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Mitsubishi has a great little trainer and simulation software you can download for free. You can find the file at http://www.meau.com/eprise/main/sites/public/Training/Industrial_Automation/Computer_Based_Training/default The FX series PLC training is the best introduction I found. I hope this helps. I had a lot of friends in Northen Wales in the same situation when our company closed the plant. I am glad there are still opputunties around. Regards, Craig

I was wondering if anybody could recommend some good Mitsubishi integrators in KY. We are currently looking at putting in a 180 million dollar expansion and with our existing plant being rockewell, have a deficit in mitsubishi knowledge. The equipment will more than likely be delivered from Japan and installed in the US. I was looking for an outfit that could support checkout, install and provide integration into plant systems. I have put my feelers out but the breadth of experience seems a little low in the KY (lexington) area. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I know the experience should be around because of the Honda plant in IN. Regards, Craig

That is an option but I do not like to use throw another vendor in the mix and have additional configurations. It would be nice if Mitsu would support some E/IP. They support it on the GOT's already. I know it is a turf war and as our regional guy says, Mitsubishi wants to promote it's bus options and not follow others. That is comendable but, I have overlooked Mitsu several times because it seems like every manfacturere wants all or nothing and if you have one it makes it a giant leap to change. I appreciate the advice and will pull the numbers together for that solution. Sorry for the rant, I just like the mitsu products and it is really hard to justify a solution alone on hardware when the integration cost makes up such a large portion of the cost. Does Mitsu north america sell the ICC product? I saw it mentioned once but I had to do a google search to actual find the website. Thanks for the input, Craig

I was wondering if I could get some recomendations for a servo upgrade we are going to complete. I am trying to get information for a "fair" decision analysis. Mitsubishi is at a dis-advantage because the PLC hardware and peer to peer is all rockwell. Here is tha pplication: Currently there is a motion controller tied to three independent indexing axes. The motion controller talks to a SLC5/05 through ethernt IP. The SLC does not have to be replaced at this time but if it did, it would have to communicate through control-net (peer to peer) network. The two different communication options available are E/IP and devicenet. I was looking at going with Q170 motion CPU (more than I need but would replace the SLC and have ethernet ready) The problem is the control-net communication. I was looking at MR-J3 servo amplifiers with motors. I would then recommend communication through devicenet (another card). Another option that was suggested was to go with a QCPU and a QD75, which we currently use. Any other suggestions or selling points? The rockwell solution is basically replace the system with three E/IP drives (kinetixs 300) and your good to go. I am a little nervous about the drives because Rockwell does not manufacture them and the documentation is quite weak (very new also). I think there actually rebranded LENZE drives. I am trying real hard to find a case for mitsu, but I am not getting there. Any suggestions on setups would be appreciated. Regards, Craig

There is a knowledge base article on the europeon mitsubishi website. www.mitsubishi-automation.com The kb is as follows: How to set parameter to have continuosly coasting and fying start when STF is switched off/on? (700 series (F and A)) - KS01163 Please see attached document. read more It should have the information you need. I also attached the power point they included with the KB. Hope this helps! Regards, Craig coasting_fying_start.ppt

When tieing an input to the compare function you need to drag an output onto the page. I usally just pick a lamp. Tie the compare output to this output and you will be able to map it. The same goes for buttons. Drag an input onto the screen (usally use the switch) and then tie this input into what you want to control. The input and output bits can be mapped to the HMI but the outputs used in the functions cannot. I found this out in the GOT 1020 application I was completeing. Hope this helps. Craig

I have seen custom solutions and to tell you the truth it is much easier to implement a downtime monitoring system from a data side. In other words use something like factorysql or some other database software that already has the downtime functionality built in. All you usally have to do is define a digital input to signal when the event is occuring. The software takes care of duration and start/end time and puts it into the database of your choice. The way that I have done it in the plc is to generate a structure (record for the downtime event) and create a ring buffer of a predefined size. When an event runs it course the start time, duration, and event code can be recorded (could use end time but I have found most operation people are interested in duration and not start and end time). Duration is easier to store than a serial date/time field (especially if it is ASCII). If you have the time it can be a good excercise in data handling and buffering. If you want the easy way, go buy a software package that does the work. Best of luck. Craig

There is no one language that would be better then another. The systems that I have worked on for crushing glass (primary and secondary) have set startup and shutdown sequences. That type of high level sequenceing lends itself to SFC, but could be written in ladder. I would say use what you are comfortable with. A crusher sytem you talk about is pretty simple to control, but setting up the feed rates and controlling quality is the diffcult part. There is example sequence code on the site or from mitsubishi. Like any programming project, defining the requirements and organizing the sequencing up front will make what every language you use much easier. Also remeber to keep the maintenace people in mind. If they are use to one language over another, that may help in your decision process. Regards, Craig

If you look in the system properties of RSLogix 5000 (contrologix processor), there is an option to map a set of tags to the traditional AB addresses (B7:0. N7:0, F8:0, etc.). I do not have my work computer in front of me or I would give you specifc directions. I approached Mitsu about tag support and they do not look like they are going to support it any time soon. If you need something that will talk to Mitsu and AB tag based system, a E1000 or a Proface are a better way to go. Panelview + will support mitsu through the kepware interface, but unless you are an integrator or part of a big company, expect to pay substationally more. If you cannot find the settings, let me know and I will look a little harder. Craig

I have run a slew of rockwell products (Rslinx, RsLogix 5 500 5000. RsNetworks, Rsview32, PanelBuilder) along side all the Mitsu Software (GxDeveloper, GTD2, etc.) with no problems. We even have cisco security agent and norton running. I would talk to the software support guys and try running disk cleanup and defrag, it may help. I have been staying away from the new enterprise software from Rockwell, so maybe if you are using the newer software, there is something I have not seen. Craig

Dave, I use a VPN at our company from home with no problem. There are a million ways to setup a network so I would try to ping the node first (make sure the PLC responds to ping (setup in ethernet communication)). If that works try to connect. If it does not, go talk to the IT people and see what they may restrict in a VPN connection. Going through the VPN, should be like plugging directly into their network. Just relize the speed differences due to internet connections. Regards, Craig

Crossbow, I just had our Mitsu distributor come in for a lunch and learn. It went well but our area sales person from Mitsu is just 6 months with the company and seems to be lacking in specific knowledge (actually gave some incorrect specifications). He can recite the brochures but deep knowledge was lacking. I asked him about ethernet IP (non tag based and tag based), but I got a blank stare (I even gave him a heads up that all the people makeing the decision on the HMI would be there and I could let them borrow two AB PLC's to demonstrate with) . I actually ended up demonstrateing the e700 (great product by the way) because even though they brought the demo, they did not know how to use it. I guess I am wondering who I should go to in mitsubishi to get technical answers instead of sales pitch. The blanket sales pitch is lost on engineers when they are looking for technical capability. I guess this is why blogs like these were created :) I am not knocking Mitsu because I have had the same experience with all the other automation companies at the sales layer. Craig

I have been recently tasked with selecting a new HMI solution but need to communicate with two different HMI platforms and would like the ability of the new HMI to be a server (the current application are on a DH+ network and we want to move away from that). The two platforms we have in the plant are Mitsubishi(Q and FX)(ethernet and serial) and Rockwell (PLC5, SLC5, and ControlLogix)(ehternet and serial). Here are the systems I have got information on to compare: PanelView+ GOT1000 Proface Bejeir (Exter in the US and E-series EU) MapleSystems QuickPanel What I have found is that AB works really good with AB PLc's and Mitsu panels work really good with Mitsu PLC's but not the other way round. I thought I found a compromise with the E-series terminal but Mitsu is strongly suggesting they not be used. So I contacted Bejeir directly and there seems to be some agreement around Mitsu Drivers be supplied in the states from Bejier (sounds like relationships are being severed). Proface looked like a logical choice but some of there functionality is really awkward (I am not a real big fan of writing script to make the functionality). I was wondering if anybody has experience using any of these panels across automation platforms? I have seen the e-series mentioned quite a bit in europe, but here they (Mitsu) are pushing GOT 1000. If you have not guessed I am not a big fan of the PanelView+ because of price and functionality. Thanks, Craig

It sounds like you uploaded an SFC program and had the program type selected as ladder. That would explain why there were jumps every where (the conversion from SFC to ladder is messy). I have uploded a program without setting it as an SFC program and it changed it to STL (Ladder). The one other gotcha with the SFC is that if you name an SFC block it cannot be saved in the processor with the comments. This makes it a little diffcult to know the meaning of the blocks other than they are ladder or SFC. I will also try to post some code soon. I have a couple of applications, but my company does not look kindly on uploading code. I will see if I can post some of the examples from the manual and maybe the the state machine for PackML. I use a combination of SFC and Motion objects (Cascading Logic: A Machine Control Methodology for Programmable Logic Controllers - Gary Kirckof, P.E.), may not be the best, but it keeps it modular. Craig

I think that MitSU is trying to move from STL to SFC (Q series supports SFC). If you want to learn something new and be able to utlize the same skill on another platform, go with SFC. I think Rockwell, Mitsu, GE, Simens, Beckhoff, etc. all support SFC. If you would like some examples I can upload them. Regards, Craig