PLC's with free programming software?

M

Thread Starter

Mark Wills

Looking for PLC's that can be programmed in Ladder, FBD and Structured text, preferably with free, or low cost programming software.

Any ideas guys? Don't mind paying for the hardware, but paying $$$$ for the software ticks me off.

Regards

Mark Wills
 
D

Dennis Patterson

It's a grudge of mine too, why cant they throw a few extra dollars at the hardware, and integrate the software cost.

Last time I bought an Omron, and an Hitachi, the wholesaler gave me the configuring software, so the cost must be minimal enough for the wholsaler to integrate the software cost into the hardware for these 2 products at least.

Dennis
 
D
Mark,

Give WAGO a try. While the software is not free, it is fairly inexpensive ($750.00 list) and is offered as a site liscense with free downloads from the web (the package support all 5 IEC 61131 languages - LD, FB, ST, etc. and comes with a built-in visualization tool). Check out the free trial download on our site (http://www.wago.us).

The hardware is very cost effective yet very powerful. CPUs start at around $450.00. In addition, we offer over 200 I/O modules to choose from (digital, analog, and special funtion modules).

Also, support and training are free. Just call our application support team or team of field application engineers.

Software Link:

http://www.wago.com/wagoweb/documentation/navigate/nm9dp__e.htm

Hardware Link:

http://www.wago.com/wagoweb/documentation/navigate/nm0dc__e.htm

Our flagship PLC (little over $500.00 and very powerful:

http://www.wago.com/wagoweb/documentation/750/eng_dat/d084200e.pdf

Dean Norton
WAGO Corporation
 
J
Check http://www.opto22.com

The software is free to download, including the programming software and hmi software. It doesn't use ladder, but flow diagrams and script. Also, training classes are free.

Jeff Owens
 
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Programming software should complie FBD or other codes to machine code. So if developer wants to reduce the cost of software, he should use some standards like IEC 1131-3. Then user should pay the overheads of companies who decide to build PLCs compatible to these standards!

So using Siemens Logo, Omron Zen or Keyence minis, can provide low price software and hardware.

Regards

Nima
 
C
Automation Direct has DirectSoft 5 available for download, but you're limited to 100 words of logic.

Good luck,
Chris
 
P

Piotr Kowalski

Hi,
The LG has a free software for their PLCs (named KGL_WE) and for HMI panels (called PMU editor).

Regards
Piotr Kowalski
 
It depends on your definition of a PLC, but you might try http://www.tri-plc.com/ .

They market what are essentially dedicated purpose single board computers programmed in ladder logic, and offer download of an educational version of their software at no charge. A copy of the full version is bundled with hardware purchases, which, at $69 for their "E10-npn+" 'Tiny Ladder Logic PLC', is about as cheap as you'll likely to get.
 
Dennis,

If the software costs were integrated into the hardware, you would pay for software everytime you order a CPU. In the end, you would pay more for the software than I think you realize. Better to find a company with reasonable software costs offered as a site license.
 
Mark,

We at Entertron offer a free programming package that is ladder based (sorry, no FBD or structured text).

It will program any of our controllers and is available for download at our web site. http://www.entertron.com The download is password protected, so either complete our contact or contact us directly for the password.

Hope this helps.

God Bless,

Stephen Luft - President
Entertron Industries
3857 Orangeport Rd.
Gasport, NY 14067
Tel: 716-772-7216
Fax: 716-772-2604
 
OMRON's CJ1M Supports the combination of ladder and FB (you can create your own FB using structured text or ladder).

A very cheap and good choice for low-demanding applications will be the Crouzet's Millenium 3.
it supports both FBD and Ladder.
 
C
Also Automation Direct has a version of their software free with a 100 word limit. And if that's not enough, their full blown version is only $400 and works for all their PLCs.

Regards
cww
 
http://free.opto22.com

Software--including programming, HMI, integration kits

Training--4-day class covering Ethernet, flowchart, scripting, HMI development, OPC, OIT

Support--always free.

Details at link above. Good luck with your project.

-BH
 
Yes, our programming tools OpenPCS are free for download. Please try http://www.infoteam.de the download Area.

Its supports all five IEC 61131-3 Languages plus the CFC Editor.

Software is available in German, English, Spanish, French, Russian, trad. Chinese, simpl. Chinese
 
K

Kevin Sperrey

Try looking at Beckhoff. The software is free, you can download a new copy every 30 days.
License is not free, but you can develop and test with the demo.

 
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