ceilingwalker
Lifetime Supporting Member
I have had to reload all of my software on my laptop today as the graphics card died. So, I have spent about the entire day reloading/registering the software to the new laptop. Just getting through the first quarter, my request for the $11k for Rockwell Support is pending approval. Because I can not locate all of the disks I need for the Allen-Bradley products and the fact that my tech support agreement expired two months ago, I am getting no where fast.
I don’t want “stir the pot” but I have a question about Siemens vs. Allen-Bradley, PLC’s. Last year we rebuilt a system using our PLC5, a server computer and a client industrial computer. We paid over $10k for the all the software alone (Factory Talk Server/Client Site Edition and Factory Talk Editor for our HMI and SCADA). We then spent another $9k for our Rockwell Automation Tech support agreement. I am currently building a new control for an Airflow Bench and a Vacuum Furnace (two separate projects), using Siemens S7-1200’s. I have purchased the Step7 Software which will work for both my PLC Program as well as the HMI, for $400. I have called into Siemens technical support twice and have been charged nothing for it. I asked the technician, “don’t I need a service agreement for support” and he told me “no”. So here is my question, how does Rockwell Automation get away with charging so much for their hardware, software, and telephone support? I am barely a beginner using Step7 but from where I stand, it is every bit as powerful as the RSLogix and Factory Talk software packages. I must be missing something or I am even dumber than I thought if I continue to purchase and use Allen-Bradley controls. Now, if all of their “stuff” were made state-side, I would do it just to support the economy but, unless what I am told isn’t true, almost all of their production has been moved overseas.
I don’t want “stir the pot” but I have a question about Siemens vs. Allen-Bradley, PLC’s. Last year we rebuilt a system using our PLC5, a server computer and a client industrial computer. We paid over $10k for the all the software alone (Factory Talk Server/Client Site Edition and Factory Talk Editor for our HMI and SCADA). We then spent another $9k for our Rockwell Automation Tech support agreement. I am currently building a new control for an Airflow Bench and a Vacuum Furnace (two separate projects), using Siemens S7-1200’s. I have purchased the Step7 Software which will work for both my PLC Program as well as the HMI, for $400. I have called into Siemens technical support twice and have been charged nothing for it. I asked the technician, “don’t I need a service agreement for support” and he told me “no”. So here is my question, how does Rockwell Automation get away with charging so much for their hardware, software, and telephone support? I am barely a beginner using Step7 but from where I stand, it is every bit as powerful as the RSLogix and Factory Talk software packages. I must be missing something or I am even dumber than I thought if I continue to purchase and use Allen-Bradley controls. Now, if all of their “stuff” were made state-side, I would do it just to support the economy but, unless what I am told isn’t true, almost all of their production has been moved overseas.