ElecPneuGuy

Nothing beats experience, but you should be able to get some decent training from your local AB vendor. They usually have some day classes to get you some training and atleast be dangerous. Also, you can try to make it to the Rockwell automation fair. They will have lots of classes and seminars on many topics. Lastly if you've got the big bucks or can talk your company into it, you can take classes at Rockwell to be "certified" in their products. Big money from what I understand. Just keep what you're doing, learn from your coworkers and you'll be a hero in no time.

Use the safety relay to shut down the output power to your motor contactor. You could wire in the contactor to your safety relay so that you can't reset the relay if the contactor is pulled in.

I've used Compact Logix to the 20-COMM-E comm module to a SMC-Flex soft starter with no problems. Has anyone had any luck doing the same yet with a SLC 5/05 over ethernet? With RSLogix5000 all the tag data drops in automatically, yet not sure if the only with with the 5/05 is with messaging. I do have the option of just hard wiring up the control, but I'm just not an old school kind of guy. Thanks, Steve

B-Line (cooper) makes an add on software package for Autocad. I've made some nice 3D layouts for sure. If your customer can provide you with a plant layout, you'll be in business.

Yes, I thought about using the Velocity, as my transducer is a dual output unit. (Position & Velocity -- both analog 4-20mA) Before I tried messing with that, I was figuring that I'd have the same problem as the velocity bounces around in those small floating increments. But.....thinking about it now, I do like the idea of a threshold to say that there is a velocity (movement), then I could determine the increasing or decreasing position.

Ok, I'm having a brain block here. How can I tell if the position of a linear transducer is increasing or decreasing? I'm using 5000 software. I've been trying to take the position, move it into a buffer, then compare the position with the buffer (GRT or LES), to see if the position is moving left or right. Yet, as the analog signal bounces around , my bits will set/reset which gives me a false indication of movement even at rest.

Pressroom Electronics makes a die protection module for around 2 grand. Will operate on a press that runs over 200 SPM. Comes with resolver and can be set up with quite a few inputs. Hard deal to beat.

There is absolutely an Essential Components catalog. I use mine all the time. Its a small catalog, about 5 inches by 8 inches. Super handy. I can't quite recall how I requested my last one, but I just got one in the mail, within this last week, direct from the boys at Rockwell. But your Rockwell salesman should be able for sure to get one. My salesman sucks, so I had to go direct to Rockwell. Good luck, and get one of those catalogs, they are great.

Call your salesman.

I haven't done it before, usually just have done it online. From the Rockwell boys, sounds like you need the Tag Import Utility. 1) Start the RSLogix 5000 Tag Import utility located at Start > Programs > Rockwell Software > Logix5000 Tag Import Utility > Logix5000 Tag Import 2) Select Create RSView tag CSV file. (This is the default selection.) 3) Select FactoryTalk® View Site/Machine Edition, RSView32 version 7.0 or later versions, RSView32 version 6.5 or previous versions. If FactoryTalk® View Site/Machine Edition is selected, please skip step 4 and step 5. 4) Type in the name of the node to use when creating tags. 5) Select a scan class. 6) Click Configure to choose which tag types will be visible in the tag list. 7) Click Browse and select the L5K file that was exported earlier. 8) Click Search or type characters in the filter to reduce the number of tags displayed. 9) Select the tags to be imported and then click OK. 10) In the Save As window, specify a CSV file to save the tags to and click OK. 11) Use the Import and Export utility to import the CSV file into your project. 12) For RSView32, select Start > Programs > Rockwell Software > RSView32 Tools > Database Import and Export Wizard. 13) For FactoryTalk® View Studio, select Start > Programs > Rockwell Software > RSView Enterprise > Tools > Tag Import and Export Wizard.

I have used alot of the Hirschmann Spider5TX switches. Never had any problems and they are cheap -- around $100. Also the N-TRON switches, made in the USA. They have a nice 105TX switch, metal case, small size. Should be able to get those for around $90.

I bought a Spectrum Controls WebPort module to access my PLC and HMI stuff remotely. Setting up the accounts in ewon wasn't all to hard to do. Actually, it worked out just fine. I was able to get it set up in my office, then remote out to the virtual server then back to my devices. No major problems. The ewon server does go down from time to time, but its all ok I guess. So yes, all sounds good in theory. Problem is.... My customer wouldn't allow access. I can't recall what ports they needed to open, Port 80 for general internet maybe??? Anyways, even though I feel it is secure, in the end, IT wouldn't allow it to be connected. So, I've got it back on my desk. Spectrum has demos set up and running. You can contact them, and from your desk, connect to a PLC that they have running in their office. Pretty neat.

Sounds like you didn't hire an electrical technician to me if you need to explain what a pushbutton is.

I'm using a 3550 for the first time, things have been going pretty well. I feel that the software needs a few more revisions and it will be great. During the time frame of my project there has been 2 upgrades already to handle a few issues. Overall, I like the ability to very easily communicate with multiple PLC's at the same time along with all the different protocols too. I wouldn't hesitate to use it again. I had plans on using some of the internal logic with the HMI, but the customers that I've talked with are still a bit leary of that. Since I'm talking with a PLC anyways, it hasn't been an issue. I thought that I was going to transfer data between two different brands of PLC's (one being AB and the other unknown), so the proface was going to be perfect. I know that it shouldn't be a big issue anyways, but using simple logic in the HMI, I figured it would be a piece of cake to transfer data to any other PLC on the market. Go for it and good luck.

Call Proface tech support in Saline Michigan. The support is free.

On a job that I had done, the PLC sent over the torque information via Devicenet. The Atlas Copco controller had a devicenet adaptor built in. The Atlas guys told me specifically where to send over the part data of which they had the parameters programmed for the setpoints.

How about setting up the system with a remote VPN? Is that an option? Cell Phone modem?

I'm reviewing a drawing package where the supplier is switching the 120v control power grounded conductor. I'm trying to find a NFPA reference as to why I don't want them to do that. I feel like I found it before in the NFPA 79, but can't located the paragraph... Thanks.

Don't worry about not having a com port. I've been without one for years and once you get used to the UIC module its a non-issue. Biggest thing in my opinion with laptops....consider the size. Will you travel alot? Will you be doing long start-ups with your laptop? Will you have a desktop to do the majority of your design work? My laptop is a 17" Gateway. I've got it on a stand, then work with a full normal USB keyboard. Its a bit heavy to travel with, but you get used to it. Its nice to have a big screen for doing HMI work, not to mention autoCAD.

Enthusists? Is that a joke? HA. I took the GM basics class, played with it a bit, but haven't been tested with a project yet. I am dreading it completely. I'm sure it will take 3 times longer than with AutoCAD. I'm sure that if I did alot of the same designs it would be great........probably not.

I hate to say it.... But if you have to ask that question, you probably shouldn't be doing panel designs....

Lansing, Michigan -- Controls engineer looking for small to mid-sized side jobs. References available upon request from past projects. Experienced in PLC & HMI applications, panel builds, machine wiring and pneumatic applications. I also have AutoCAD 2000/2002 will a full symbol libary (Electric, Pneumatic, overviews, layouts) for prints. Feel free to contact me. ElecPneuGuy@comcast.net Thanks, Steve

why just not use ethernet?

As a general rule, I make sure that all I/O wires go direct to terminal, then from there to whatever else in the panel. So the question is, do most people do that or if the device is in the enclosure, wire direct from the card to the device, not to terminal?

From the Allen Bradley Knowledge base Solution: Verify that the settings in the I/O configuration dialog and the BTW instruction are consistent with each other and the data table layout in the PLC, then proceed with the download. This is only a warning, and you can still download, but proceed with caution. Example - 1771-IFE: A machine has a 1771-IFE module in Rack 0, Group 0, Module 0. You are using it in differential mode. Its Block Transfer Write and Read pair are configured as follows: BTW BTR Rack 0 0 Group 0 0 Module 0 0 Control Block BT29:1 BT29:0 Data File N30:12 N30:0 Length 21 12 Continuous No No The BTR data file for another module starts at N30:33.