AB dude... nothing but the best for us - Logix 500 - yes it's an older machine, I prefer to work with 5000 (tag based) so much nicer and easier to add things.
We do have a knock off Automation Direct on one of our machines - talk about a pain in the butt to work with that will drive you to kill someone. I'm just glad that we don't do much with that machine - typically it just collects dust which is fine by me.
This weekend I'm going to be working with a Micrologix on an add on piece of equipment that I'm intergrating into our lines.
The only thing we've done with Automation Direct units is quote them to be replaced/upgraded with an AB processor.
If your applications require faster scan times you might want to concider a compact logix (logix 5000 software with a cheeper processor). They have a little faster processor. You have to pay attention to where you put the power supply on them though. There is some information on the knowledge base about them.
What are you using for operator interfaces?
This is interesting to hear. I was on the phone earlier with a guy I just sent a proposal into to build a foam processing/metering unit. He said that they now want me to include all the controls as well not just the fluid processing and sensor inputs.
I normally work with Siemens S7400 PLC's but he told me the customer would not allow Siemens or AB in their plant (bad local customer service on both so they say especially AB) so now my choices are Mitsubishi and Automation Direct because they like those. Damn, now I have to learn another PLC if I want this project. I just got proficient with the Siemens stuff. In fact my head is still hurting. (the 14 month headache)
I have been using touchscreens for operator interface. So much simpler than than buttons and switches. Especially when your customers change what they want often. Just reconfigure the touchscreen, upload the program and thats it.
I use a lot of the Automation Direct Koyo's, $125 with 9 inputs and 8 out, easy to program and they are throw away units. Small equipment, good for timers and relays use some on assembly line timers with photo cells.
AB does rule for large latters.
How would you rate the DirectSoft software?
I would need at the least the D2-260 CPU for this project. Really cheap probably less than $4000 once all the discreet I/O, analog I/O, ethernet card and HMI are included. That's what the S7 CPU alone cost for this last project.
Siemens has a newish programming language called S7Graph. For doing batching it is a huge improvement over LL. On the 60+ step batch program I did it saved me literally hundreds of steps over Ladder Logic.
Since we have a few automation guys on here what are some of the interfaces you like/dislike out there?
travis and redtruck are talking greek!!!
