Load program to Micrologix 1500

[Dartrunner]

I have a Micrologix 1500 and the line that it was on was shut down for a couple of months. The Display could not communicate with the PLC and upon checking the PLC the Batt light was on. Installed a new battery but when I connected to it the program was gone. I got the backup CDs to reload it, but the rss file is asking for a password when I try to open it. Is there a way to download the file to the PLC without opening it? We tried contacting the original programmer, but the phone number has been disconnected. I don't want to edit the program or even look at it, I just need to send it to the PLC. Thanks

 

[Mickey]

Contact your local AB representative.

 

[Dartrunner]

"Contact your local AB representative."

I have already done so, and they claim there is nothing they can do. We did find an old cell phone number for the original programer and got a hold of him. He found the program and it was password protected on his computer also. And of course he does not know the password and said that someone here must have requested a password because he never uses them. So I guess we are going to have to try and rewrite it from scratch. One of the few ABs we have here now, and I hope to not see any more come into this plant. I just don't understand the closed and secret nature of this stuff.
Sorry for the rant, have a great day.

 

[James Mcquade]

Contact your local rep again.
Explain your situation and that you are willing to fill out their proof of ownership paper work.
Unless they have changes their policy recently, they can help.
they may request that you email the program to them.

I had to fill out 14 pages of red tape in the past.

james

by the way, what type of machine is it?
This does matter.

 

[Dartrunner]

they may request that you email the program to them.

I had to fill out 14 pages of red tape in the past.


by the way, what type of machine is it?
This does matter.

The local rep called me back about an hour ago and asked me to email the program to him, so I am hopeful. Didn't ask me to sign any paperwork yet so that might come later.

The PLC does 7 different inspections on a series of packaging stations along a conveyor line. Quite a few I/O and there is no schematic either. We have run into that on several machines, which I believe was somehow misplaced when the plant changed hands.

Bob

 

[Firejo]

If your local AB rep can’t/won’t help you, you could contact a systems integrator that works with AB equipment. You’re going to have to pay them but it will be a lot less than buying the software.

 

[Dartrunner]

The local Rep said he couldn't get into the program and that i needed to call the factory and gave me their number. So I called AB and finally got to talk to someone again and they will not work with me unless I have a "Tech Connect"?(something like that) account. She said I had to go through my local rep to purchase one. She said The rep could call-in and include me on a conference call to get some limited support. So I called the rep back and he hasn't responded to my messages.
We are going to have a lot of money go down the drain if we can't get the medicine packaged. I am sure the local reps can make money off this, I don't understand his reluctance to do something for me.

Bob

 

[Firejo]

Go to the web page below and enter the information (you can leave “Industry” and “Disciplines” at “All…” and you can leave “Company Name” and “Keyword” blank) and you will get a list of system integrator’s in your area. They should be able to help you.
http://www.software.rockwell.com/corporate/sp/RASIRefineSearch.cfm?Programlevel=RSI#

 

[Ken Roach]

There was a "MicroLogix Download Utility" available free of charge at one time. It's mentioned in RA Knowledgebase Article ID # 456140 (Access level: Everyone).

Many of those old links to the AB.COM page have broken since downloads were moved and consolidated in the "Product Download and Compatibility Center", but the utility should still be available.

Nudge your distributor specialist in that direction.

 

[James Mcquade]

Dartrunner,

You said the magic words "Package Medicine" !!!!!!
I cannot cite the rules, but in order to package medicine, you have to meet strict guidelines by the FDA and meet their requirements.

The program more than likely is password protected on purpose to keep others from modifying the code and exposing the OEM to a lawsuit for allowing the program to have unauthorized changes.

this is from memory several years ago in a former life when we were asked to build a similar machine.

I may be wrong, but we had a lot of red tape to go through and the boss finally gave up due to the testing requirements.

james.

 

[padees]

We replace every ML1500 we come across with something better. They will be discontinued next year, and I say it's about time! The most problematic piece of hardware out there!

I know password stuff is taboo here, like it should be, but I've had to discover a few where the company went under or the programmer died without filling anyone in.

Most times, the password is right under your nose. If it was a poisonous snake, it would have bit you, then it don't matter.

I'm sure a few people here know where to look.

 

[Dartrunner]

Dartrunner,

You said the magic words "Package Medicine" !!!!!!
I cannot cite the rules, but in order to package medicine, you have to meet strict guidelines by the FDA and meet their requirements.

The program more than likely is password protected on purpose to keep others from modifying the code and exposing the OEM to a lawsuit for allowing the program to have unauthorized changes.

this is from memory several years ago in a former life when we were asked to build a similar machine.

I may be wrong, but we had a lot of red tape to go through and the boss finally gave up due to the testing requirements.

james.

Yes, no end to the red tape. If we have to rewrite from scratch, a complete validation package has to be created and executed which will put us way out past the packaging time limit. So far, this is the only PLC I have had to access here that had a password, so it must not be a requirement of the FDA. This is a one-off multiple inspection station solution just for one powder line, so it should have no OEM issues. We were able to contact the guy that programmed it and he said he doesn't normally password anything, so the Validation guy that was here at the time must have requested him to do it, and he has no idea what the password is.

 

[Dravik]

Yeah, it is not a FDA requirement. (The password)

It is however an interesting way to help enforce the qualified state of the machine.

 

[Dartrunner]

After paying $3100 for a tech connect account, 3 long conversations with 5 different people at AB, I finally got someone that would email me an "unsupported" utility (MLDU.exe) which I assume is the program that Ken Roach mentioned above. Most of the people I talked to would not even acknowledge that such a program even existed, so if you get into the same predicament, keep talking to different people till you get the right one. On the utility, if you hit the download button, it will ask for the password just like the RSLogix 500 software. There is another button beside it that says "Download All" and that one will just send it to the PLC without asking anything. Of course the PLC and program are password protected still, but it is working now and everyone is happy.
Thanks for all the help everybody,
Bob Smith

 

[rupej]

Wow, glad you got it figured out! So now that you have the MLDU program, can you keep using it forever? Is it freely distributable or is it licensed to just you like RSLogix?