Introduction

With the continuous development of the industrial automation field, the secure transmission of data and the interconnectivity between devices have become increasingly important. OPCUA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) provides a reliable and secure data exchange solution as a cross-platform, service-oriented architecture.

This article recommends a Siemens PLC OPCUA client project developed based on WinForm, which offers a simple and effective way to connect and control Siemens PLC devices while ensuring security and reliability during communication.

Project Overview

The OPCUA client for Siemens PLC is an open-source project specifically designed for communication with Siemens PLCs using the OPCUA protocol. This project utilizes the security features of the OPCUA standard, such as user encryption and certificate options, making data transmission more secure, similar to the HTTPS communication mechanism of web servers.

Project Technology

• WinForm: Used for developing the graphical user interface.

• OPCUA: Provides secure communication between devices under a unified architecture.

• .NET Standard: Ensures cross-platform compatibility of the project.

Project Features

The OPCUA client can achieve the following core functionalities:

1. Secure Connection: Supports establishing a secure connection with Siemens PLC via the OPCUA protocol, including user authentication and certificate verification.

2. Real-time Monitoring: Reads variable values from the PLC in real-time and displays them on the interface for user monitoring.

3. Remote Control: Allows users to send commands to the PLC for remote adjustments of production processes or device statuses.

4. Logging: Automatically records operation logs for troubleshooting and audit tracking.

Project Characteristics

Security

Compared to the traditional S7 protocol, OPCUA adds user encryption and certificate management options, greatly enhancing communication security and protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access.

Usability

The interface developed using the WinForm framework is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy to get started, even for those new to OPCUA development.

High Scalability

The project is built on the official sample code provided by OPC Foundation, offering good scalability to easily add new functional modules based on specific requirements.

Project Setup

The setup for the Siemens PLC is shown in the following images. OPCUA adds user encryption and certificate options compared to the S7 protocol, with principles similar to HTTPS communication of web servers.

Code Reference (OPC Foundation official repository example)

https://github.com/OPCFoundation/UA-.NETStandard-Samples

Code Reference

https://github.com/comautomate/OPC-UA

Setup 1

Setup 2

Setup 3

Project Results

OPC Server

OPCUA Client

Project Source Code

Gitee: https://gitee.com/czdsa/siemens-plcs-oppua-client

Conclusion

The Siemens PLC OPCUA client project provides a practical and efficient tool for the industrial automation field. It not only achieves secure communication with PLC devices but also offers rich functionalities to meet various application scenario needs. For engineers and technical enthusiasts looking to delve deeper into the OPCUA protocol and its applications, this is an excellent learning resource.

The above only showcases part of the functionalities of the Siemens PLC OPCUA client development. For more practical features and detailed information, please visit the project source code.

I hope this article provides valuable references for .NET development in the industrial automation field. Thank you for reading this article, and feel free to leave comments to share your valuable experiences and suggestions.

Keywords: #SiemensPLC, #OPCUAClient, #WinForm, #SecureCommunication, #UserEncryption, #CertificateVerification, #RealTimeMonitoring, #RemoteControl, #Logging, #OPCFoundation, #CrossPlatformCompatibility, #IndustrialAutomation, #OpenSourceProject

FinallyIf you find this article helpful, please give it a thumbs up to support! Your support is my motivation to continue sharing knowledge. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a message. You can also join the WeChat public account[DotNet Technology Craftsman] community to exchange insights with other technology enthusiasts and grow together!

Author: Xiao Ma Bian Jiang

Source: gitee.com/smallcore/DotNetCoreDisclaimer: Online content is for learning purposes only, respecting copyright. Please delete if infringing, apologies and thanks!ENDFacilitating communication, resource sharing, and mutual growthPure technical exchange group, those who want to join please scan the code and note【Join Group】

Recommended Reading

C# Implementing Desktop Application Auto-Start

C# Implementing PID Controller Simulation and Visualization.NET Zero-Interface Voice Playback Service, Industrial-Grade Voice Broadcasting SolutionWPF Industrial General Management System Framework Based on HandyControl + SQLiteOut-of-the-Box WPF + HandyControl General Business Management System (Including Database).NET 9 + Avalonia UI Industrial Automation MES Desktop Data Collection Solution

Found it helpful? Feel free to share it to benefit more people

Follow “DotNet Technology Craftsman“, to enhance technical skills together

CollectLikeShareLooking