ControlPanel

The ControlPanel simulation component is designed to manage a collection of control elements, such as buttons, switches, or analogue controls, each of which can have associated outputs. The ControlPanel facilitates the dynamic addition, removal, and modification of these control elements Notably, some control elements, such as push buttons and switches, can also have light indicators which can be set from external.

When to use

Use the ControlPanel simulation component when you need to manage a set of interactive controls that generate outputs, such as in a simulated control system or user interface. This component is ideal for scenarios where you need to dynamically adjust controls during simulation or provide visual feedback through indicator lights associated with specific controls. The component is also often used to simulate the control panel of a machine.

How to use

Add this simulation component from the simulation component library. A tab is created in the left-hand area of the user interface.

Adding control elements

To add a control press the button of the same name. A window opens. The desired type can now be selected in the drop-down menu.

Integer Control

A control element that outputs an integer value. A name and a description can be specified. The limits of the control can also be set.

Real Control

A control element that outputs a real (floating point) value. A name and a description can be specified. The limits of the control can also be set.

Push-Button Control

A control element that outputs a boolean value that is only active (high) while the button is being pressed. It is commonly used for actions that should only occur while the button is held down, such as a trigger or a reset function.

The control can consist of several instances. Each instance has its own name and description. You can also determine whether a light indicator should be used.

An additional input is then created. If this input changes to true, the indicator lights up with the defined color.

On-Off Switch Control

A toggle control element that alternates between an on (high) and off (low) state with each press. This is typically used for controls that maintain their state, like power switches or mode selectors.

The control can consist of several instances. Each instance has its own name and description. You can also determine whether a light indicator should be used.

An additional input is then created. If this input changes to true, the indicator lights up with the defined color.

Editing control elements

To change an existing control element, press the edit button on the right-hand side of the control element. The same window opens as when the control element was added, so all settings including the type of the control element can be changed afterwards.

When the type is changed, the description and the configured outputs of the control element are kept. The name is kept as well, as long as you have named the control element yourself. A control element which still has the default name of its previous type is renamed to the default name of its new type, so that a control element which was called Integer is called Push Button after it has been changed into a push button.

The outputs only have to be recreated if the value type of the outputs changes, for example when an integer control is changed into a push button. Inputs which are connected to these outputs are connected again automatically, but their values are converted to the new value type from now on. The current values of the control element are reset in this case.

Changing between a push button and an on-off switch does not touch the outputs at all, because both provide boolean outputs.

A push button and an on-off switch can consist of several instances, while an integer or real control always has a single output. When such a control element with several instances is changed into an integer or real control, only its first output is kept.

Parameters

Name

Indicates the name of the simulation component instance. The tab which has been created also has this name.

Example

In this example, the ControlPanel simulation component is used to simulate the control panel of the machine to start, stop, request access or quit the machine.

Some controls were created whose outputs were connected directly to the corresponding PLC. The stop output is a closed contact, which is why it is connected to the controller in inverted form.

The Start, Stop and Access buttons have activated indicator lights that are switched by the PLC.

Further Information

For more details visit the Video Guides section, where you can find a video guide demonstrating this topic under Push-off and stopper cylinders.