How to use Visual Basic's in industrial control?

[piroli]

I'd like to learn more regarding Visual Basic's potential application in Industrial automation.
For example, our company builds industrial machinery. Every one has a control done by some HMI and one of the PLC such a GE Fanuc, Modicon, AB, or Siemens. Now I would like to use PC with Visual Basic to do the same. I would like to create my HMI and to control all my I/O points by Visual Basic. I have learned the basic of VB. How can VB and I Use PC and Communicate with Allen Bradley SLC 500 PLC?
Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of this, or where can
I obtain some for information regarding such topic. Thanks.

 

[ctolbert]

The best book I've found on the subject is "Creating Human Machine Interfaces Using Visual Basic" By Jeff Weigant.

http://www.industrialvb.com

The hard part is the communication with the remote I/O. He uses AB's INGEAR for examples. The problem is the cost...Why would I spend a ton of money on AB I/O when I'm trying to save a nickel designing my own HMI system. He does however, talk about Modbus (Modicon)and SNP-X (GE 90 series) protocols.

If you check out

http://www.amazon.com

and search for VB control...you will find a few more books on the subject.

You can also check the following websites:

http://www.hosteng.com

http://www.automatedsolutions.com

They have other VB and OPC drivers to allow you to make a better decision on what is going to be right for you.

Carl

 

[piroli]

THANK YOU !