Mitsubishi Programming on a Budget. 3

[BENHILL]

An overview;

I've got over twenty five Mitsubishi PLC units, some almost brand new, a couple up to five years old. All more or less in working order. They came to me 'at the right price' & I have projects planned for several.

In a former life, I made my living as an electronics design engineer. These days I'm house-bound, & my remaining brain cell is caving in through lack of use (not that it can take too much...lol).

The problem;

In order to use these things, I need to program them. Could the experts amongst you give me an idea of the least costly (for "least costly" read really cheap) way to achieve this?

The solution?

I expect I will need a cable & some PC based software or a handheld device to enter commands. I'm not beyond making up a cable to suit if someone can point me in the direction of some connection information. However, I'm somewhat concerned about the cost & 'secondhand' availability of the software or handheld.

I apologise for ramblng on, & any help or advice will be gratefully received.

 

[xyzz]

Please, provide the model number(s).

 

[edsparks]

The Mitsubishi Electric US website offers the GX Developer programming software for download as well as manuals for a number of different PLC products.

http://www.meau.com/eprise/main/sites/public/DOWNLOADS/Software/default

-Eric

 

[nbucska]

Ben?

If you have an application in mind, I would suggest a simpler solution: There are two different PC compatible
microcomputer cards on the market which you can program in
BASIC,C,C++,Pascal,FORTRAN, etc.
Need details?



<nbucska@pcperipherals DOT com> subj: eng-tips

 

[BENHILL]

Many thanks you two.

For xyzz the model NOs are as follows:

1) F - 20MR - ES1
2) FX - 48MR - ES/UL
3) FX - 48MR - DS
4) FX - 64MT - ESS
5) FX - 32MT - ESS
6) FX - 24MR - ES/UL
7) FX - 8EX - ES
8) FXO - 30MR - ES
9) FXO - 30MR - DS
10) FXOS - 30MR - DS
11) FXOS - 20MR - DS

For Eric: The UK site seems not to be, & I am not being allowed onto the USA site (a cookie or somesuch has obviously been set), & I am imediately redirected to the UK site, which is a pain!

I will try to located said cookie & remove. This may be impossible without dumping the lot, any suggestions?

If either of you, or anyone else can give me a hand with this, I'd be most grateful.

Ben.

 

[BENHILL]

Hi nbucska, It's not details I need, It's money! <grin>

If I had sufficient of that, then there any nuber of ways to 'skin the cat', but thanks for the suggestion.

Ben.

 

[xyzz]

Benhill,
For communication cable see this:

http://forum.mrplc.com/index.php?showtopic=609

Concerning the programming software- there is an old DOS program called Melsec Medoc for programming all Mitsubishi PLCs.
By my opinion, this is the best DOS-based PLC software ever.
It works pefectly under any Windows and is much simpler for learning than Windows-based FXGPWin or GX Developer.
Give me your email if you decide to go with the Medoc.

Good luck.
Sergei Troizky a.k.a. xyzz.

 

[xyzz]

28021973,
For your information- there is an inexpensive replacement for the original programming cable.
Use the link in the post above.

 

[BENHILL]

Sergei thanks muchly for your help. I would be very pleased to have a copy of the Melsec program if you can find the time to send it.

I've had a good look at the MRPLC board. It appears that as I surmised the dongle might be more about protocol rather than obfuscation.

 

[BENHILL]

Hi 28021973,

Any news on the eval copy of FXGPwin? I would be most grateful for it if you are able to send.

xyzz was quite correct, the 'dongle' is an RS232 to RS422 convertor, very simple to knock up, and a lot less than £150.00.

 

[wildrose911]

Hello I too am interested in the software for the mitsubiishi PLC. If Benhill could send me a copy for evaluation of course. Also xyzz if you could send me a DOS copy of melsec medoc I would be very greatful. Benhill is correct in his assesment of the RS422 to RS232 converter. They are relativly cheap to purchase as well. I noticed on the posted drawing for the plc cable that there was RXD-, RXD+ and TXD-. One of the unlisted pins has to be TXD+ RS422 protocol uses two pair one for TXD and one for RXD. Do you happen to know which pin is TXD-? I have made cables for Allen Bradley PLC's and would like to make one for the mitsubishi ones as well. I use a telebyte converter and have never had a communications problem.

 

[xyzz]

Benhill, the profile page is permanently under maintenance.
Place your email here.

 

[BENHILL]

Sorry Sergei, I thought that I had placed my response to wildrose911 here.

My only point was that the windows eval copy was promised but never delivered (I still live in hope).

 

[wildrose911]

xyzz Email for sending medoc murphywe@mapleleaf.ca

 

[BENHILL]

To xyzz,

Hi, just got Medoc up & running, nice little app, but (there's always a but) it wants to save to my 'D' drive rather than to 'C'.

Is there a way to point it to 'C', as it tries but fails with 'D' (both are hard drives btw).

Your help (if you can) would be greatly appreciated.

Ben.

 

[xyzz]

In the File/Directory_Set menu set the projects directory of your choice.