IanfromOz
Member
Hi All.
I'm Ian, from Australia, and while getting long in the tooth, have not had a lot to do with PLCs. A lot of experience with complex logic and analog control with DCS, but only minor dabbling with Omron, AB and, way back, Square-D PLCs.
I'm involved in the early stages of design of a small process pilot plant, probably no more than 100 - 120 I/O, 60/40% discrete/analog. Will involve a dozen or so VS drives needing precise speed control. Planning on the VSDs looking after themselves re. speed control via built-in PID and speed sensor inputs, with remote setpoints sent via comms (Modbus?)
So to the control system. Project is too small for even entry-level DCS costs but, due to my DCS bias towards single integrated systems, I'm looking at the Red Lion Graphite system. Their loop controllers, comms interfaces and HMI have been around for many years and seem well regarded.
Graphite control not so well established but seems to offer most IEC61131 options (but not SFC) and a reasonable I/O options with the E3 modules. And all tightly integrated with the HMI and comms capabilities.
And free software! No exorbitant licence fees! (I must have some Scots ancestry back there somewhere...) As it's just a small pilot plant, we won't necessarily be locked into using RL should the full size plant go ahead but it would be handy if the control logic were portable. I've already started playing around with the Crimson 3.1 software and it doesn't seem too daunting.
So may I ask: What is the general opinion of RL Graphite, re. both hardware and software, ease of use & reliability (preferably from those with first hand experience)? Will the IEC 61131 control logic be readily portable to other systems?
I'm Ian, from Australia, and while getting long in the tooth, have not had a lot to do with PLCs. A lot of experience with complex logic and analog control with DCS, but only minor dabbling with Omron, AB and, way back, Square-D PLCs.
I'm involved in the early stages of design of a small process pilot plant, probably no more than 100 - 120 I/O, 60/40% discrete/analog. Will involve a dozen or so VS drives needing precise speed control. Planning on the VSDs looking after themselves re. speed control via built-in PID and speed sensor inputs, with remote setpoints sent via comms (Modbus?)
So to the control system. Project is too small for even entry-level DCS costs but, due to my DCS bias towards single integrated systems, I'm looking at the Red Lion Graphite system. Their loop controllers, comms interfaces and HMI have been around for many years and seem well regarded.
Graphite control not so well established but seems to offer most IEC61131 options (but not SFC) and a reasonable I/O options with the E3 modules. And all tightly integrated with the HMI and comms capabilities.
And free software! No exorbitant licence fees! (I must have some Scots ancestry back there somewhere...) As it's just a small pilot plant, we won't necessarily be locked into using RL should the full size plant go ahead but it would be handy if the control logic were portable. I've already started playing around with the Crimson 3.1 software and it doesn't seem too daunting.
So may I ask: What is the general opinion of RL Graphite, re. both hardware and software, ease of use & reliability (preferably from those with first hand experience)? Will the IEC 61131 control logic be readily portable to other systems?