WHY?
Why replace OLD, OLD, OLD Technology with OLDER Technology?
Unless your customer dictates it, look in to AutomationDirect's BRX line of PLC's. No I am not a salesmen for AutomationDirect. Just a frustrated and disgruntled AB user looking for and has found better alternatives and customer service. Their (AD's) High End CPU (for the BRX line) which cost less than $500, has Ethernet IP, Modbus TCP, Rs232, RS485, MicroSD slot and a second Ethernet port can be had for as little as $69. How much is it to convert a DF-1 Micrologix to a Sloooooooow Net-Eni Ethernet interface? About $1,000. The BRX Platform (high end unit), has on-board 20 discrete Inputs, 16 Discrete Outputs, 4 Analog Inputs, 2 Analog outputs. Programming Software is FREE, FREE, FREE, and guaranteed to be free. All firmware and software updates are free and you do not have to have a service contract or register and go thru time wasting hoops to get them. Add-on I/O modules are 1/10th the cost of AB's products if not less. This thing makes a high end Micrologix looks like a YUGO that needs its third engine rebuild before it can be push started. As far as Scan time goes, it makes Micrologix looks like a Yugo that hasn't got its engine installed yet. Dare I say this might even be equivalent to or better than the CompactLogix L43 platform costing more than $5,000 for the CPU alone. Sure, software can be a little quirky. As if Rockwell's stuff wasn't. Rockwell has been selling the same buggy garbage they had for decades re-rebranding them as FactoryTalk View or Studio this and Studio that. Thanks to Bill Gates for mastering the art of how to get your customers to pay to fix your own bugs while calling them updates. Brilliant. However, after you get familiar with the AD's Do-More software and Master the Math-box function, you will not utter the word Micrologix ever again. EVER. About now, I am starting to forget the word CompactLogix. Except of course for the customers that are willing to pay an arm and a leg to have it. And yes, I quote them two arms and two legs for my aggravation. They keep paying. Oh well. The misery continues.
But seriously,
Invest a little time to learn something new. Maybe you can upgrade the entire system for what you would pay just for the 5/60 CPU alone and ask your boss for a raise.
Sorry for the RANT.
Cheers.