This application note from National Instruments explains how to connect PLCs and third‑party devices to LabVIEW using OPC and other integration methods.
The document outlines ten key reasons for adding LabVIEW to a PLC, including high‑speed sensor measurement, vibration monitoring, data logging, statistical process analysis, data sharing, GUI development, alarm handling, database connectivity, advanced algorithms, and FPGA‑based control. It emphasizes how LabVIEW’s graphical programming environment can enhance productivity, reduce downtime, and improve data insight in industrial automation.
It also provides detailed guidance on using OPC for communication with a wide range of third‑party devices. Specific OPC server families (Siemens, TI, Simatic, SIXNET, SquareD, Yokogawa, etc.) and the devices they support are listed, along with notes on Modbus integration, Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, and other industrial network protocols. This manual is written in Chinese.