jraef
Member
It's not called "MicroLogix", it's called the Micro800 line, the word "Logix" is decidedly NOT in the name, because it is NOT a Logix product.I rarely like to weigh in on these X vs Y PLC threads. But I do believe RA sacrificed standards we have come to expect from the to compete in the low end market. I just wish that they would have called it something besides "Micrologix" since it is absolutely nothing like the 1100/1400 counterpart.
In fact the main reason I discourage it's use is that its software is nothing like RsLogix 500 or 5000. If someone has learned 500 they can catch onto 5000 pretty quick and vice versa but whether you love or hate the 800's software, when your application is too large for it, there isn't an easy transition to a larger PLC family.
Also, as others have stated, only the 1000 and 1500 are being phased out. I wish they would clarify this on their site because it is becoming a common question.
http://ab.rockwellautomation.com/Programmable-Controllers/MicroLogix-1000
It's a cheap little PLC using "free" software mainly for the high volume Asian small machine OEM market, manufacturers what were NEVER going to use "Logix" anything. It just happens to work out OK for some of us low volume small machine customers too.
But you're right, "Logix" it isn't and in fact they definitely WANT to maintain that differentiation. The "upgrade" issue is not there, because that was never the intent. RA was trying to capture NEW business that they were missing and never going to get with the Logix family products. It's more likely that we may see a "Logix-Lite" product to someday replace the old MicroLogix (so that it can use Studio 5000) before we see an easy migration path from Micro800 into the Logix platform. That migration path was never part of the plan for the M800 line.
And yes, it IS actually built by RA at a plant they built and operate in Singapore, not China. It's their plant, their design, just like the new PowerFlex 520 drives and E300 OL relays (also built there).
As said, if you know and love Logix 500/5000, CCW is hard to get used to, but if you were using something else, it's actually kind of simple in my opinion (for what the PLC is capable of). NEW users with no previous AB experience to compare it to, or those who HATED Logix for simple tasks, don't seem to find a lot of fault in it.