The_Wanderer
Member
We have a project coming up (possibly-- depends on a couple bean counters hidden away in a locked office) where the customer has specified Siemens PLC's. The project is going to include servo or stepper motors, not sure which yet, and discrete I/O only.
Only problem is that nobody here has done any programming on Siemens before (plenty of Mitsubishi and AB experience, some Telemechanique). To get around this, the boss is trying to decide on how to get the machine programmed in the cheapest/ quickest/ cheapest/ easiest/ cheapest/ most efficient way.
As I see it, there are 3 choices:
1: Subcontract out the programming. Don't really like this option, as then we have less control, less knowledge of the program, less troubleshooting ability. And the cost of course.
2: Get in a subcontractor we know who is getting out of the business but who is willing to show us a few things (for a price). Pump him for as much info as possible, then try to muddle our way through and teach ourselves how to communicate, program, and debug on new software. I have had enough trouble doing this before to be glad that it would not be me doing it.
3: Send one of our guys on a week long training course. Cost is a big issue here, as is the fact that I'm not sure a basics course would be sufficient.
Oh, and by the way, everything has to be on the AS-i system. Which we have never used before. No problem, right? I have been told that AS-i is no great shakes, but that was a salesman speaking, and I tend to disregard everything salesmen say...
I guess I am just looking for any comments on how others would approach this. How is Siemens for programming if you know other programming languages? I have heard that it is quite different, but am not sure how.
Only problem is that nobody here has done any programming on Siemens before (plenty of Mitsubishi and AB experience, some Telemechanique). To get around this, the boss is trying to decide on how to get the machine programmed in the cheapest/ quickest/ cheapest/ easiest/ cheapest/ most efficient way.
As I see it, there are 3 choices:
1: Subcontract out the programming. Don't really like this option, as then we have less control, less knowledge of the program, less troubleshooting ability. And the cost of course.
2: Get in a subcontractor we know who is getting out of the business but who is willing to show us a few things (for a price). Pump him for as much info as possible, then try to muddle our way through and teach ourselves how to communicate, program, and debug on new software. I have had enough trouble doing this before to be glad that it would not be me doing it.
3: Send one of our guys on a week long training course. Cost is a big issue here, as is the fact that I'm not sure a basics course would be sufficient.
Oh, and by the way, everything has to be on the AS-i system. Which we have never used before. No problem, right? I have been told that AS-i is no great shakes, but that was a salesman speaking, and I tend to disregard everything salesmen say...
I guess I am just looking for any comments on how others would approach this. How is Siemens for programming if you know other programming languages? I have heard that it is quite different, but am not sure how.