Overhead Display

[mmervenne 0]

Hello all, I am looking for an overhead display that I can use to display information to the plant floor. I would like to show target # of parts, actual # of parts, etc. I would like to show graphs and alarms. Being able to animate would be a plus. Does anyone know of any good software/displays for doing this. Any help is Greatly Appreciated. Mike

[rpraveenkum 5]

Find more display units http://www.vartechsystems.com/products/wid...Rugged-LCDs.asp

[GerryM 2]

This is more of an LED style. I have never ordered from them so i can't comment on quality. http://electronicdisplays.com/index.asp or http://www.vorne.com/index.html

[paulengr 44]

For just text-type information, there are lots of vendors out there. Take a look at ezautomation.com. Their LED displays are made by Uticor but they don't have the programmable message board that the Uticor's have. This board adds a bunch of digital inputs. You simply trigger an input to get a particular message. Nice if you can limit yourself to canned messages. Otherwise, the ASCII route is much better and the extra cost for a real Uticor is a waste of money. If you really want charts and graphs, then you have 2 choices. You can roll your own customized code on a PC. For instance, implementing a JSP to do the work in a web browser on the server with JFreechart would be one way to do it. You'll need to deal with whatever PC interface to your PLC/control system you need to do as well. If none of this makes any sense, then don't bother. If not, then you need to look at an HMI. If you already have an HMI, great. Simply develop your screens on that. Buy a decent LCD monitor. Depending on the dust/water level in your plant, the consumer grade LCD TV's do a darned good job these days. Then you need a "video extender". There are many low cost ones available. Do a google for that key phrase. Companies I can think of include Rose, Geffen, and Minicom. The hardware is fairly simple so there are many competitors and decent prices. If you don't have an HMI, get one. The last piece of hardware you need is that junk PC that you were going to pitch because it's an old P3 or some such. Since it won't need to really "do" anything and speed is not really much of a concern, you stick the PC on the network in the office somewhere. It's only purpose is to drive the monitor.