Non professional seeking PLC programming/equipment assistance

[LaserSailor]

First of all, forgive me if this is not an appropriate post. I think it fits the posting criteria. I am looking for PLC programming, PC programming and equipment selection or development help on a personal project. I was advised to post to an EE site. I know virtually nothing about PLC. Some VBA experience. My project, using a simple analogy, is to make a programmable door bell ringer. I want to be able to create the ringing pattern in a PC program and download it to a PLC that will control a solenoid that will ring the bell. The functions that need to be controlled are: 1) create a variety of ringing patterns (musical score - only one note), 2) pick the score to play, 3) set the duration of the score 4) set a timer to determine a schedule for the program (this could be very simple in the beginning, just certain hours of the day. Later it could be programmed picking days and time frames in the future). The controller should have an attractive but simple user interface. After creating all the functions, turning the bell on and off, picking the musical score and the schedule should be done from the controller on the bell.
I want to know if this can be done with an existing controller (or if I need to have one made), how to pick that controller and some help with the PLC and PC programming. Cost of the controller is a concern. Since this is a personal project and business stuff always seems to get in the way, the project has languished for years because I don't have time to learn everything to complete it. So I want help. Looking for someone that might have an interest in helping me with this as a practice exercise, or just for fun. This is just one part of the overall project which involves wood, metal, casting and design and art work as well as the EE.
Thanks for reading,
Greg

 

[Skogsgurra]

Even if your post isn't commercial, it also isn't professional. So you may be redflagged for that reason. But before that happens, I advice you to post on a hobbyist site. There are hundreds of thousands of young people wanting to do something like this and they often do it for free if you provide the hardware for them and let them keep it. Not that I encourage having work done for nothing, but if you are a hobbyist, I think that would be an acceptable arrangement.

I do not think that you should use a PLC for this project. Even if there are little and cheap ones, the PC communication can be a problem. Also, an MCU is faster and more flexible.

I think that the Parallax site is a good place to go. See

http://www.parallax.com/

Lots of smart girls and guys there.



Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[LaserSailor]

Thank you for the advise and I appologize for the inappropriate post. I did not understand the distinction, but will try to stick to hobbiest sites.