panic mode

Just what you wrote - interface to other equipment using RS232 or 422. This other equipment can be pretty much anything such as barcode scanner, touchscreen, other PLC, PC, printer, ... anything.

Take a look at this. It might take you closer to your goal: http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?act=Attac...pe=post&id=5433 Depending on duration of your "pulse", you might want to use one shot version... Happy programming,

And what is the distance you need?

Hi Wombat, In my case PLC brand is specified by customer so I don't get the chance to use Omron very often (I think I did maybe 4-5 different Omron CPUs so far in maybe 10 usually smaller projects). Moderators of this forum and most other user would probably be more qualified to write such "switchover" introduction. Right now I'm working on a project using CQM1H, NS10, CompoBus etc. with CompoBus being new to me (it looks very simple - something like cut down version of CC-Link). I would appreciate if someone could put something nice and short together and save me from reading all big fat manuals. Things I recall since my last Omron project: - not all memory is backed up (grrr...) - floating point is reserved for big guns - pass-through is reserved for big guns - ethernet is reserved for big guns - big and small PLCs have different I/O map (1000 vs 10000 or something like that) - no clear identification of I/O - just number (someone told me that since CX Programmer 3.0 you can have X and Y preceed I/O addresses but I'll have to check that out). - bunch of memory tables (usually very fragmented on smaller CPUs). Actually I did receive some manuals after job was completed so I never read anything (oh well). - despite such diversity of memory tables timers and counters chare same space - very competitive pricing Things I've found recently: - Manuals are available for download - Some of the newer PLCs with higher performance are priced like older units - Customer didn't care about free upgrade to CJ ("it's free CS1 or nothing" - nothing being CQM1H) - new or bigger PLCs come with even greater diversity of memory tables (ehhh..?) - I will finaly have some time to spend on this project so I hope to experiment more and learn something new. Ok, Omron gurus, anybody taking job?

Hi Karthik/Strattus Welcome to this forum. I am sure everyone will be glad to help, but you need to do the first step. Nobody will develop whole program/solution for you. You need to start with something and once you get stuck, explain what happens, post your code and we will try to help with specific problem you have. There are some tutorials and articles in this forum on Mitsubishi programming and temperature control. http://www.mrplc.com/kb/ See if this helps and then if not, feel free to ask. Just be specific.

Hi Sergey, I can tell you are frustrated, but just think about it. I guess that's all matter of taste. Some people swear at AD, other at Omron etc. The unknown is always misterious and it takes some time to get custom to it. Some people like force one way or another. To me force is the ultimate override of the I/O, not just toggle (force should FORCE value to an I/O regardless of field or rung condition) and I want information that there are some forces (or identify what is forced...). Take Mitsubishi for example, I know you know it well. If you have something wired to an input, regardless of mode of operation, all you can do is force it high. If the input is made (high) there is absolutelly no way to force it low (may force be with Mitsubishi when they design next PLC). Also there is absolutelly no way to tell if there is input forced high. Sure I can reset PLC but what if I don't want to stop PLC because it controls several processes? I agree that some standardization would be nice and there are areas for all PLC vendors where they can improve (even the almighty Allen Bradley). If you ask what would I like to see better in Mitsubishi, here are few things: - one file only. I always get customers that don't know how to email PLC program or use WinZip etc. Why can't they just make it one dang file? - data tables please. I want to see ALL data in my offline copy - every freaking bit or word or timer or potato regardless what it is. If PLC CPU can address it, I want to SEE it and I want to EDIT it - OFFLINE!!! I know very well that SOME data types such as D or T can be seen offline in Mitsubishi projects. But I want to see EVERYTHING. Including L, M etc. (who knows what is wrong with the program if there are some L bits that I cannot tell if they are on or off...). I want to see state of each timer (accumulated value) at the moment program was saved. - single click/button/key/whatever that would let me go online and offline. Maybe you only deal with FX but I sure do bigger PLCs as well and the common frustration factor is to open ten-twenty ladder files and go online with each and every one of them individually. In case you need to use COM port or whatever for something else (GOT programming, scanner or whatever) it is a freaking nightmare to click your way out of the GX developer - and then restore everything later on to same state it was in before. - Latch all PLC memory. (this applies to Omron as well). If I need something cleared I will put instruction to clear it. How about letting the programmer be in charge of program (data) state...? Believe me, whatever brand you pick, there will be deficiencies. AB is no exception. My biggest complaint on Micrologix is lack of online programming. For the price they ask there are better and cheaper alternatives.

Literature? Don't know of anything worth recommending but someone else could answer that. Typically, you choose motor to match load and then you choose inverter to match motor etc. One thing to keep in mind is motor cooling because specially at lower speed, motors don't get enough cooling. If you need to match the speed or torque, you can use gearbox etc. They are often integrated with the motor to make compact assembly. To do any sizing you have to come up with mechanical concept and some numbers...

Oh and one more thing: Only one application can use same COM port at a time. And in case you are sure that com port is not used by anything else, your cable is ok and it's plugged to right port, check the port settings. you don't have to do anything to make FX PLC communicate with your ladder software. It automatically detects settings and adapts. GOT doesn't do that so you might want to try different baud rate (if I recall there are only three settings: 9600, 19200 and 38400bps). Happy programming...

That's not possible. When you connect PC to GOT, you could change GOT program. To change PLC program you would have to connect to PLC. The 940GOT is pendant style touchscreen. I like them a lot, specially the monochrome version (it has better contrast than the color version). To program them you need to remove back cover (there are couple of screws) to expose male DB9 connector for downloading. Note that this is separate connector and not the same as port used to connect GOT to PLC. To download changes you need standard crossover RS232 cable (null modem). I usually carry AB cable 1747-CP3 which does the job. Mitsubishi cable part number is FX-232CAB-1. I have it as well but AB cable is better thanks to 90deg connector on one end so you can lay the screen down with cable plugged in. The GT Designer is actually package of couple of programs and they don't install in same directory or program group. They don't even work on same OS's either. Make sure to use 900-er version to work with 940F.

Hi Sergei, I think you've spent way too much time with Mitsubishi. AB doesn't support this. In AB world you do that when PLC is running. With Micrologix, forces are already enabled, just rightclick on the coil and force it on or off.

Alpha is just a smart relay. The only port I've seen on Alpha's is the programming port. Do you have driver that can talk to it? For similar (slightly higher) price you could get FX PLC if you want to stay with Mitsubishi. This will have advantage that you can get driver to talk to it or you can write your own. Some sample code is posted in the download section of this forum...

sounds like problem with background light (probably cold cathode unit...).

There are some projects such as open PLC. I guess they would have free ladder software and simulator - don't know for sure. There are some simulators on the web like www.plstalk.net and there are some projects to do. If you want to make money, just bite the bullet and buy the thing. There are starter packages from just about all vendors that come with PLC and software. If 200-300 euro is too much for the budget, consider voluntering for few weeks at your local automation shop. You will learn a lot...! No pain no gain...

Sure it can. If you use standard timer such as 0.1s that would give you count of 14-15 but usually you can do better than that Even little FX1S PLC has timer with 1mS resolution.

I am not quite sure what are you after. Maybe this helps:

I use XP (just switched from Home to Pro edition few months ago) and RSL500 was/is running just fine with or without DH+. And I do use masive editing when making upgrades etc on running equipment... Anyway, here are some toughts: Did you try to run some hardware tests to ensure memory and CPU are all ok? In the past six months I've found memory problems on couple of PCs. Removing affected module solved the problem. Simple test that cost's nothing is to start many instances of large applications so that system memory will be completely used up. If you have hardware problem, any program will crash your PC. If you want to invest a bit you can buy Microscope (chances are your local PC shop is using it to test their equipment). Once you prove no hardware defects, check for resource conflicts. Maybe you just have bad cable? I see the PCMK connectors broken quite often. (Some maintenance guys would rather blame it on not-working hardware than try to use it and fix the problem...)

Did you try contacting Mitsubishi? They should be able to provide contact information for their distributors in your area. Visit : www.meau.com

Also you can move addresses, comments, forces, etc. if you chose to drag module from one slot to another.

Ooooopss... I posted reply after only glancing the question

on 422 you can connect multiple devices, on 232 only two on 422 you can run long distances, on 232 you cannot 422 uses less conductors than 232 and wiring is much simpler why the heck we need 232? it's more common, every PC used to come with it etc.

http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?showtopic=1461#

It's working? Are you sure that port is not used by other application?

What is "time Prop. Temp."?

Check this out PCMK Card And yes, there are two cables ca $300 each. One is for DH485 and other is for DH+. Actually there are two cables for DH+, one with DB9 and one with round DIN connector. Internally they are same (you can get addapter for the DB9 version to make it round mini-DIN)

Check this out PCMK Card