adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Created Date: April 25,2007
Created By: twbrock
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I have 14 machines that I need to monitor the production speed and run time on. I would like to send this to a C-More panel. If I am reading the manuals correctly then this can be done with 5 D0-05DD and one of the following H0-ECOM or D0-DCM or F2-UNICON any of the option cards make the 05 a minimum of $168.00 each and a maximum of $274.00 each. My other option is to use 4 D0-06DD at $199.00 each and DirectNET is built in to the PLC. My question is am I reading this correctly and are their any other (or better) options? Thanks TWBrock
Created Date: April 25,2007
Created by: marksji
I realize this adds a lot of cost, but my recommendation is to add an ECOM to each of the 14 machines and connect a C-More to the network.
Created Date: April 26,2007
Created by: allukes
If You can afford it I would go with the 06 and the Ecom modules. If the machines are close together, you can try using the multi-drop on COM2. It also depends on how often you need to communicate. Also, you could designate one of the 06's as a master and poll the others to concentrate the data in one PLC. Then use an Ethernet link between that PLC and the Display for better response with the display. If it doesn't work out, then upgrade Ecom modules when funds are available . Either way, I would tend toward the 06. The 05's are very limited on expansion and you don't want to design yourself into a corner.
Created Date: April 26,2007
Created by: krak
I agree that Ecoms are the way to go. the cards are at a higher cost then I would like, but the wiring is simple the swiches are cheap and you can add as many as you want. the card pay for themselves once you consider how much it will cost in time and money to do wiring for other networks. but here is the down side. you will have to either network this plc's with the ethernet network in the shop ( not a good idea ), or you will have to setup a seperate network that may or may not have a router. If you have a router you may want a vpn tunnel to it. As far as the cmores go, you will have to set up the database by hand. I have not found a way to import the tags from more then one plc. With that said, or typed, ecom is the way to go for sure. The big price is scarey, but most of the work is already done for you, and most of the other parts come off the shelf.
Created Date: April 26,2007
Created by: twbrock
Originally posted by allukes:
If You can afford it I would go with the 06 and the Ecom modules. If the machines are close together, you can try using the multi-drop on COM2. It also depends on how often you need to communicate. Also, you could designate one of the 06's as a master and poll the others to concentrate the data in one PLC. Then use an Ethernet link between that PLC and the Display for better response with the display. If it doesn't work out, then upgrade Ecom modules when funds are available . Either way, I would tend toward the 06. The 05's are very limited on expansion and you don't want to design yourself into a corner.
If I go with the 06 and use COM2 and multi-drop can I have all 4 PLC’s report to the C-More? I’m not worried about designing into a corner as much as the communications working. If I get a speed report every 10 min. or so that’s good. I need to monitor down time which should be easy.
Thanks TWBrock
Created Date: April 26,2007
Created by: allukes
All the C-mores have an RS422/485 serial interface . I have have only used the micros, but have done this with other displays. You should be able to set up the Display as a Master and be able to pull data from each one. I am not sure how the Cmore does it's polling. Hopefully you can set the update interval.
Created Date: April 25,2007
Created by: twbrock
I have 14 machines that I need to monitor the production speed and run time on. I would like to send this to a C-More panel. If I am reading the manuals correctly then this can be done with 5 D0-05DD and one of the following H0-ECOM or D0-DCM or F2-UNICON any of the option cards make the 05 a minimum of $168.00 each and a maximum of $274.00 each. My other option is to use 4 D0-06DD at $199.00 each and DirectNET is built in to the PLC. My question is am I reading this correctly and are their any other (or better) options?
Thanks
TWBrock