The new version of ABB's tool provides an integrated development environment for solutions using the full range of automation components (including PLCs and safety PLCs, motion controllers, drives, robots, and HMIs). Automation Builder 1.1 reduces development complexity, time to market, and licensing costs.
Among its many new features, the latest version of ABB's software expands data exchange capabilities with electrical planning and engineering software, thanks to a new bidirectional interface with the widely used EPLAN Electric P8. Electrical automation and PLC design data can be imported, modified, and transferred back to the electrical CAD environment, eliminating the need for manual data entry and thus ensuring synchronized signal identification between the two software environments.
The new release includes a comparison feature that allows engineers to visualize what might have changed since they last checked the project, and the ability to use profiles from previous versions of the development tool for compatibility.
Automation Builder 1.1 includes the ability to program the new high-performance PM595 CPU, as well as the ACS880 frequency converters and the DCT 880 thyristor power controller; it also allows the development of motion control systems with ABB's new MotiFlex e180 servo converters or the ACS580 general-purpose frequency converters, which increase the efficiency of many applications.
Another important addition in Automation Builder 1.1 is the introduction of an easy-to-use download and licensing system. ABB offers three licensing options: a free basic version for new users and engineers working on small-scale automation, motion, and drive projects; a standard version that supports integrated engineering of advanced and complex systems, including the use of safety PLCs; and a premium version. The premium version incorporates C/C+ programming tools, E-CAD interfaces, and other high-level features to optimize production, facilitate collaboration, and simplify the management of engineering data in large-scale projects involving thousands of I/O points.
With Automation Builder 1.1, users can also automatically update software tools to the latest versions with "one click," so that a single license updates all included software packages.
ABB has also incorporated many usability improvements to further enhance user productivity. These improvements include simplified drop-down menus, drag-and-drop functionality in the object tree, an improved device library with search and filter functions, a powerful list editor for PLC I/O mapping, and a new help system, among many others.
Savings thanks to the Automation Builder 1.1 software tool. Software development is the most expensive element in the vast majority of automation projects. By providing a unified development environment for the full scope of automation projects, ABB helps application experts and hardware and software engineers focus their time and energy solely on application development, without wasting time on the numerous interface issues that can arise when creating solutions with multiple and different types of automation devices. ABB estimates that the Automation Builder environment can reduce development engineering efforts by 30% in projects of medium complexity and provide even greater savings in large-scale projects. This is particularly true for projects with multiple and different types of automation components (PLCs, converters, HMIs, remote I/O, etc.) to which you can connect directly online to view and modify specific configuration values for efficient commissioning.
Automation Builder provides powerful PLC development resources in the form of a development environment compliant with IEC 61131-3 standards and ABB's Panel Builder tool for HMI creation. The software also includes tools for configuring and programming ABB's latest generation of safety PLCs, the AC500-S family; RobotStudio for simulating and programming ABB robotic applications; and Mint WorkBench with its pre-built and tested libraries for programming ABB servo converters.
