She slammed her fist on the desk.
Transition from Step 20: Condition: (T#45s) AND NOT EStop_Pressed Supervisory Logic (Parallel Branch): IF EStop_Pressed THEN Jump to Step 99: EMERGENCY_RETRACT END_IF
She added a parallel to the main sequence:
"Fix it with a state machine," her manager said.
The transition to Step 0 required Acid_Level < 5% . But the drain valve closed after 2 seconds because the "DIP" step's action had been deactivated. She forgot: Actions in SFC only run while their step is active.
The SFC was in with a coil halfway submerged.
[Step 20: DIP] --(45s & no EStop)--> [Step 30: RINSE] | | (EStop_Pressed) v [Step 99: EMERGENCY_RETRACT] --(Acid_Level<5%)--> [Step 0: IDLE] Inside Step 99 's Action:
In CODESYS SFC, she right-clicked Step 20 and selected . She created an Action named Acid_Emergency . She set its qualifier to N (Non-Stored, executes while step is active) and S (Set/Stored for emergency).
Lena shook her head. "No. We need an SFC." She opened CODESYS and created a new POU (Program Organization Unit). She chose Sequential Function Chart (SFC) . No ladder. No structured text loops. Just pure, visual, time-tested sequence logic.
The SFC's showed:
Lena needed an .
Lena pointed at the HMI. "No. The SFC saved it. Look—step history."
She closed her laptop. "Time to add a heartbeat monitor to the agitator motor," she said. "And maybe buy Dave a coffee." | Concept | In the Story | | :--- | :--- | | Step | Step 20: DIP | | Transition | Condition between steps (e.g., T#45s ) | | Action Qualifier | N (Normal), S (Set), SD (Set Dominant) | | Jump | Jump to Step 99 from a transition | | Parallel Branch | E-Stop logic running alongside main sequence | | Step Entry/Exit Actions | Code that runs when step activates/deactivates | | Implicit Action | Acid_Emergency attached to Step 20 |
Crane_Up := TRUE; Acid_Drain_Valve := TRUE; // SD qualifier keeps this ON Emergency_Alerter := TRUE; Inside Step 0 's Entry Action:
The problem was chaos. Operators would skip steps, hit "EMERGENCY RESET" mid-dip, or manually open the drain while the coil was submerged. The old ladder logic was a 40-rung monster of interlocking seals that no one understood.