Expending Outputs with a PLC

[Ryan Patterson]

I'm looking for documentation on how to interface an external PLC to the Acorn. I have a customer who needs to replace his controller. The machine is a 5x10 with ATC and a 7x10 drill bank. It also has an offload table. With a quick calculation, the system will need 29 output switches and 31 input switches. More are very likely.

[ShawnM]

This will expand the inputs and outputs of Acorn. You can have a max of 56 inputs and 56 outputs by adding more expansion boards.

https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_diy/ether1616.html

[Ryan Patterson]

That would work. I think it would be nice to have a PLC. This way I could have timers and more advanced logic. I understand I could do it from within a macro. The logic I am think of are the use of timers and the use of more analog signals.

So is the anyone use a PLC that is interface with the controller? If so will you please point me in the direction of some documents to explain the integration?

[ShawnM]

I am not aware of any PLC that you can interface with Acorn. I dont think it's possible but I've been wrong before.

[tblough]

"Interface" might be stretching it, but the Acorn's standard I/O could be used for semaphore signaling with the external PLC.

[cncsnw]

You can have timers and advanced logic in the PLC program that runs on the Acorn, working directly with the inputs and outputs on the Acorn and on any Ether1616 boards you add.

Introducing a third-party PLC, and then trying to make it communicate with Acorn through a soda straw, does not seem like a promising avenue.

[cnckeith]

That would work. I think it would be nice to have a PLC. This way I could have timers and more advanced logic. I understand I could do it from within a macro. The logic I am think of are the use of timers and the use of more analog signals.

So is the anyone use a PLC that is interface with the controller? If so will you please point me in the direction of some documents to explain the integration?

ether1616 runs on the Acorn PLC. Acorn with Ether1616 is a PLC with easy drag and drop Wizard input output programming trival! or roll your own with Centroid open source plc programming and compiling.

[cnckeith]

see page 25

https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _guide.pdf

[ShawnM]

You can have timers and advanced logic in the PLC program that runs on the Acorn, working directly with the inputs and outputs on the Acorn and on any Ether1616 boards you add.

Introducing a third-party PLC, and then trying to make it communicate with Acorn through a soda straw, does not seem like a promising avenue.

I agree with Marc and Keith 100%.

It doesn't make much sense to me to simply "signal" a third party device that may or may not work correctly with Acorn and add another layer of complexity and failure point. With an ether1616 (or multiples) and a custom macro and/or Acorn PLC edit you can make it do near anything you want all with known, compatible hardware. Just my 2¢.

[Black Forest]

I haven't looked at any of the documentation on programming the Acorn PLC so my opinion is worth just what you paid for it! I have used and programed many Siemens Logo! plc's. Their function block programming makes it really easy to set up complex programs and test. So I understand the OP's desire to use an external PLC so as not to "mess" with a perfectly functioning Acorn system. I am not saying his thinking is right on just that I understand it.