machinemaker

Just updating for those interested in using the new micros. You definitely need to watch the videos. there are plenty on You Tube. This is not a very friendly self learning software. Hard to explain it all here. Some of the issues I had were labeling. The software lets you label your I/O in certain places you should not be allowed. When you add a contact and try to use the label you created, it does not work or what you wrote in does not show. I know sound confusing, cause it is. Maybe if they limit what you can access at certain points. All in all if you watch the videos it certainly does help. Without the videos you end up fumbling around or just get plain frustrated. I finally did get the FBD programming to work, by watching the videos. There again, was clicking on wrong areas not obvious to click on.

I do not think we will be using this product. Typical AB, you have to pay for videos. Some guy is advertising so many videos for over 400 bucks. Are you kidding. Maybe I am not understanding his motives hahaha. This plc has very limited i/o and by the time and frustration to add on modules, I mind as well just get a 1100 or something. The videos listed on that web site will not run for me. Not sure why. they did the other day. I was just poking around hoping I could find more help on the micro830

Thank you for the link. they seem to be basic videos, to which I figured out on my own what was in the video. Where I am having trouble is Add a program>FBD. Then add the Arithmetic add block. Now I can not seem to figure out how to add values to the i1 and i2. I tried putting the varialble there but on compiling it says "expected bool". I am still looking for more videos. Using ladder seems to be easier to figure out.

Has anyone used the new Micro800 family yet? There is free software. But unfortunately AB still sucks with the help files. I can not find how in the world to use the software. They give you three choices, ST, LD and FBD. I can use the Ladder okay, but can not figure out the FBD. Example using the math add box. How do I add numbers or integers to the box? They give example program but no explanation. It is really bad when the distributor can not use the software or kinda evades questions on it. I can use the ladder, but the function blocks elude me how to fill in the boxes. Since I use IECC in another brand, I would love to see how it works in AB. Very Very frustrating with the manuals. It is a low cost PLC that will work with a simple project, but if I have to pull out my hair, I might just pay the 700 bucks for the MicroLogix and call it a day.

I just read this post. I have the software for the Micro800 series. I am doing a small project. I am surprised how powerful this software is. It is IECC standard. You can do Structual Text, Ladder, or Function Blocks. I am still evaluating the software and hardware. Interesting plc. It is not at all like the RS500 software. The software was free from my Distributor. It runs on Windows 7. He is trying to get me a version that runs on XP. I know XP is dying.

I need to detect an object as it passes by using temperature of that object. Is there some command to detect a spike in temperature or value? I am using a MicroLogix 1400. I have an IR sensor looking across a belt. Lets say it is reading air temp of 80 degrees. As the hot object passes by it rises to 120 degrees. I want to use that rise to say, there it is. There is going to be some change and I want to use that as a detection. the problem is I can not periodically load a value then seconds later look and again and compare because what if I sample and load as the object is there and then when I compare there is no difference. I was hoping there is some way to detect a spice using a command. Now would not that be a great command to detect a sudden change in a value or temperature. Please do not say add a sensor. hahahaha I need to use the IR sensor as a detection device. i can not just assume the ambient air will be the same all day and use that as a constant, It changes. Okay I could update the value but if I update while the object is there, well you see what I mean.

twcontrols, how in the world did you come up with those numbers? They work. I tried the 0 and 16383, which seemed to make sense but they did not work. You guys are awesome. Oh I looked at the PID, which I thought would be perfect for temperature, but that gave me a headache as well. That is something I will look at later. The examples and help files are so generic they are almost useless.

Using a Micrologix 1400. Connected to the input is a Raytek IR sensor. It puts out a 4-20ma signal representing 32F to 1032F temperature. The module allows me to set it to 4-20ma but only two choices for data, that is Raw or PID. I have it set to RAW. I read a number 1500 in RSLogix 500 software. The display on the raytek is showing 94F degrees. The number on the module does not match the reading on the Raytek display. The software for that module does not allow Engineering units. The 1762-IF4 is 15 bits. I tried using SCP but I must be using wrong numbers or wrong box. How do I get the number I see the module is seeing to match the temperature being displayed on the Raytek display? I am trying to access AB website to get info.

Sorry, forgot to say I am using the analog outputs located on the PLC itself. I was trying to scale the 0 to 60. Yes those numbers are integer values. 60HZ would be a full 10v output (32767).

I am using a Micrologix 1400. My HMI is putting out a number 0 to 60 representing the speed of a motor in HZ. I want to scale it in the plc to drive a analog output. I believe the output is from 0 to 32767. tried using SCL but can not get it to work. Obviously I do not have the right numbers or using the wrong instruction. Help. I could just simply multiply HZ by 546?

Thank you for the reply. I forgot to state I was using RSlogix500.

Someone told me it is possible to change how the in's and out's are displayed. Instead of seeing I:0.0 I could have IN0, IN1, etc. I usually label my in's and out's IN0, IN1 etc. cause it is to long of a name I:0.0/0. How do I change how they are displayed, if that is possible.

I installed rs500 on my new windows 7 64bit notebook. It will not run. It shows the circle but then it stops and nothing happens. Is there an issue. funny thing is it ran before I activated the software. I closed it and then installed the activation, restarted the program and now it will not work. I did reboot, same result.

Maybe it was to complain with a bit of bashing. hahaha. Just reading the replies is funny. Just look what you guys have to do to make AB software work, Seriously?!

Another Allen Bradley money pit. I just got a notice saying I need to upgrade to RSNetWorx V21 cause any new software installs will have problems with versions 11 and below. Gives a link with instructions when going there there are no instruction just a top link to upgrades but I need a contract to use it. How is this company surviving? Lots of die-hards i quess.