sparkytex
Lifetime Supporting Member
hello everyone,
Our mill Is looking at the possibility of upgrading our current automation system. We currently have 50 PLC's through out the mill. Most of our PLC's are Allen Bradley PLC 5 processors that communicate over Ethernet IP and or DH+, or both. We have a few stand alone PLC 5's in smaller area's of the mill. We have quite a few Allen Bradley SLC 500 series processors that communicate solely through DH+ or are stand alones. We also have a few AB Compact Logix as well that are stand alone PLC's. Unfortunately we also have some very old Mitsubishi F series processors for smaller applications throughout the mill.
Currently I have no ability to communicate with the Mitsubishi processors as I do not even know the software required and how to use it. Obviously upgrading these PLC's to a newer AB PLC would be beneficial to us.
I was going to suggest two different upgrades and I would appreciate your opinions please.
1.) This suggestion is more cost effective.
*Upgrade all of the PLC 5 processors to a PLC 5/40E Ethernet processor (the ones that aren't already 5/40E)
* Upgrade all of the SLC 5/04 processors to a SLC 5/05 Ethernet processor
* Upgrade all Mitsubishi PLC's to a SLC 5/05 Ethernet processors
* Get rid of all DH+ networks and use Ethernet IP for mill wide system comms.
2.) This suggestion is a little more pricey and will require more work.
* Upgrade all PLC 5 processors to 1756 L6 Control Logix processors
* Upgrade all SLC 500 processors to 1769 L35E Compact Logix processors
* Upgrade all Mitsusbishi processors to 1769 L35E Compact Logix processors
* Get rid of all DH+ networks and use Ethernet IP for mill wide system comms.
Obviously suggestion one is a lot more of a cost effect route, but then we are sticking with older technology using the PLC 5 and SLC 500 series processors. Suggestion two would be an expensive and timely route, but would ensure we are up to date with AB's most current PLC product line. I know that RSLogix 5000 is great software and would be beneficial for our shift electricians for trouble shooting. I also feel getting rid of the DH+ is a must since it is a very old system and constantly causes problems for us impeding production on a regular basis.
Let me know your thoughts and suggestions.
Thanks, Tex
Our mill Is looking at the possibility of upgrading our current automation system. We currently have 50 PLC's through out the mill. Most of our PLC's are Allen Bradley PLC 5 processors that communicate over Ethernet IP and or DH+, or both. We have a few stand alone PLC 5's in smaller area's of the mill. We have quite a few Allen Bradley SLC 500 series processors that communicate solely through DH+ or are stand alones. We also have a few AB Compact Logix as well that are stand alone PLC's. Unfortunately we also have some very old Mitsubishi F series processors for smaller applications throughout the mill.
Currently I have no ability to communicate with the Mitsubishi processors as I do not even know the software required and how to use it. Obviously upgrading these PLC's to a newer AB PLC would be beneficial to us.
I was going to suggest two different upgrades and I would appreciate your opinions please.
1.) This suggestion is more cost effective.
*Upgrade all of the PLC 5 processors to a PLC 5/40E Ethernet processor (the ones that aren't already 5/40E)
* Upgrade all of the SLC 5/04 processors to a SLC 5/05 Ethernet processor
* Upgrade all Mitsubishi PLC's to a SLC 5/05 Ethernet processors
* Get rid of all DH+ networks and use Ethernet IP for mill wide system comms.
2.) This suggestion is a little more pricey and will require more work.
* Upgrade all PLC 5 processors to 1756 L6 Control Logix processors
* Upgrade all SLC 500 processors to 1769 L35E Compact Logix processors
* Upgrade all Mitsusbishi processors to 1769 L35E Compact Logix processors
* Get rid of all DH+ networks and use Ethernet IP for mill wide system comms.
Obviously suggestion one is a lot more of a cost effect route, but then we are sticking with older technology using the PLC 5 and SLC 500 series processors. Suggestion two would be an expensive and timely route, but would ensure we are up to date with AB's most current PLC product line. I know that RSLogix 5000 is great software and would be beneficial for our shift electricians for trouble shooting. I also feel getting rid of the DH+ is a must since it is a very old system and constantly causes problems for us impeding production on a regular basis.
Let me know your thoughts and suggestions.
Thanks, Tex