Turbocraft debuts PID support for Opto 22 software

-- Control Engineering, 8/15/2002

Tukwila, WA - To allow easier control programming, Turbocraft Inc. released Aug. 13 two proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control products for Opto 22's (Temecula, CA) FactoryFloor and ioControl software suites. PID involves calculations for controlling temperature, pressure, flow regulation and other applications, as well as process control and industrial automation. Turbocraft is an engineering services company specializing in factory automation and machine design.

Turbocraft reports that its PID_Control installer implements a complete, ready-to-use FactoryFloor project for PID control. PID_Control installer provides an OptoControl strategy with an OptoDisplay operator interface, as well as a subroutine named PID_loop_SG, which is the basis for a fully functioning control strategy that includes trending. Users need only configure their controllers and change the input and output scales within OptoDisplay, and the strategy is ready to be downloaded to the controller and launched. Also, for users of ioControl, Turbocraft is offering a new PID_Control_IO installer that provides a ready-to-use ioControl strategy with trending in an ioDisplay interface.

By providing an easier method for creating PID control loops, Turbocraft adds that its new solutions promise greater programming versatility and significant reductions in control program development time.

FactoryFloor 4.0 is the newest version of Opto 22's software suite for process control and industrial automation, and is designed for use with Opto 22's industrial controllers, including its M4 series. FactoryFloor's users can develop control programs, design human-machine interfaces, expand manufacturing system connectivity, and complete control automation projects more efficiently.

ioControl is a flowchart-based control programming software suite used with Opto 22's Snap Ultimate I/O, which combines I/O, control, networking and enterprise connectivity in one package. Based on FactoryFloor software, ioControl lets users develop control and data acquisition applications that execute at an I/O system level. Control engineers can program with a self-documenting, plain-English command set, or use an advanced scripting tool for complex functions, such as math, control loops and string handling.

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com