Guys, we can
yabbut about this all day long and not get anywhere.
The question was asked...................we gave input.................no yabut there.
I would never make my PLC choice on who the local supplier is.
I would not buy a GM because the dealer is across the street from my house.
I would pick the auto or PLC that I am comfortable with .having test driven several............and then order the one I want.............cuz your gonna be livin with the decision everyday for a while.
It is silly to me to pick omron because they are close by. Or which ever.
Of all the support groups I have ever used.........I never received what I thought was good support...........
I order the parts and find the material and ask questions and while I wait for a response or wade through incorrect knee jerk answers I find the answers myself.
And AB is most aggrevating for support.
I would start a forum online and post questions and create my own support group...............hey wait a second............that sounds familiar.........
Anyway, pick a half ton truck to haul light loads and pick the manufacturer of truck you enjoy living with. The dealer will ship it to you and then you can use it.
I just assume failure from the non support nowadays.
The hardware is all pretty much the same with few exceptions. There are alot of 3rd party venders that make alot of cards for AB...I am unsure about the others.
So given the hardware is a wash.it is all down to software and cost.
Pick one you like to work with.
Then decide if want to pay for it.
If it's too expensive move to your second choice.
Nobody can tell you what you would like though. That's up to you.
And asking us what we like and why is comical for sure...............but fruitless in the end.
BTW (Batman is the best SuperHero................
and Ford trucks are best.
and my Grandpa could shoot better than any of yours.)
There I said it..............all that non mention tension through out.........now you know.
I like Step7 for a number of reasons........I get bored easily.
The local Ab supplier is way better than the Siemens supplier, and I have gotten so many wrong answers from them I stopped asking.
If it weren't for this forum, I would be a month back from where I am now.
If you can go to a Siemens class it might be easier, but I do not recommend trying to learn S7 "on the fly".
AB on the other hand is quite easy to pick up..(not sure about Logix5000)
Mitsubishi is nearly as good
Pick one use the demo to write a small patch of code and see how it feels, call the rep and tell them you are trying to decide............some of them will come to you with a demo kit.
Good luck.