Hey Earle,

And how much did the software for the DL and the Omron stuff cost?
From a few auctions I've managed to collect a few PLC's like SLC-150's
and some Omron and a DL-something, but have no software, so they all
just sit on the shelf.

I'd like to at least tinker with them.

Take care.

Brian Lawson,
Bothwell, Ontario.
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On 17 Sep 2003 23:56:21 GMT, (ERich10983) wrote:

A local inventor developed a machine for installing hooks on plantpots.
Doesn't sound like a useful thing, but a typical greenhouse might have to do 6
million of these pots for Walmart in a short growing season. Anyway, we used
an AutomationDirect 205 PLC that was perfect and did everything we wanted. The
distributor, however, decided that we should use Omron for export to the
European market. After some difficulty, we translated the program to use the
different PLC. I've used both before, so no real big deal.

Then! they decided that we should use the AB PLCs because their maintenance
department was more familiar with them.

What a headache! That is the most unfriendly software I've used in some time.
Almost like programming in machine language again. It took me about a week to
finally figure out how to make things start to work again. Three weeks before
the machine control was back to where we started.

I've used a lot of different PLCs, but this was the worst for learning on. Of
course, if you do master this one, the others will be a piece of pie, (apple,
of course).

Of all the PLCs, I really like the DL series by AutomationDirect the best.
They make some really nifty ones for only $99 that will handle most control
functions, even stepper control. You might be better off getting one of those
and passing the AB unit on to someone already equipped to deal with it.

Earle Rich
Mont Vernon, NH

Already being subjected to telephone polling surveys for president. Too Early!