Axosimple application template

This application template provides the starting point for application developers within MTS. It covers the most common scenarios to help scaffold the application in a fast way.

IMPORTANT!!! When you create the project from Visual Studio, you will need to run install.ps1 manually to finish creating the project.

Preparing your target PLC

Using TIA portal

How to setup the communication in TIA portal

https://console.simatic-ax.siemens.io/docs/sld/example

You will need to export the certificates into ax/certs/ folder of this directory named Communication.cer and Webserver.cer. For program loading and web server communication respectively.

IMPORTANT! This template points to these files with these exact names; please make sure you named the files as indicated.

your.project/ ├──ax │ └─ certs [Communication certificates] │ ├── Communication.cer [Program loading (sld)] This is the default certificate all types of communications with the controller. │ └── Webserver.cer (Optional)[WebAPI server application communication]

Using hwc

You can alternatively use hwc to prepare your target system (see here)[https://console.simatic-ax.siemens.io/docs/hw/hwc].

For a quick configuration of a target system using hwc you can run the following:

apax alf

Prior running the script you should check/modify the following. Set the variable HWCONFIG to HWC. The AX_USERNAME and AX_TARGET_PWD will be used to configure WebAPI communication interface. Consider providing password in opaque way e.g. using environment variables.

  HWCONFIG: "HWC"
  AXTARGET: 192.168.0.4
  AXTARGETPLATFORMINPUT: .\bin\1500\
  AX_USERNAME: "adm"
  AX_TARGET_PWD: "123ABCDabcd$#!"

This script is preconfigured for S71516 (6ES7 516-3AP03-0AB0) FW3.0, if you whish to use another target system you will need to modify ax\hwc\plc_line.hwl.json file to use appropriate template for your target system.

ATTENTION! apax alf will attempt to download the hardware configuration in the target system.

Template directory structure

your.project/
├── .config             [dotnet config]
├── .runtime            [contains kiosk client configuration]
├── .tests              [should contain tests of the application]
├── ax                  [SIMATIC-AX application]
│    ├ certs            [Communication certificates]  
│    ├ hwc              [Hardware configuration]  
│    ├ snippets         [Collection of snippets for this application template]  
│    ├ src              [Controller program sources]
│    ├ SystemConstants  [System constants for binding HW I/O to controller program]   
│    └ tests            [Unit test for this application]
├── axpansion/
│   ├── server          [Application server]
│   └── twin            [AX twin]
│ 
├── .gitignore    
│
├── README.md           [THIS README]
│
├── slngen.ps1          [Run to regenerate visual studio solution file]
├── mts_training_station_int000053.sln       [VS2022 solution file open to work with server, hmi, etc]
└── this.proj           [traversal project for this directory]

Setting up the connection

.NET

Go to Entry.cs to configure the comunication between your controller and .net twin connector.

Modify following members according to your environment

private static string TargetIp = "192.168.0.4"; // <- replace by your IP 
private const string UserName = "adm"; //<- replace by user name you have set up in your WebAPI settings
private const string Pass = @"123ABCDabcd$#!"; // <- Pass in the password that you have set up for the user. NOT AS PLAIN TEXT! Use user secrets instead.
private const bool IgnoreSslErrors = true; // <- When you have your certificates in order set this to false.

AX

Connection parameters

Download the project to the PLC

Navigate to your ax folder and run the script command:

PS [your_root_folder]\>apax push

To quickly run the hmi

PS [your_root_folder]\>dotnet run --project ..\mts_training_station_int000053.app\mts_training_station_int000053.server.csproj

info: Microsoft.Hosting.Lifetime[14]
      Now listening on: http://localhost:5262
info: Microsoft.Hosting.Lifetime[0]
      Application started. Press Ctrl+C to shut down.
info: Microsoft.Hosting.Lifetime[0]
      Hosting environment: Development
info: Microsoft.Hosting.Lifetime[0]
.
.      

To terminate the application press ctrl+c

Navigate to the address indicated in "Now listening on:".

NOTE! Your browser may redirect to https. In that case, temporarily disable the redirection. (Opening the page in incognito mode should not redirect.)

Modifying your HMI project

In Visual Studio (VS2022), open the solution file from the project folder mts_training_station_int000053.sln. You can then run the solution directly from Visual Studio.

NOTE: Security is set to a minimal level for a speedy start. Make sure you set the security appropriately.

Other useful scripts

Build both AX and AX# part of the project and DOWNLOADS the program to the target controller

apax push

Downloads current build into the controller.

apax download

Build the both SIMATIC-AX and AXOpen projects.

apax build

Running ixc

dotnet ixc

Resources

Documentation sources:

• docs in this folder
• [AXOpen]https://inxton.github.io/AXOpen/
• [AX#]https://inxton.github.io/axsharp/