PID Control Loops

[JMK]

Hi All - Is there any specific software that you use to test and/or tune PID loops? I'm looking for some recomendations. Thanks in advance!

[Guest]

have you looked at RSTune? ... this link gives a brief overview ...

[JMK]

Ron - I haven't looked into RSTune, But I did stumble across ExperTune. Do you, or anyone else, have any experience with ExperTune? The reason that I ask is - I currently have several systems that rely on control loops. These systems are new to me since I am new to the plant... Anyway, I have two loops that are unstable. One is controled through CLogix. The other is controled through a third party "Black Box" SCADA controller. The analog out from the black box gives an SLC a speed reference, which is scaled, and then fed to a VFD (pump application). I don't know who has done what. I'd like to try and run simulations...

[andybr]

I regularly use Expertune and find it invaluable. RSTune is actually a badged version of Expertune tailored to suit Rockwell controllers. I prefer to use the Expertune ASCII driver which allows me to analyse logged data from any type of controller rather than using the software as an "Auto" tuner. Expertune is fairly expensive but pays for itself in saved time very quickly if you have a lot of slow acting process loops. Andybr

[JMK]

Andybr - Thanks for the tip... I have contacted ExperTune with an RFQ.

[Mickey]

Make sure your sitting down before looking at quote.$$$$

[JMK]

OUCH!!!!!!!

[Peter Nachtwey]

I have shown how you can do all of this yourself on plcs.net advanced control threads. It would take a little effort to learn all the techniques so what do you want to do? Waste time using trial and error. Spend money on RSTune? Spend time learning how to tune properly yourself. It is all a time and money trade off. The price is not that much considering what it takes to write software that does auto tuning.