adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Created Date: July 24,2006
Created By: a agnone
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Just now reading subjects. Someone made a comment only 3 people using Ibox features. I love the idea, but they only work on the more expensive CPU's. I generally use the DL230,240 and 430. For most projects they do the job. I have to use the DL240 only because it supports the ECOM100. I am forced to use features by buying a more expensive CPU just to use ibox. I have noticed AD does this quite a bit. I upgrade and only to find it is only useful on the more expensive CPU's. Even the simple off delay timer that is used alot can not be used unless I use a DL260.
Created Date: July 24,2006
Created by: franji1
fyi, the 250-1 supports IBoxes. Here's the complete list of IBox supported CPUs:
05
06
250-1
260
450
Created Date: July 24,2006
Created by: krak
you can look but i don't think you will find plc for less then an 05.
Created Date: July 24,2006
Created by: a agnone
I am not saying they are expensive. Pricing and performance is great. I am saying why aren't features available, like using ibox, used for the whole cpu line. I really would like to use the delay timer feature, but again I have to use a more expensive DL250 or 260 just to have that feature. Another example is using ethernet cards. It is like using a race car to go get milk. I may have to look into the DL05 or 06. I really like the D2 series though. Why does the DL05 and o6 support the Ibox features but not the DL205,Dl204?
Created Date: July 24,2006
Created by: bcarlton
Hazarding a guess - I bet that the CPU chip in the newer PLCs more easily supports the changes. The other is that the amount of sales of a given CPU influences the decision to put in the effort to have it support the IBoxes.
My question would be - if the IBoxes are precompiled in the PC (as suggested by a post in another thread) why does the PLC have to have upgraded firmware? My guess is that the instructions generated by the IBoxes would be seen as just individual instructions on readback if there wasn't some type of IBox intro marker.
Created Date: July 25,2006
Created by: franji1
I know for the 230 and 430 they are limited architecturally, and so are unable to interface to any kind of intelligent module (e.g. ECOM, DCM, Basic copro).
The IBoxes do contain markers for the reverse compilation issue (good catch bcarlton). More importantly, there are limitations in the PLC firmware to disallow tweaking of IBox logic using existing hand held programmers. The lower end CPUs have very little free firmware memory, and so cannot easily be changed (think trying to fit a 2500 word ladder program into 2000 words of Ladder memory; it may be doable, and take forever, but you end up with something that cannot be maintained; then try to add a "simple " feature 10 years later).
Finally, there is the marketing issue. Lower end CPUs tend to have less features than the higher end CPUs (05 is the exception). There are features in a Lexus that could be put into a Toyota Corolla that do not cost a ton of money, but due to product differentiation, the features are strategically placed.
Created Date: July 24,2006
Created by: a agnone
Just now reading subjects. Someone made a comment only 3 people using Ibox features. I love the idea, but they only work on the more expensive CPU's. I generally use the DL230,240 and 430. For most projects they do the job. I have to use the DL240 only because it supports the ECOM100. I am forced to use features by buying a more expensive CPU just to use ibox. I have noticed AD does this quite a bit. I upgrade and only to find it is only useful on the more expensive CPU's. Even the simple off delay timer that is used alot can not be used unless I use a DL260.