The latest update of the MasterTool IEC XE software is now available for download on the Altus website. The most recent version of the programming tool for the Nexto Series programmable controllers brings significant improvements and new features for configuring the company`s most advanced family of products. By updating the application, users will not only gain new programming possibilities but also have a new user experience for the tool.
Communication platform for Nexto and Nexto Xpress Series programmable drivers, MasterTool IEC XE is a complete tool for programming, debugging, configuration and simulation of applications. Technology-based CODESYS, the software has resources for all stages of the life cycle of micro to large projects. In its version 3.61, the programming tool, free for projects up to 320 points, brings important improvements in relation to the performance of communication drivers, usability of IEC 61131-3 editors, communication with devices, cybersecurity, among others.
See below the main improvements implemented in the software or click on the banner below to download version 3.61 of MasterTool IEC XE:
MasterTool update brings improvements and support for CODESYS V3.5 SP18
The new version of MasterTool IEC XE comes with native support for CODESYS V3.5 SP18, adding several customizations capable of further improving the user experience with the platform. The new update brings significant improvements in communication with devices and the usability of the IEC-61131-3 editors, which carry the LD, SFC, FBD, CFC and ST programming language packages. Furthermore, the process of opening and compiling software projects has been optimized for better performance.
In its version 3.61, MasterTool IEC XE also brings improvements to cybersecurity features embedded in the platform, the Webserver system editor and the Motion Control libraries for the PLC XP350. Furthermore, in conjunction with the release of new firmware for the CPUs, communication drivers for the protocols PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT and OPC UA have also been optimized to enable better performance. Another communication feature that also received important improvements was the driver MODBUS RTU, which has been adjusted to improve performance when communicating over a network with many devices.
The new software update also brings back a feature that was present in some previous versions of the software. When upgrading MasterTool IEC XE users will notice the return of the login from multiple stations to the same PLC. Another administrative feature present on the platform is the possibility of accessing the release notes with the main changes to the software within MasterTool itself, through the Help Menu.
Aligned with Altus' aspiration to be a international company, acting globally and delivering solutions with excellence, version 3.61 of MasterTool IEC XE also includes new language packs, such as Mandarin, German, French, Italian, among others. Finally, the latest software update still includes support for installing the CODESYS PDE (Professional Developer Edition), a suite of add-on tools developed and provided by CODESYS for project development. The update now allows the user to purchase the PDE package license directly from CODESYS and easily integrate it with their MasterTool IEC XE license.
These new features are available when your PLC firmware is updated. To find out which firmware version to install, contact our specialists Technical Support via phone 0800 510 9500 or email suporte@altus.com.br.
Learn more about the CODESYS platform
Short for “Controller Development System”, CODESYS is a comprehensive software platform designed for the development, programming and visualization of industrial control systems. It provides a unified and user-friendly environment for creating applications that operate on PLCs, such as the Nexto and Nexto Xpress series. The platform simplifies the process of programming and configuring automation devices, making it the preferred choice of many automation engineers and systems integrators.
CODESYS is a leading automation software based on IEC 61131-3 for development of control systems. With more than 2 million new licenses generated annually, CODESYS and systems based on CODESYS – software developed using its technological platform as a base – hold an important share in the global programming software market for programmable controllers. With powerful features and a solid user community, CODESYS platforms are leading industrial automation, offering innovative solutions and excellent support for control engineering.
Furthermore, the open source nature of CODESYS It is crucial in industrial automation due to its cost-benefit ratio, high customization, transparency and incentive to innovation. This feature also promotes vendor independence, ensuring the long-term viability of the software. As a result, CODESYS stands out as a affordable and flexible option for a wide variety of automation market demands, from small projects to large industrial systems. In this way, the platform not only drives innovation, but also promotes long-term sustainability, benefiting industries around the world.
Previous versions (3.52)
One of the features available from version 3.52 of MasterTool IEC XE is the possibility of using a Embedded VPN nos CLPs Nexto Xpress, which allows you to create a private connection tunnel directly with the PLC. This functionality allows you to access your business control network remotely and completely securely. To further increase product security, Xpress PLCs also have a firewall.
Another feature available on Xpress PLCs with the software update is support for FTP type connections, which enables the device to exchange data with a server that uses this technology model. This functionality allows data packages generated by the controller, such as logs collected through a datalogger function, to be accessed remotely.
Version 3.52 of the software also brought the possibility of using a USB/Ethernet converter in Xpress products, a major advance in relation to the use of the PLC Motion Control XP350. With it, the product has the ability to communicate via EtherCAT using the native Ethernet interface, while other actions, such as communicating with the MasterTool IEC XE programming software or connecting to a supervisory system via OPC UA or even a cloud application in MQTT is performed via the USB port, using the media converter.
Furthermore, version 3.52 of the software also brought support for new I/O expansions Nexto Xpress XP201, XP600 and XP610.
Previous versions (3.40)
In your version 3.40 the platform now supports some of the most recent products in the Nexto family and gains features to further improve the user experience. By downloading the installer from the Altus website and performing the updating your software, the user will enable a series of new features and functionalities in MasterTool IEC XE. Among these features is support for new NX3008 CPU, the most advanced processing unit in the Nexto Series of PLCs. Designed to be a global CPU Capable of interacting with the most varied devices and systems found on the market, the PLC is now available for communication and configuration through version 3.40 of the platform.
Another line of products that now appears natively in the software are input and output expansions from Nexto Xpress line. As of this update, the system now has the products XP101, a model with 16 digital inputs, and XP106, a model with 8 digital inputs and 6 digital relay outputs. The devices are available in the device repository as CANopen slaves.
In addition to the new products, MasterTool IEC XE v3.40 also brings new features regarding support for communication protocols. As of the latest firmware version available, all Nexto Xpress models, a family of compact and IoT-ready PLCs from Altus, now support EtherCAT Master. Widely used in machine applications, the protocol now appears as a communication option in the software for these PLCs.
To give more flexibilityto projects and allow greater scalabilityto applications that use Nexto Xpress products, the new MasterTool update now includes a function library able to expand the number of analog inputs. Available for integration with all PLCs in the line, with the exception of the XP300 model, LibIntegratedIoExt allows the user to enable the voltage and current analog input pins to operate simultaneously, expanding the PLC capacity to up to 10 analog inputs. Thus, the user can connect to the product 05 transducers (sensors) with current standards 0 to 20 or 4 to 20 mA and, in addition, 05 more instruments based on voltage from 0 to 10 Vdc.
Below, you will find a video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on how to configure the feature:
Another improvement present in the software update was the update of the LibNextoPID resource to support new standards and advanced control functions. Library that contains the PID function blocks of Nexto Series controllers, NextoPID uses a variable and a process setpoint from the functional block to calculate the manipulated variable for the controlled process, considering the factors Proportional, Integraland Derivativeprogrammed. This is a PID control algorithm where the proportional gain is the controller gain, applied to both the error and the integral and derivative portions of the controller.
Still talking about optimizations, another feature that underwent an important upgrade was the maximum size available for the Program Memoryof some of the Nexto Series PLCs: from 2MB to 3MB in the XP300, XP315 and XP325 PLCs; and from 6MB to 8MB on the XP340 and NX3005 CPU. With the improvement, the user is able to store programs with longer codes or software components larger. An example application is the communication driver PROFINET, which is considerably heavier than the configuration files of other protocols on the market.
In addition to these new and updated features, the team The R&D department responsible for developing the software also implemented other specific improvements to improve the user experience. You can see more details about these improvements in our revision history available on our website Download Center.
