{"id":983,"date":"2020-10-21T16:51:25","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T16:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.axcontrol.com\/blog\/?p=983"},"modified":"2021-03-17T15:39:36","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T15:39:36","slug":"benefits-of-opc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.axcontrol.com\/blog\/2020\/benefits-of-opc\/21\/10\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of Open Platform Communications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

OPC, or Open Platform Communications, has been around in some form since 1996.\u00a0 It is based on OLE(Object Linking and Embedding), now known as ActiveX, as well as COM (component object model) and DCOM (distributed component object model) technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Component Object Model (COM) is part of The Microsoft .NET framework and provides the required software infrastructure for data sharing in Windows NT and similar operating systems. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OPC is the standard used in industrial automation and other process-control applications and is primarily a way to address the needs of computer-integrated manufacturing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Overview
Open Platform Communications (OPC) provide a common interface between diverse industrial devices. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

OPC is designed to provide a common communication interface for diverse industrial devices.  For example, ActiveX\/COM technologies allow controlling software components to share data and to interact with one another. This brings disparate process control devices together in a near standardized format.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Standard configuration is the primary purpose behind OPC, according to the OPC Foundation.\u00a0 If automation industry suppliers can use a common interface on all device drivers, devices will immediately work and communicate with each other without the need for complex configuration.\u00a0 Additionally, users will learn one set of tools rather than having to learn, remember, and alternate between dozens of custom toolkits.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why use OPC? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

OPC provides the opportunity to define and write a common interface that can be used and reused by various SCADA, software packages, or <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DCS design standards typically allocate master control to the DCS. That’s fine, until you integrate with another system like an HMI that is also designed for master control. What occurs then is a “too many coaches not enough players” situation where machines fight for control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

OPC functions as a mediator, teaching the fighting components to work together. Once shared data points are mapped, the OPC server should allow automatic updates to and from both systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of Open Platform Communications <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

OPC offers a number of benefits to the user.  This includes <\/p>\n\n\n\n