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TwinCAT Analytics

TwinCAT Analytics is a tool for data analysis from one local or from many distributed machines. The TwinCAT Analytics product family represents the entire workflow of such an analysis and includes a wide variety of algorithms for the analysis of live data as well as historical data. The data that is processed into valuable information and forms the basis for decision-making with the help of TwinCAT Analytics represents the "raw material" for this workflow.

Our data value chain – process steps in TwinCAT Analytics

In the following sections, we will take you along the path of data – from the collection of raw data to possible measures and optimizations – of course completely based on TwinCAT Analytics.

High-precision measurement data acquisition with EtherCAT directly at the machine
High-precision measurement data acquisition with EtherCAT directly at the machine

Step 1: Raw data acquisition

Where does the data actually come from?

The quality of an analysis correlates with the quality of the data ("garbage in – garbage out"). Therefore, raw data collection represents the starting point of the data value creation process. For successful analysis, it is relevant to recognize which data is needed for which purpose and how fast changes have to be recorded (sampling rate). TwinCAT Analytics offers different options for the continuous acquisition of the process image. With the help of high sampling rates, large amounts of data can be acquired in real time – for high data quality as the basis for successful analysis and model building. The use of the TwinCAT 3 Analytics Logger is particularly effective, but other well-known and proven technologies and products, such as the TwinCAT 3 Scope View or the TwinCAT 3 Database Server, can also be used.

Data processing cycle with live data stream, offline data storage and data export to other data formats
Data processing cycle with live data stream, offline data storage and data export to other data formats

Step 2: Data storage and communication

How does the data get from the collection location into my analysis?
Where is the data stored and what are the access options?

Following data collection or directly during the collection of data, it must be transferred or stored. Our products offer you a wide range of possibilities. Live data can be transmitted directly via ADS or MQTT for live analysis. If the data was initially historicized on the local target system or in the network with the TwinCAT 3 Analytics Storage Provider, analytics files can be transferred to another system and archived at a later time. Import to databases or export to other file formats are also possible.

Data viewing using temporal signal waveforms, metadata, and key-value calculations
Data viewing using temporal signal waveforms, metadata, and key-value calculations

Step 3: Data preparation and exploratory (pre-)analysis

How is the data processed and made available for the analyses?
How is a problem-specific analysis designed?

In many cases, the path to a successful analysis leads first through data pre-processing and exploratory pre-analysis of the data. This is because it is not always clear from the outset which data streams need to be processed using which algorithms in order to arrive at a meaningful analysis chain that delivers the desired results and recommendations for action. Therefore, relevant data streams and, if necessary, time periods and events must first be identified. The Data Scout, which is integrated in the TwinCAT 3 Analytics Workbench and in the TwinCAT 3 Analytics Service Tool, can help you with this. This provides a quick overview of individual data collections and also allows data from different data collections to be cut and linked to form a new data stream. Once the appropriate data has been selected, suitable algorithms and links must also be found. For this purpose, the TwinCAT 3 Analytics Workbench with the integrated configurator offers the best possibilities. You can easily drag and drop the various algorithms from the toolbox into the configurator, link them with your data and other algorithms, and parameterize them according to your ideas. If you need user-specific algorithms, it is also possible to extend the existing algorithms with the new Analytics Lambda functions, which can be implemented with the help of a wizard.

Processing workflow from signal acquisition to engineering with runtime deployment and feedback into the machining process
Processing workflow from signal acquisition to engineering with runtime deployment and feedback into the machining process

Step 4: 24/7 data collection, analysis and integration into operations

In which way can the created analysis be used permanently and continuously?

Following the identification of relevant data, you can select it for continuous data collection. For this purpose, the TwinCAT Analytics Logger can be configured again; it writes the selected data streams during the runtime of the control and thus enables continuous data acquisition. Automatic code generation allows you to generate PLC code from the problem-specific analysis chain previously created in the Workbench. This can then also be permanently integrated into the operation and perform the desired analysis of the recorded data 24/7. This makes it possible to detect possible error cases promptly and with foresight, and to uncover correlations as well as optimization potential even over long periods of time.

User group-specific presentation of analysis results via web dashboards and reports
User group-specific presentation of analysis results via web dashboards and reports

Step 5: Visualization of the analysis results

How can the analysis results be clearly presented?

The next logical step with regard to a permanent integration of the analysis into the operation is to continuously visualize the machine condition as well as the analysis results. The One-Click Dashboard makes this a very short step and a particularly easy one for you as a user to implement. You can make configuration settings for the later dashboard even during the design of the analysis in the workbench. The dashboard is then automatically generated and can be flexibly customized. This gives you an interpretable visualization of your data and analysis results integrated into the TwinCAT HMI, which is also an intuitive user interface.

Insights from data analysis can influence the entire production process
Insights from data analysis can influence the entire production process

Step 6: Measures and optimizations

How can measures be derived and optimization potential be exploited?

Continuous analyses can be used to derive ongoing measures that shorten machine downtimes and extend the service life of machines and systems, as well as increasing product quality. In addition, optimization potential, e.g. for optimizing processes or machines, can be derived from the "on demand" analyses in the TwinCAT 3 Analytics Workbench or the TwinCAT 3 Analytics Service Tool and integrated into production. When actions and consequences are derived at the variable level, they can also be written directly back to the control, closing the analysis-action loop.

Our TwinCAT Analytics products in the data workflow

Product Manager Pascal Dresselhaus presents the TwinCAT Analytics product family.
Product Manager Pascal Dresselhaus presents the TwinCAT Analytics product family.

Learn in the following video how TwinCAT Analytics products cover all the individual process steps of data value creation. All the above steps, from raw data acquisition, data storage, data preparation, 24/7 data recording, to visualization and optimization at variable level, are implemented by TwinCAT Analytics software components. And all this without much engineering effort or sophisticated PLC code programming. Most application scenarios can be mapped by already implemented algorithms and supporting wizards.

Benefit from the simplicity of the technological implementation of data analysis with TwinCAT Analytics and use your data profitably with the development of new business models for your company which is made possible as a result.

TwinCAT Analytics video tutorials

Learn more about the interaction between TwinCAT Analytics editors and TwinCAT Scope View.
Learn more about the interaction between TwinCAT Analytics editors and TwinCAT Scope View.

You will find useful instructions and tips on how to work with selected TwinCAT Analytics software functions in these short technical videos.

Products

TE1300 | TwinCAT 3 Scope View Professional

TE1300 | TwinCAT 3 Scope View Professional

The TwinCAT 3 Scope View is a software oscilloscope for the graphic representation of signal curves in different chart types. These could be, for example, YT, XY, bar or digital charts. The Scope View Professional extends the Scope View Base version supplied with TwinCAT 3 XAE by additional functionalities. The field of application refers to processes that are to be tracked and monitored over a longer period of time.

TE3500 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Workbench

TE3500 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Workbench

The TwinCAT 3 Analytics Workbench is a TwinCAT 3 engineering product for the creation of continual data analyses from various spatially distributed machine controllers. The configuration of the workbench is integrated in Microsoft Visual Studio® and serves as the graphic user interface. Many algorithms are available in a toolbox for the configuration of the analysis:

TE3520 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Service Tool

TE3520 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Service Tool

The TwinCAT 3 Analytics Service Tool is used for commissioning the machine and for service engineers. Live and historical data can be retrieved for an analysis via the IoT connection. The analysis is configured in Microsoft Visual Studio® where the user has access to a toolbox of algorithms for implementing the relevant life time, cycle time, envelope or component counter analysis. The outputs of the algorithms can be used as inputs for other algorithms or can be output as a result directly in the graphical editor. Signal paths can be visualized with ease by means of parallel recording with the TwinCAT Scope. Analysis results can be dragged by the user from the analytics configurator and dropped in the charting tool so as to mark the significant positions in the data stream. The interaction between the product components offers advantages in particular for diagnosing machine behavior and can highlight optimization potential. The user’s location is immaterial owing to the IoT technologies used, which means that service technicians can perform system and machine diagnostics from practically any location.

TF3500 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Logger

TF3500 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Logger

The TwinCAT 3 Analytics Logger ensures the cycle-synchronous acquisition of process and application data from the machine controller. The logger is characterized by high performance because it works directly in the real-time context of the TwinCAT controller. The data acquired is optionally transmitted to a message broker via the IoT communication protocol MQTT or stored locally in a file on the hard drive of the machine control and recorded with ring buffer functionality. The configuration necessary for this is done in Microsoft Visual Studio® within the TwinCAT project. All variables of the process image and the PLC application can easily be added to the configuration via checkbox without any programming effort.

TF3510 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Library

TF3510 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Library

The TwinCAT 3 Analytics Library is a PLC library with analysis functions for process and application data. It can be used locally on the machine controller or on a remote analysis system with an IoT communication connection. In both use cases, a great deal of engineering time can be saved with the automatic PLC code generation by the TE3500 TwinCAT 3 Analytics Workbench. For local use, only the mapping takes place manually; in the IoT workflow, even the mapping is omitted and is carried out automatically.

TF3520 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Storage Provider

TF3520 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Storage Provider

The TwinCAT 3 Analytics Storage Provider is an MQTT client and provides an interface between one or more MQTT message brokers and the relevant data storage units. Various controllers can send data via MQTT, which the storage provider can then store centrally. This can be cyclic raw data or pre-processed data. Historized data is also imported via the storage provider. The storage provider can thus output the data in Engineering for the service technician or in an analytics dashboard in the interactive chart for the production manager.

TF3550 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Runtime

TF3550 | TwinCAT 3 Analytics Runtime

The TwinCAT 3 Analytics Runtime is the runtime “container” for the Analytics application, which was configured and developed in the TE3500 TwinCAT 3 Analytics Workbench. The runtime can be installed locally, on remote hardware or in a virtual machine. It also contains the TF2000 TwinCAT 3 HMI Server, which hosts the analytics dashboard. In summary, the TwinCAT 3 Analytics Runtime represents a bundle of different licenses. It contains a PLC runtime, the Analytics PLC library, the IoT connection with MQTT and HTTPS/Rest, the Storage Provider connection, the TwinCAT 3 HMI Server and a corresponding client package, so that several users can view the designed Analytics Dashboard simultaneously.

TF35xx | New features

TF35xx | New features

The TwinCAT 3 Analytics functions have been enhanced.