Rstune

RSTune
Technical Data

RS

Tune® analyzes and tunes PID control loops in many of Allen-Bradley’s controllers. Optimizing your process and

reducing process variability with RSTune improves efficiency, increases productivity, reduces waste, and improves safety — quickly and effectively. Using RSTune, you can analyze, simulate, document, and download optimal tuning parameters, all from anintuitive software environment. RSTune supports these Rockwell controllers: MicroLogix™, PLC-5®, SLC™ 500, FlexLogix™, CompactLogix™, and ControlLogix®.

Features
• Simple setup • Normalized data: Easily compare statistics between loops using the normalized option — all values are normalized between 0% and 100% • Versatility: RSTune can be used for both a “quick and dirty” fix and for complexanalysis • Toolbars on the time plot: Make zooming, editing, averaging, or filtering your real-time data a snap • RSLogix 5000 PID function block interface • Archiving: Manual archiving of multiple sets of data allows simple before-and-after analysis • Pre-download setting analysis: Allows you to see the performance of your loops before actually downloading them to the controller • Data optimization:Data can be zoomed, filtered, averaged, and line-edited • Control loop testing: RSTune includes powerful analysis plots that provide critical performance information on your loops • Tuning reports: Tuning reports include data, notes, and graphics • Supports RSLinx® Gateway™ remote connection to a PID loop • OPC support: RSTune is an OPC client

Automatic Tuning
Using RSTune at even thesimplest level will help you improve process efficiency. To help you achieve quick results, RSTune includes the AutoTune sequence. Your answers to the AutoTune questions and the data it automatically gathers from your controller allow RSTune to calculate new PID tuning parameters for your control loop automatically. The AutoTune sequence reduces the amount of time required to tune a loop and minimizesproduct waste and rework. This feature also helps ensure that you have optimal data when calculating new tuning parameters.

AutoTune will gather data in either Automatic or Manual mode. Data collection in Manual mode allows you to collect data for loops that may require special control techniques. You can also change the setpoint or the controller output during AutoTune to meet the needs of yourapplication.

from only one “bump” or pulse (such as a setpoint change) in Automatic or Manual mode. Depending on your application and the types of changes to which the system might need to respond, there are two types of tuning that RSTune can provide: Load tuning: This is appropriate for most systems. It provides the best response to load upsets; however, it can cause overshoot. Setpoint(Lambda) tuning: If your system cannot tolerate overshoot, RSTune can provide setpoint tuning. With this type of tuning, RSTune matches the setpoint response to a first-order time constant (lag time) that you enter. You can check the results of load tuning or setpoint tuning from the RSTune software simulation tool. This shows you the performance of the loop with either type of tuning. After youselect load tuning or setpoint tuning, using the advanced

Easy Communications Setup
RSTune connects seamlessly to your control loops through RSLinx® for all supported processors. In RSLinx, you need to have an RSLinx DDE/OPC topic defined for each processor with which RSTune will communicate. To do this in RSTune, you will: 1. Define a new loop. 2. Choose the type of processor. 3. Browse to theloop configuration that you want to tune. 4. Tune your loop!

analysis methods, you can also test various settings prior to downloading them to the controller.

Observe and Document Process Dependencies
RSTune displays control loop parameters in faceplates that display the process variable, controller output, and setpoint. You can display multiple faceplates to see the effects of one control...