Posted: 4/16/2013 6:37:57 PM EDT
| Who all has PLC experience here? Of the brands you have used whats your favorite? I have to say I was skeptical about them at first but Siemens are pretty awesome. Especially the little micro 200s. They did a great job on them. |
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I hate Siemens Step 7 software, although I have no formal training with it.
If I'm building something at work, I'll usually use Allen Bradley mainly because I'm used to the software. I'm proficient with MicroLogix 500 and know my way around RSLogix 5000 enough to be dangerous. I work with the Mitsubish FX series a lot at work using the GX Developer software. They are ok, but I prefer AB. We have one Omron Sysmac that I maintain with CX Programmer. I have nothing against it. At home I use Automation Direct Click and Idec Pentra PLCs due to the price. The software is not bad, but it is limited. I use the Automation Direct PLCs at work for small stuff now and then like boxing conveyors. |
| Been using Jokab Pluto safety monitored plc's on our robotic systems. They are nice because you can run light curtains, interlocks, and other safety devises direct into them w/o safety relays. The logic we used to have to do with safety relays can now be done in the ladder. They have their place, but in some cases can double as the main system and safety device combined. |
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I hate Siemens Step 7 software, although I have no formal training with it. If I'm building something at work, I'll usually use Allen Bradley mainly because I'm used to the software. I'm proficient with MicroLogix 500 and know my way around RSLogix 5000 enough to be dangerous. I work with the Mitsubish FX series a lot at work using the GX Developer software. They are ok, but I prefer AB. We have one Omron Sysmac that I maintain with CX Programmer. I have nothing against it. At home I use Automation Direct Click and Idec Pentra PLCs due to the price. The software is not bad, but it is limited. I use the Automation Direct PLCs at work for small stuff now and then like boxing conveyors. Step7 MicroWin is laid out really easy. And the 200s are very cheap. I think MicroWin is 400ish and a 224XP CPU that has 1 Word of inputs and outputs, 2 analog ins and outs as well as a high speed counter is 350  . We use them mostly because our plant is really spread out with many small systems. I have used Step7/PCS7 a bit and it is confusing. Then again im not used to programming in function blocks. 400s are pretty beastly.
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Siemens are pretty awesome. The Iranians use to love 'em. Nowadays - Not so much... Stuxnet FTW Totally awesome until it craps up PLCs for a major theme park in Florida... Safe guards, checks, and "did you have an Iranian keyboard on it ?" my ass! |
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Allen Bradley is the best and also the most expensive. They also require lots of proprietary software so you have to spend lots of $ if you want to program your own or fix. Hire an AB tech is also expensive so pick your poison.
GE Fanuc is pretty good and more open source so we usually design around the Fanuc or Siemens. We are in the power generation business so we use them primarily for turbine controls and Plant MMI interface. The gap is so small between systems anymore I think you use what your comfortable with. When I joined Arfcom I never imagined the topics I would read. Brothers in Arms and other cool stuff too! |
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Allen Bradley is the best and also the most expensive. They also require lots of proprietary software so you have to spend lots of $ if you want to program your own or fix. Hire an AB tech is also expensive so pick your poison. GE Fanuc is pretty good and more open source so we usually design around the Fanuc or Siemens. We are in the power generation business so we use them primarily for turbine controls and Plant MMI interface. The gap is so small between systems anymore I think you use what your comfortable with. When I joined Arfcom I never imagined the topics I would read. Brothers in Arms and other cool stuff too! The great thing about Siemens is they have free support. They are pretty good too. With Siemens S7-400s the software is the most expensive part when we updated from 7.0 to 7.1 it cost us 30k! Thanks to NERC we didnt have a choice. |
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Quoted: For work? We are phasing out Siemens for Omron. For home I use Koyo. https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/s720x720/407086_3031093108541_446452712_n.jpg?dl=1 You're using a PLC system at home? Did you automate your house? If so....that is frikkin' cool! |
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For work? We are phasing out Siemens for Omron. For home I use Koyo. https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/s720x720/407086_3031093108541_446452712_n.jpg?dl=1 You're using a PLC system at home? Did you automate your house? If so....that is frikkin' cool! I would love to do something similar. |
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For work? We are phasing out Siemens for Omron. For home I use Koyo. https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/s720x720/407086_3031093108541_446452712_n.jpg?dl=1 You're using a PLC system at home? Did you automate your house? If so....that is frikkin' cool! |
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For work? We are phasing out Siemens for Omron. For home I use Koyo. https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/s720x720/407086_3031093108541_446452712_n.jpg?dl=1 You're using a PLC system at home? Did you automate your house? If so....that is frikkin' cool! Err, sorry. The picture is from work. At home I just play with them and random sensors. |
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Allen Bradley ETA...Wonderware This. I deal/dealt with hundreds of various Allen Bradley (and other) PLCs, ABs just run without issues - PLC5, SLC, Micrologix, Compact, Control. Yes they are expensive to start off with but they last. For HMIs...Wonderware |
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Well, I work for Rockwell Automtion, so take a wild guess as to my preference  When are they going to make factory talk view studio win7 64 bit compatible? It already is. I am running it on my computer right now (I am not really here. I am a figment of GD's collective imagination  )...
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