I don't know if you still require a plc or not; but, you could buy a DL-05 DirectLogic for about $109 and the programming software DirectSoft5 is available as a free demo providing your program is shorter than maybe 100 lines.
Forgiveness is giving up hope for a better past.
It is a signifigantly different world. Harder or easier, neither one really. If you learn micropressor development first, as I did, then PLC control development will always seem a bit 'off' maybe and you note the differences. If one has no programming language background at all apart from plc...
I did the same thing this person is contemplating. I don't know I would advise it as a career move unless this person really likes starting over. As smoked said, this is the industry that has been exported to cheap labor markets and what have you. Challenges?? Well, building good relationships...
I should have said that we use LookoutDirect or we use the 'supervisory and control module' in Labview VI, which is the old Lookout product absorbed into Labview. Either way works fine; but, the Lookout Direct is a little bit less money. You get a Development/ runtime license and 500 tag...
We use Lookout, the scaled down version, or the Lookout toolbox packaged with labview VI6. Lookout is quick, easy, and does about anything I have ever desired it to do. The feature that attracted me is that it is easy enough to figure out without referring to manuals unless you have a fairly...
You can go to www.automationdirect.com and www.ezautomation.net and download any of the manuals, guides, and literature for any of their products. Their material is product specific but generally informative as well. There are several sites that have good literature; but, I am at a loss at the...
A Directlogic DL105 might be the only seriously fixed I/O system that is around anymore, it provides no options. The DLO205 is an example of modular type design.
You may use a DL05 DirectLogic miniature plc from automationdirect. The price of 2 timer relays is about as much and you can program any variable operation you choose as well. It's $99 and that is hard to beat considering that a timer relay could cost $40 or more.
From reading the above posts, I would say that by far the easiest and possibly the least expensive way to do this would be to use an EZTEXT-PLC that integrates a text panel and control buttons to a small easily programmed plc that costs about $225 and has I/O modules for most basic tasks. The...
I absolutely agree with the 2 preceding posts regarding saving your money and buying some systems and practice, practice, practice. You can get a EZPLC at www.ezautomation.net for about $170 with I/O and the software is $49. the I/O modules are about $19 each and some are fairly cool in that...
I forgot to mention that the plc software is $49, next to free and reminds me of RSlogix for AB stuff only different. It is simple to use and the plc only has 55 straightforward instructions; but, seems to do everything we need.
You may also want to check out the systems at ezautomation.net. I use the ezplc and am currently using the eztext-plc. I like having the common text panel software and database imported into the plc development software. Also, it is designed and manufactured in Iowa. The i/o modules I've used...
Hey, I understand your frustration with the quality of training opportunities available. If you were in Arkansas or Missouri I would suggest a really good training seminar on plc system design and development that is offered by my company. I noticed myself that most of the training I've seen...
I would add to above that the best plc for you to use is the plc that will perform the task you desire and you are able to master. Someone with much experience can use most anything without much distinction in the final product, assuming that the system has the basics. The features YOU need to...
As far as needing lots of speed, let the H-bridge do the hard work and unload the processor from other things so that it can monitor the zero crossing on line and sync stuff and do higher level calculations such as V/Hz control. I assumed you were doing V/hz as opposed to Vector control which...
Ditto on the Atmel, I would recommend the ATMEGA8535, it has 8 channels of 10-bit A/D, and many peripherals. I use AVRBasic compiler to write for it. The Basic is fast and compact and gives about as much control as C. You can also write inline assembly and the compiler handles it great. These...
While it still uses ladder logic instructions as it's instruction base; using the stage approach with sg, conv, divrg, block, and call allows you to write larger programs with many parts that are very easily managable. I make up functions with these stages that I keep sort of as a library then I...
I would recommend National Instruments LookOut VI as it is much easier to use 3-4 hrs to get up and doing real stuff and costs $500-$1500 depending on # of tags. It is fun to learn and fairly flexible. I have much less trouble with it than our Wonderware applications.
