Skip to main content

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 – OPC UA Server Configuration

This guide describes the configuration of an OPC UA Server on a Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 system (firmware version 4042) for integration with IDIAL.

The configuration covers creating a new TwinCAT project, license management, CPU configuration, adding a PLC, and fully configuring the OPC UA Server using the TwinCAT OPC UA Configurator.

Prerequisites – the following software must be installed:

  • TwinCAT 3 (TcXaeShell)
  • TF6100 OPC UA Configurator
  • TF6100 OPC UA Server

1. Create a Project​

Open TcXaeShell. On the start page under New Project, click New TwinCAT Project....

TcXaeShell start page – select New TwinCAT Project

In the New Project dialog, select TwinCAT XAE Project (XML Format) under TwinCAT Projects, enter a project name, and confirm with OK.

New Project – select TwinCAT XAE Project and enter name

2. Configure License and CPU​

2.1 Activate the License​

In the Solution Explorer, expand the SYSTEM node and click License to open the license management view.

Project tree – open License

Switch to the Order Information (Runtime) tab. Click Activate 7 Day Trial License... to generate a trial license for TC1000 TC3 ADS.

License management – activate 7-day trial license

A dialog will appear prompting you to enter a security code (captcha). Enter the displayed code and confirm with OK.

Captcha dialog – enter security code

Switch to the License Management tab. Check the checkbox in the Add License column for the entry TF6100 – TC3 OPC-UA, then click Activate 7 Day Trial License... again to generate a trial license for this module as well.

License Management – activate TF6100 TC3 OPC-UA

After activation, both licenses (TC1000 and TF6100) will appear in the list with the status expires on....

Licenses active – TC1000 and TF6100 confirmed

2.2 Real-Time / CPU Configuration​

In the project tree, expand SYSTEM and open Real-Time. Click Read from Target to detect the available CPU cores. Set the desired number of Isolated cores and apply the setting with Set on Target.

note

The configuration shown in the screenshot (1 isolated core) was chosen for the demo system used in this guide. The optimal number of isolated cores depends on the hardware and the requirements of the specific application and may vary from system to system.

caution

Save the project before selecting "Set on Target". This operation may trigger a reboot of the local system.

Real-time configuration – read CPU cores and assign isolated core

3. Set Up the PLC​

In the Solution Explorer, right-click PLC and select Add New Item....

PLC – Add New Item

In the dialog, select Standard PLC Project. The project will be created — this may take a few minutes.

Enable the TMC File​

Select the newly created PLC project in the project tree and open the Settings tab. Ensure that the TMC File option is checked under Target System Files.

The TMC file contains the symbol and type information of the PLC project and is required for communication interfaces such as ADS, OPC UA, and HMI.

info

This option must be enabled so that the OPC UA Server can correctly access the PLC symbols.

PLC Settings – enable TMC File

4. Add a Connectivity Project​

To make an OPC UA Server available, a TwinCAT Connectivity Project must be added to the solution.

Right-click the solution (top-level node in the Solution Explorer) and select Add → New Project....

Solution – Add → New Project

In the dialog, select Empty TwinCAT Connectivity Project under TwinCAT Connectivity, enter a name, and confirm with OK.

New Project – create TwinCAT Connectivity Project

4.1 Add an OPC UA Server​

Right-click the newly created Connectivity Project in the Solution Explorer and select Add New Item.... Choose TwinCAT OPC UA Server Project and confirm.

4.2 Add the PLC to the OPC UA Server​

The PLC project can now be added to the OPC UA Server. The ADS port and the AMS NetID are required for this.

Determine the ADS port

The ADS port can be found in the project properties of the PLC project under the OPC UA Server. Click the PLC project under DataAccess in the project tree. The port is shown in the properties panel under Port (default: 851).

Read ADS port of the PLC project

Determine the AMS NetID

The AMS NetID can be read from the Windows system tray. Right-click the blue TwinCAT icon in the taskbar and select Router → Change AMS NetID.

Windows system tray – open Router menu for AMS NetID

The AMS Router dialog shows the AMS Net ID of the local system. Note this value.

AMS Router dialog – read AMS Net ID

Add the PLC project

Right-click DataAccess (under the TwinCAT OPC UA Server project) in the Solution Explorer and select Add Device Type. In the Create Device Type dialog, enter the ADS Port and AMS Net ID and click Create.

Create Device Type – enter ADS port and AMS Net ID

The PLC will then appear as a device under DataAccess in the OPC UA Server project.

5. Configure the OPC UA Server​

5.1 Configure the Endpoint​

Open the TwinCAT OPC UA Configurator. Click Edit and enter the Server URL (for local execution: opc.tcp://localhost:4840). Select Get Endpoints and add the desired endpoint using Add.

TwinCAT OPC UA Configurator – add endpoint

Close the window and click Connect. Since the server has not been initialized yet, a Server initialization dialog will appear. Enter a username and password for the OPC UA user account. If the user does not exist on the system, it will be created automatically.

Server Initialization – configure OPC UA user

5.2 Write the Configuration to the PLC​

Right-click DataAccess in the Solution Explorer and select Write Configuration to Target. The OPC UA Server will restart and the configuration will become active.

DataAccess – Write Configuration to Target

6. Verify the Connection​

After the OPC UA Server restarts, the connection can be verified using an OPC UA client such as UaExpert or ListNet Automation. Connect to the configured endpoint and confirm that the PLC symbols are visible in the address space.

Connection verification with OPC UA client