programmable relay

hello,

I am new to the forum and new to plc programming.
My experience is more with gears, belts, and pulleys.
I have a machine that feeds a web of paper through it continiously.
The only control I have now is feed speed, and on and off buttons. I want
to be able to specify a feed distance, then have the machine stop for a specified
amount of time, then feed again and stop. Repeating over and over.
Can I accomplish this with an encoder on the drive shaft going to a plc that will then
control some type of programmable relay?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

thanks

Yes you are correct. You will need a shaft encoder to determine the distance traveled.
As for the programmable relay, you will not need one. The PLC will do anything a programmable relay will do. So it would be redundant.

What would you recommend to use for an HMI.

That would depend on what PLC you plan to use. Do you have a brand in mind?

You would be need VFD with Shaft encoder to control the speed of motor through PLC codes.

I was thinking about using one of those CLICK
Plc units from direct automation.

I can already control the speed of the motor. I was looking to have it start and stop based upon a predetermined length.

There are several programmable relays on the market with a display option. Most of them could probably do the tasks needed without using a plc at all. To get a feel for what is available google Easy-Soft, Zelio-Soft, or Omron Zentool. There are other brands available but these have/are free software or Demo's.