, make your control development process quick and easy. You can take advantage of powerful graphical development using industry-standard LabVIEW to rapidly implement your control system using an extensive palette of open-source functions and tools. First, develop the program on a Windows host computer using graphical programming blocks. Next, download the application to an embedded controller such the NI cFP-2220. Finally, deploy your application for dependable long-term execution that performs reliably both with and without a network connection. Once your application is deployed, you can access the embedded application through any Web browser by connecting to the embedded Web server of the real-time Compact FieldPoint controller.
How do I perform historical data logging with Compact FieldPoint?
Historical data logging is easy with Compact FieldPoint and the LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control (DSC) Module. In LabVIEW, navigate to Tools » Datalogging & Supervisory Control » Configure Tags. Then, select the tag names you would like to log into the historical measurement database. These tags can include Compact FieldPoint channels, as well as third-party devices such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) or other industrial devices. Finally, navigate to Tools » Datalogging & Supervisory Control » Monitor Tags. View the LabVIEW DSC – Datalogging to Historical Database webcast.
How do I create a remote panel user interface for my embedded LabVIEW application?
Once the real-time application is running, you can view or control it with any authorized computer on the network from a Web browser using remote panels. You can create a remote panel user interface for your LabVIEW application with just a few configuration steps. For more details, read How Can I View Remote LabVIEW Real-Time Front Panels in a Web Browser?
Can I interface Compact FieldPoint to a supervisory host computer or SCADA software package?
Yes, Compact FieldPoint automatically publishes its I/O data to an OPC server located on the host computer that is used to configure the I/O bank. Most SCADA software packages for Windows support OPC, and most vendors of industrial I/O hardware provide OPC servers for their hardware. This makes it easy to integrate Compact FieldPoint with a wide variety of industrial I/O hardware such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and other industrial devices. You may use a third-party SCADA package or the LabVIEW DSC Module. The LabVIEW DSC Module provides built-in tools for data management, automatic data logging, alarm and event logging, real-time and historical trending, networking, and security. With these tools, you can quickly develop distributed monitoring applications.
Related Links:
Using the LabVIEW Shared Variable
What are the benefits of developing my industrial control or measurement application using LabVIEW?
With LabVIEW, you can run your application on a host computer networked to Compact FieldPoint hardware or, with a few mouse clicks, you can download and embed the application onto the real-time industrial processor. Whether executed on the host computer or embedded to a cFP-2xxx controller, LabVIEW features powerful functionality and provides a highly-integrated environment for analog control system development, signal processing, embedded data logging, and many other applications. LabVIEW is a complete programming language that is highly customizable and easily tailored to your application needs. LabVIEW provides ease of use from top to bottom, which allows you to focus on your goals and objectives rather than the intricacies of a difficult programming language. Development in LabVIEW allows you to simultaneously create the user interface and block diagram application code. LabVIEW provides a single software environment for embedded real-time control (LabVIEW Real-Time), networked PC-based control (LabVIEW for Windows), as well as SCADA (LabVIEW DSC). The NI Developer Suite includes all of these capabilities.
The LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module and real-time point-by-point analysis palettes in LabVIEW are modular building blocks that you can use to implement your control system with unlimited flexibility. In addition, both palettes are open-source LabVIEW code that you can completely modify or view. Customers such as Shell have found that this built-in power and flexibility are critical to the success of projects requiring custom control algorithms.
What installation, mounting, and cabling options do I have with Compact FieldPoint?
Compact FieldPoint provides a variety of installation and mounting options, including DIN-rail wall mounting, panel mounting, and 19-in. rack mounting. In addition, National Instruments offers enclosures rated by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). For details, refer to the online Products and Services offering. By using industry-standard 37-pin D-Sub signal connectors, Compact FieldPoint offers a wide variety of connectivity options. The first option is to use a connector block that is installed directly into the Compact FieldPoint bank:
- NI cFP-CB-1 (general purpose with strain relief)
- NI cFP-CB-2 (general purpose with front accessibility)
- NI cFP-CB-3 (isothermal for thermocouples with strain relief)
- NI cFP-CB-4 (probeable with front accessibility)
Figure 2. cFP-CB-1/2/3/4 integrated connector blocks.
The second option is to use an external connector block that cables to the Compact FieldPoint bank, which you can install up to 2 m away on a DIN rail. In this configuration, you can use the SH-37M-37F, a 37pin male-to-female cable in 1 or 2 m lengths. National Instruments offers both horizontal (CB-37FH) and vertical (CB-37FV) external DIN-rail mounting connector blocks.
The third option is to purchase another 37-pin connector block from a third-party vendor, or to make a custom cable that connects directly to the external device, sensor, or actuator. You may create your own custom cable to connect Compact FieldPoint I/O modules to external devices, sensors, and actuators. The user manual for each I/O module includes a table that lists the pin assignments for each I/O signal. National Instruments also offers a 4 m cable with a 37-pin connector at one end and color-coded, pig-tail wires at the other. For details, consult the Compact FieldPoint Accessories Operating Instructions manual.
Does the RS485 port on the NI cFP-2x20 controllers support 2-wire or 4-wire mode?
The RS485 port on the cFP-2x20 controllers support 4-wire mode only and do not support 2-wire mode.
Is the removable Compact Flash on the cFP-2x20 hot-swappable?
No. You must restart the controller after changing the removable Flash on the cFP-2220, cFP-2120, and cFP-2020 controllers.
Can I add Compact FieldPoint to an industrial automation system that contains PLCs?
Yes, Compact FieldPoint makes it easy to add powerful control, measurement, data logging, and signal processing capabilities to systems containing PLCs. The LabVIEW DSC Module includes OPC servers for more than 100 industrial device types, making it easy to create a hybrid system containing many different devices and communication protocols.
Related Links:
Connect LabVIEW to Any Industrial Network and PLC
Reader Comments | Submit a comment »
Legal
This tutorial (this "tutorial") was developed by National Instruments ("NI"). Although technical support of this tutorial may be made available by National Instruments, the content in this tutorial may not be completely tested and verified, and NI does not guarantee its quality in any way or that NI will continue to support this content with each new revision of related products and drivers. THIS TUTORIAL IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN NI.COM'S TERMS OF USE (http://ni.com/legal/termsofuse/unitedstates/us/).