idec micro-1 help needed

Joe here from Palm Gaming- hoping to find some help here-
we run a custom made heat press- we make ***** chips for casinos- the press has the orig idec micro-1 data preset loader. basically- the controller handles the following:
1- program one controls a delay for the press head coming down
2- program 2 controls how long the press head stays down
this is a heated press- you push a button, theres a delay then the heated press comes down ( pneumatic operated) and after a predetermiend number of seconds- I guess controlled by program 2, the head raises until you push a button and the cycle repeats

we need to have a replacement controller- and the idec is obsolete- ideally the new controller should use the same I/O devices that we have now for the orig idec controller...

I would like to know if any of the new data preset loaders if this is the correct term can be bought, preprogrammed, and if the controller ever fails we can swap in the new one

Or- is there a newer system out there that can handle the above 2 programs
I ordered a plc/cable for connecting a laptop to the plc- and found the software- I think windLDR is used- but we would like to have something more modern- preprogrammed- and ready to be swapped in to the press if anything fails

We are willing to pay a small consulting fee if anyone can assist us
thanks. joe

Joe,

I will try to assist you. Probably the easiest change would be to swap the Idec Micro-1 to a Idec MicroSmart Pentra or OpenNet PLC.

It may be that even the Idec SmartRelay will do the job, depending on the number of inputs and outputs that you have. At first look, it seems that you only need 1 input (pushbutton), 1 Output (press head position), and 2 timers. The SmartRelay can handle that, but there might be other reasons to go up 1 step for a more advanced device.

If there are things you want to discuss privately, you may send me a Private Message on this site. Click on my User Name "Lancie1" and select "Send a private message to Lancie1".

For a replacement program, you need to provide:

(1) The Idec model number of your existing PLC;
(2) All the Input devices, and what Micro-1 terminal they are wired to;
(3) All the Output devices, and what Micro-1 terminal they are wired to;
(4) The delay times for the the press head moving down, and the heating duration time.

thanks. I managed to find and order: a replacement data preset loader but not the one that can bring up the orig program- I also found the handheld programmer for the old micro-1, cables, software etc. the press has both the cpu unit and an expansion unit- although I dont know why the cpu unit couldnt handle the few simple tasks without the need for an expansion unit- I do see that the expansion unit, for whatever reason, uses sink input ( pnp transistor) and relay output- the relay output makes sense. since I have replacement components except a replacement cpu unit- I am hoping to retrieve the orig program, and possibly program a replacement cpu unit when I find an exact one.
I'll send a pm in a day or so-and if you an walk me through programming or at least retrieving the program I'll be more then happy to pay you for your time.
I cant see the number for the cpu unit but the expansion unit is FC1AE2A1E
Joe

I'll send a pm in a day or so-and if you an walk me through programming or at least retrieving the program...

Click to expand...

Do you have the User Manual for the Micro-1 Programmer? If so, start reading and studying that. Most likely, it has a step-by-step procedure to get online with your Micro.

If you have the proper PC-to-Micro cable, you should be able to download and run WindLDR to upload the program to a PC.

Just in case you don't have the user manual Lancie1 mentioned, here is a link.
http://www.idec.com/language/english/manual/Micro1_manual.pdf

Thanks for the manual link. Looking at the manual, Page 6, I doubt if this old unit is compatible with the newer WindLDR software. There was a PC prgram for it called CLIP (Control Logic Input Program for IBM PC). It needed an additional PF2-CLA Link Adapter and a PFA-1A53 Computer Link Cable in order to connect to a PC RS232 serial port. Without the PF2-CLA Link Adapter, Palm is probably going to be limited to using the old Micro-1 handheld Program Loader (if it still works).

I noticed that the model number that Palm gave for his Micro-1 Expansion Unit (FC1A-E2A1E) has the following characteristics (from the manual, Appendix page A-15:

Power Supply: 120-240 VAC
Inputs: 8 transistor sinking (+ DC wired to PLC Input COM terminal)
Outputs: 6 AC/DC relays, first 3 have 1 Common, last 3 are isolated)

The bold underlined "E" in the model number (FC1A-E2A1E) means it is an Expansion unit. The main Base unit model numbers have a "C" as the first letter after the dash. If the Base Unit has the same configuration, it's model number would be FC1A-C2A1E.

I think the model numbers are coded something like this:

FC1A = Micro-1 identifier
5-character Suffix:
1st = (C = Base Unit, E = Expansion Unit)
2nd = (1 = Sourcing Inputs, 2 = Sinking Inputs)
3rd = (A = Relay Outputs, B = Sinking Outputs, C = Sourcing Outputs)
4&5 = (1E = AC Power In, 2E = 12 VDC Power In, 4E = 24 VDC Power In)

Question about Micro-1 and WindLDR

Can WindLDR 4.2 retrieve the program from a Micro-1 PLC ? If not can it at
Least monitor the Programs operation without having a copy on the computer.
If WindLDR 4.2 is unable to retrieve the program from the Micro-1 are their Later versions of WindLDR that will do so. If so , What version should we be looking for ?

Thanks for any Help

@GJW,
Here is a re-post of a link to a manual that may help.
https://www.idec.com/language/english/manual/Micro1_manual.pdf
Download it and see if any of your questions are answered.

In the past, (many years ago), I used to work on these but my memory is faded about them. I do know almost all of the older plcs needed a computer with a real RS232 serial port and DOS based OS. WinXP will work on some but much better to have Win98 or earlier.
I believe that WindLDR 4.2 might just work on WinXP. I have a copy of WindLDR 4.1 and it seems to be working in the "Offline" mode. Micro-1 appears in the Configure > (left click) PLC Selection > (left click)drop-down menu "See" (Micro-1) as a choice.
I "think" that I may have some of that stuff squirreled away in storage and will look if you think it would help.

Edit:
Please try to take and attach some pictures if you can.

GJW said:

Can WindLDR 4.2 retrieve the program from a Micro-1 PLC ? If not can it at
Least monitor the Programs operation without having a copy on the computer.
If WindLDR 4.2 is unable to retrieve the program from the Micro-1 are their Later versions of WindLDR that will do so. If so , What version should we be looking for ?

Thanks for any Help

Click to expand...

You would need to be able to upload the program before you can monitor it

I am running 4.2 on Windows 7 and Windows 10 with no issues

jrwb4gbm,
Thanks for the link. That version of the manual told me a lot more than the one I had found online. It did indicate the program loader could look at instructions but it makes no mention of WindLDR. Our machine only has the dumb program loader not the one that will look at instructions. One of our problems is that The machine was bought with out a manual. So we don't know what registers / Counter/ Timers to change to alter the machine cycle times. The only way I know of is to Read the code.

geniusintraining, what a coincidence, I emailed your support about buying your cable- lol

I am still unclear about WindLDR - You mention "I would need to be able to upload the Program in order to monitor with it " , but my question is Really with WindLDR 4.2 "CAN I" upload the program from the Micro-1 ?

Thanks to both of you for the information.

GJW

GJW said:

I am still unclear about WindLDR - You mention "I would need to be able to upload the Program in order to monitor with it " , but my question is Really with WindLDR 4.2 "CAN I" upload the program from the Micro-1 ?

Click to expand...

Yes you will not have any issues... do as I stated in the email

To upload,
open the software
select processor type (Micro1)
select com port number (mine 4)
select upload again Micro1 from upload/going online

Let me know if you need help, we will be shipping your cable today

Thank you for the order!!