Does anyone beside Rockwell still make a PC based PLC?

I have an app that might be just right for one. It
has a PC and I plan to use Devicenet or Profibus
remote I/O. I do not really want a flowchart based
system. I have little or no local I/O, so a PLC rack
or module in my panel is mostly taking up space. A
PLC on a PCI card might be even better.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Bill Sturm
Applied Grinding Technologies

 

Moin Mr. Sturm,
moin all,

Please check http://www.61131.com

regards
Friedrich Haase

Ing.-Büro Dr. Friedrich Haase
Consulting - Automatisierungstechnik
email [email protected]
WEB http://www.61131.com

 

Bill,

I have been very happy using SoftPLC with multiple ProfiBus drops. It also includes an embedded Internal Relational Database if you need a fast data lookup, say with a bar code application.

More information at http://www.softplc.com

Regards,
Robert Holman
Automation & Controls Engineering, Ltd.

 

Beckhoff (http://www.beckhoff.com) has a system named TwinCat.

 

Twincat, Steeplechase, AutomationX, and SoftPLC come to mind. I've rolled my own and used Modbus/TCP. I think Automation Direct has something too.

Regards

cww

 

Siemens has WinAC as a normal soft logic program, as a version running under a real time kernal, and as a PCI board. All versions are programmed with Step-7. I haven't used any version of it so I can't offer any comments on how well it might work.

There are several others as well, although I cannot recall who sells them. Try Beckhoff or Wago, as I believe that one or both may possibly have something. There is also Isagraf (this may not be the correct spelling).

 

So, Friedrich, which controllers do you have drivers for? I could not find a list on your website.
--
Steve Myres, PE
Automation Solutions
(480) 813-1145

 

Omron make one. It is on a PCI card and requires a separate 24 VDC power supply so that in Winblows locks up, the PLC continues to run - even if you take the card out of the PC.

 

Is it a current product, I can't find any mention of it on their web site. Also, does it have DeviceNet?

 

I would also recommend Beckhoff Controls.
(http://www.beckhoff.com). There TwinCat is really easy to use and can also be downloaded to try.

 

Moin Mr. Myres,
moin all,

Which controller? You mean something from AB or Siemens? What for?

Mr. Sturm asked for PC based PLCs. Installing OATs on a PC (or a PC104) converts it into a PLC in a couple of minutes. OATs has the IEC 61131 programming languges. So I think it is exactly what Mr. Sturm asked for.

Sorry for the delay - now and then I have to work.

Best regards
Friedrich Haase

Ing.-Büro Dr. Friedrich Haase
Consulting - Automatisierungstechnik
email [email protected]
WEB http://www.61131.com

 

Hi Bill,
If you are looking for a PC-based dcontrol system, then take a look at ISaGRAF (actually, take a look at examples of how it has been used in your kind of situation)
http://www.centristech.com/en/products/appex.htm

Best regards,
Mike
Centris Technologies

 

Perhaps I should have said I/O. You seem to have a PC based control system. Which I/O does it support?

--
Steve Myres, PE
Automation Solutions
(480) 813-1145

 

Aren't software systems supposed to be less complex than hardware?

http://www.centristech.com/files/ISaGRAF/product_map.pdf

Paul Jager

 

Moin Mr. Myres,
moin all,

For Festo/Beck HC20 there is a complete line of io function blocks. Additionally some boards from Intelligent Instrumentation (Burr Brown) are supported.

FBs for other boards could be written in C. The manual contains samples and additional tools. Usually it is not a complex job e.g. for an output of a board to fetch a value and copy it into the register on the board or for an input board to read a board register and copy the value to the function block output.

Nevertheless, IO is a weak point in OATs. For common boards I can offer help and integrate the results into the OATs distribution.

IO connected by MODBUS/TCP is the easiest way to go. FBs are available and have been used with WAGO equipment.

Regards
Friedrich Haase

Ing.-Büro Dr. Friedrich Haase
Consulting - Automatisierungstechnik
email [email protected]
WEB http://www.61131.com

 

Bill,

I also would recommend SoftPLC at

http://softplc.com

It has excellent performance and support, and they have absolutely excellent drivers for:

a) Modbus TCP and UPD master
b) Modbus TCP and UDP slave
c) Modbus Serial slave
d) Modbus Serial Master via 3rd party

I have been nothing but happy with the product and support!

HTH,

Tom