1. VPN Pass-Through — Remote Access to Your Machine Network
Wecon HMI displays include a powerful VPN pass-through feature that virtually places your PC inside the remote machine’s local network — giving you full, direct access to any PLC or device on that network from anywhere in the world, as if you were standing next to it on the factory floor.
What you can do remotely:
- Download and upload PLC programs without travelling to site
- Monitor live PLC data and diagnose faults in real time
- Push updated HMI projects to remote devices over the internet
- Control and configure any PLC within the remote network directly from your engineering software
How it works:
Rather than simply viewing the HMI screen remotely, VPN tunnels your PC into the remote LAN itself. Your computer is assigned an IP address on that network, giving your engineering software direct access to every connected device — PLCs, drives, controllers — exactly as it would on a local connection.
Important notes:
- WVPN is accessed via the PC client software only — not available through the web browser interface
- The RE device, VPN pass-through IP, and target PLC must all be configured on the same network segment with no IP conflicts
- The RE device will automatically restart when the pass-through session is ended
Practical value: Reduce costly site visits, provide instant remote technical support, and maintain full control of your deployed machines from your office — making Wecon HMI displays an ideal choice for OEMs and system integrators managing equipment across multiple locations.
2. Email Alerts
Wecon HMI panels support automated email notifications directly from the HMI, allowing operators and engineers to receive alarms, data reports, and status updates without being physically present at the machine.
How it works:
- Configure an SMTP email account on the HMI (supports Gmail, Yahoo, and others)
- Emails can be triggered automatically on a timed schedule (minimum every 5 minutes) or triggered by a specific bit address change (rising edge, falling edge, or any state change)
- Email content can include plain text, live alarm messages, or real-time variable data read from the PLC
- Supports up to 1,024 individual email configurations
- Recipients can be organised into up to 16 groups, with To, CC, and BCC fields supported
- Attachments can include alarm log files for record-keeping
- Emails can also be sent manually during runtime by writing to a dedicated trigger address
Practical use cases: Machine fault alerts, daily production summaries, shift reports, and remote alarm notification.
3. USB Keyboard Support
A standard USB keyboard can be connected directly to the HMI for faster data entry and navigation — ideal for applications that require frequent text or numeric input.
- The on-screen cursor can be moved using the arrow keys, and objects selected with the Enter key
- Supports Caps Lock, NumLock, Shift key combinations, and special character input
- Up to 4 USB devices can be connected simultaneously via a USB hub (keyboard, mouse, barcode scanner, magnetic stripe reader, etc.)
- Custom key combinations (e.g. Ctrl+F1, Ctrl+F2) can be programmed via PI Studio scripts for machine-specific shortcuts
- Keyboard key values and states are accessible via system registers for use in automation logic
4. IP Camera Integration
Connect an IP camera to the HMI for real-time on-site visual monitoring — no separate monitoring PC required.
- Supports ONVIF protocol and H.264-encoded RTSP cameras
- Compatible with popular brands including Hikvision and Dahua
- The PI8000ig supports up to 4 simultaneous camera feeds
- Camera controls (pan up/down/left/right, stop, screenshot) are available directly from the HMI screen
- Screenshots can be saved to internal flash, USB drive, or SD card
- Cameras are automatically rediscovered every 20 seconds if the network connection is interrupted
- Camera aliases can be saved for easy identification
Recommended configuration: Sub-stream at 8–12 fps, H.264 encoding, low image quality setting for optimal HMI performance.
5. EZVIZ Camera Integration
In addition to standard IP cameras, WECON HMIs support EZVIZ cloud cameras for remote video monitoring via V-NET and Cloud SCADA platforms. Compatible with both PI3000ig and PI8000ig series (with model-dependent feature availability).
6. LAN Monitoring
Monitor and control multiple HMI panels from a single PC on the same local network using the WECON HMI Monitor System software.
- Displays a device list showing all connected HMIs with online/offline status indicators
- Click any HMI in the list to open a live monitoring window
- No complex network configuration required — simply enter the HMI’s IP address to connect
- Available on models with the -O suffix (e.g. PI3070N-O)
7. Remote Access
Access and control any connected HMI from anywhere in the world using a web browser or the WECON Smart mobile app — no VPN or port forwarding required.
- Connect via the HMI’s local IP address on the same network, or remotely via the V-NET cloud platform
- Remote access is available from any device with an HTML5-compatible browser (Chrome and Firefox recommended)
- Supports up to 4 simultaneous remote users per HMI
- Models with the -R suffix support direct, unrestricted remote access without a cloud subscription
8. V-NET Cloud Platform
The V-NET platform provides a full cloud-based SCADA and remote management suite for connected HMIs.
Features include:
- Remote monitoring — view and interact with the live HMI screen in real time from any browser
- Data viewing — monitor collection points, communication ports, alarm records, and historical data logs; export data for analysis
- Alarm management — view, acknowledge, and export alarm records remotely
- Remote download — push updated HMI or PLC programs to the device over the internet (via PC client)
- Device management — set device aliases, configure cloud passwords, manage alarm storage limits, and use GPS or manual positioning
Each HMI has a unique machine code for identification. The default cloud access password is 888888 and can be changed at any time.
9. Multi-Link (One Master Screen, Multiple Slave Screens)
Connect multiple HMI panels together over Ethernet so that slave panels mirror or share data with the master panel — ideal for large machines or production lines requiring multiple display points.
- The master HMI communicates with the PLC; slave HMIs read and write data through the master
- Slave screens can be synchronised with the master (same screen displayed on all panels) or configured as independent groups showing different screens simultaneously
- ig series supports up to 10 slaves on PI3000ig and up to 64 slaves on PI8000ig
- Password protection can be set on the master to control which slave devices are permitted to connect
- Requires all devices to be on the same local network with the same screen resolution and firmware version
10. Lua Scripting — Advanced Programmability for Power Users
Wecon HMI panels supports Lua scripting through PI Studio, giving engineers and integrators a powerful tool to extend the HMI beyond standard configuration — automating complex logic, integrating with external systems, and building custom interfaces entirely in code.
- Screen Object Control
Lua scripts can dynamically control any on-screen element at runtime — showing or hiding buttons, changing object states, enabling or disabling touch input, repositioning elements on screen, and simulating button presses programmatically. This allows you to build fully dynamic interfaces that respond intelligently to machine conditions.
- Timers
Create software timers that execute custom functions at defined intervals — from milliseconds to seconds. Timers can be enabled, disabled, and have their intervals changed dynamically during runtime, making them ideal for periodic data logging, polling, or timed automation sequences.
- Triggers
Monitor any PLC bit address and automatically execute a Lua function when conditions change — on a rising edge, falling edge, when a bit turns on, when it turns off, or whenever it changes state. This replaces the need for complex ladder logic rungs just to trigger HMI actions.
- File System Access
Read and write files directly to internal flash memory, USB drives, or SD cards. Create and delete folders, rename files, copy data between storage locations, and scan directories for files matching specific formats. Useful for exporting production logs, loading configuration files, or saving recipe data locally on the HMI.
- Custom Tables
Build fully dynamic data tables on screen with configurable rows, columns, headers, and column width ratios. Tables support pagination, ascending/descending sort order, and can be refreshed with live data from any source — ideal for displaying shift reports, alarm histories, or production summaries.
- Custom Charts and Trend Graphs
Draw multi-channel trend curves on screen with full control over axis ranges, grid lines, line styles, colours, and reference lines. Supports up to 5 simultaneous data channels per chart, interactive cursor for reading exact values at any point, and a slider for scrolling through historical data — all built and updated via Lua without requiring a separate SCADA package.
- MQTT Communication
Connect the HMI directly to any MQTT broker over TCP, subscribe to topics, publish messages, and handle incoming data through callback functions — enabling real-time integration with cloud platforms, IoT dashboards, and third-party SCADA systems without additional middleware.
- Cloud Data Integration
Intercept real-time data collection, alarm records, and historical logs from the HMI’s cloud configuration and redirect them to any third-party server via custom Lua logic. Read and write individual collection points, cache data locally for transmission, and manage data groups programmatically.
- Network Communication (TCP/UDP/HTTP/FTP/SMTP)
The full LuaSocket library is available, enabling the HMI to act as a TCP/UDP client or server, make HTTP and HTTPS requests to web APIs, transfer files via FTP, and send emails via SMTP — all directly from the HMI without a PC or gateway device.
- SMS Messaging (4G models)
On models equipped with a 4G SIM card, Lua scripts can send SMS messages to any mobile number — in English or other languages including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Track delivery status per message to confirm successful transmission before sending the next alert.
- WiFi Configuration
Enable, disable, and reconfigure the HMI’s WiFi connection at runtime via script — including switching networks or launching a hotspot — without requiring a manual settings change on the panel.
- JSON Data Handling
Encode and decode JSON data natively, making it straightforward to communicate with modern REST APIs and cloud services that expect structured JSON payloads.
- SIM Card Information (4G models)
Read the SIM card’s CCID and device IMEI number programmatically — useful for device identification, remote asset tracking, and fleet management applications.
In short, Lua scripting transforms the Wecon HMI screens from a standard HMI panel into a fully programmable edge computing device — capable of local logic, cloud communication, data logging, and system integration without any additional hardware.
11. Wide PLC & Device Compatibility — Out of the Box
Wecon HMI disaplays connects natively to an extensive range of PLC brands and industrial devices without requiring any additional gateways or converters. PI Studio includes built-in drivers for all major automation manufacturers, making it straightforward to integrate the WP3070 into both new installations and existing equipment.
Supported PLC & controller brands:
- WECON — native full-featured support for all WECON LX series PLCs
- Siemens — S7-200, S7-300, S7-400, S7-1200, S7-1500 series
- Mitsubishi — FX, Q, and iQ-R series
- Omron — C, CJ, CS, and NJ/NX series
- Rockwell / Allen-Bradley — MicroLogix, CompactLogix, ControlLogix
- Schneider — Modicon M series
- Delta — DVP and AS series
- Panasonic — FP series
- Inovance — H series
- Beckhoff — TwinCAT via ADS protocol
- LS (LG) — XGB and XGI series
- ABB, Emerson, HollySys, Xinje, Crouzet, Danfoss, Hitachi, Shimaden
Universal & open protocols:
- Modbus RTU / Modbus TCP — connects to virtually any Modbus-compatible device including drives, meters, sensors, and third-party controllers
- CANopen — for motion control and distributed I/O networks
- IEC 60870-5-104 — for energy and utility SCADA applications
- OpenCAN — flexible CAN bus communication
- User Defined Protocol — create custom serial communication drivers for any non-standard device
Other device support:
- Barcode and QR code scanners
- Serial printers
- Temperature controllers (Shimaden and others)
In short, whether your site runs Siemens, Mitsubishi, or a mix of brands across multiple machines, the WP3070 connects to them all natively — eliminating the cost and complexity of protocol converters.
