Detroit Edison - MI
Application: Control of Coal Generation
Power Plant Bottom Ash systems Hardware:
SoftPLC Processor with A-B remote
I/O. Motivation: Replaced & enhanced obsolete
1774 PLC system, used existing A-B 1778 I/O, and added some new 1771
I/O. Key Features: Converted original 1774 PLC
program to SoftPLC in less than 1 minute using SoftPLC
conversion utility, added 100
new rungs for additional I/O. Whole system up & running (including new HMI
application) in under 2 weeks. First system operational since 3/95.
Detroit Diesel - MI
Applications: Engine test stands,
stand-alone machines. Hardware: Initially Pro-Log
STD Bus 2 CPU systems - 1 for SoftPLC, 1 for HMI & TOPDOC, communication
between CPU's across backplane. Later applications use industrial workstations
for TOPDOC/HMI and SoftPLC
Processors. Motivation: Initially
converted PLC-2 systems to
prove SoftPLC technology, retained existing A-B 1771 I/O. Key Features: SoftPLC provides significant cost savings when
replacing PLC-2 systems, compared to installing PLC-5's.
Applications: Primary control for new Engine Assembly
Lines Hardware: (Line 1) 7 Pro-Log STD Bus 3 CPU
systems - 1 for SoftPLC, 1 for custom interface to AFS Nut Runners, 1 for
TCP/IP communications to Dec Alpha & Operator Interface Line Controller,
TOPDOC through COM when needed. Interbus I/O. (Line 2) 3
SoftPLC Processors, TOPDOC via
laptop when needed. Interbus I/O. Motivation:
Selected SoftPLC for cost savings and ease in communications to AFS Nut Runners
and Dec Alpha system. Key Features: Estimated
savings using SoftPLC w/ Interbus instead of traditional PLC solution: over $5
Million.
Multiform Technologies - NY
Application: Automatic fill of desiccant
forms used in automotive A/C assembly operations. 2 new machines and 1 to
replace CCI load cell which was too slow. Hardware:
Pro-Log STD Bus 2 CPU system - 1 for SoftPLC, 1 for TOPDOC. Pro-Log local
digital & analog I/O. Motivation: Selected
SoftPLC because of PLC-5 similarity & networking flexibility. Key Features: 1st system online since 2/94. Absolutely no
problems!
Automation & Controls Engingeering Ltd.
- MN
Application: Laundry Tunnel processing
machines (wash, rinse, dry, fold) Hardware:
SoftPLC Processor, Industrial
workstation for HMI/TOPDOC communicating via ethernet. GE Fanuc Series
90TM/30 I/O. Motivation: Previous design
using GE 90/70 had limited communications. SoftPLC provided better network
& I/O communications, improved speed and quality, overall was a more cost
effective solution. Key Features: Systems installed
at Disneyworld and elsewhere.
Schenck - Germany
Applications: Non-contact Wheel Alignment
Machine Hardware: Industrial workstation for custom
data acquisition software & TOPDOC, COMARK Coprocessor for SoftPLC. Phoenix
Contact Interbus I/O Motivation: Original machines
used PASCAL, customers wanted ladder logic for maintainability. Integration of
proprietary PLC would have been more difficult. Key
Features: Schenck wrote interface to communicate from their HMI software
to SoftPLC over the PC backplane using SoftPLC's
ONE Programmer's Toolkit.
Systems currently installed at a variety of automotive plants all over the
world. First system installed 7/95.
Frigo France - France
Application: Automotive Fluid Fill &
Brake Test machine Hardware:
SoftPLC Processor, TOPDOC via COM
on laptop when needed. Phoenix Contact Interbus I/O. Motivation: Replaced Modicon PLC for control plus a computer
running a test program written in Basic, with a single SoftPLC doing the
control as well as running a custom
TLI to do testing Key Features: First one installed in 2/94 was the first
SoftPLC controlling I/O in the world.
Note:
Additional "like" machines have been manufactured by A'Gramkow, Denmark
utilizing similar technology, with the addition of support for 28 COM ports
(using COMGENIE) for bar code
reader inputs.
Polar Cerveciana - Venezuela Application: Beer manufacturer - Machine unpacks, washes,
fills, then repacks bottles - 1600/minute Hardware:
SoftPLC Processor. Used existing
A-B 1771 I/O. Motivation: Replaced existing PLC-3
and (2) PLC-5/15's to increase performance and simplify application. A-B
announced that PLC-3 was to become obsolete, and PLC-5/15's were also obsolete
technology. Features: Total scan time under 13
msec, even with 16 full racks of A-B I/O.
Sandvik Sorting Systems - KY
Application: High-Speed overnight
envelope sorting conveyors Hardware: Industrial
Pentium PC with A-B 1771 or SLC-500 I/O Motivation:
Needed to replace SLC-500/PLC-5 because they were too slow. Replaced (2) PLC's
with a single SoftPLC. Key Features:
CONVEYOR instructions for
sorting algorithm makes SoftPLC even faster!
US Army Corps of Engineers - OR Read more about this application!
Application: Hydroelectric Dam Turbine
control for power generation Hardware:
SoftPLC Processor with MTL
I/O Motivation: Selected SoftPLC for custom
function ability (TLI's), future upgrade path, choice of hardware &
networking Key Features: Utilizes 100MB Ethernet
for comm's to SCADA system. Intensive product testing was done prior to
selecting a solution. SoftPLC was the only PC based package that did not
fail during the testing!
Applied Films - CO
Application: Film Coating
Process Hardware:
SoftPLC Processor with A-B 1771
or SLC-500 I/O Motivation: Needed multiple COM
ports and the ability to communicate via a custom protocol to intelligent
devices, but needed a user maintainable standard ladder logic system - not a
proprietary system. Key Features: SoftPLC C
Programmer's Toolkit and custom instruction facility (TLI) made it easy for the
engineer to implement special protocol, former PLC-5 logic imported directly
into SoftPLC.
Schultz Steel - CA
Application: Steel Manufacturing Hardware: Industrial PC w/ A-B 1771 I/O Motivation: Needed to add Fourier Transform calculations to
existing PLC-5/40 system, A-B had proposed expensive, proprietary coprocessor.
SoftPLC + industrial hardware + I/O interface card was less expensive and
simpler alternative. Key Features: PLC-5/40 logic
imported directly, then Fourier Transform analysis was done using
TLI's created by user with
SoftPLC C Programmer's Toolkit.
MTEC (Div. of Panasonic) - IL
Application: Semi-conductor - Manufacture
of Celluar Telephones Hardware:SoftPLC Processor with Interbus
I/O Motivation: Needed to communicate via custom
serial protocol to an HP computer on the machine. Key
Features: TLM for
custom protocol was created by user with SoftPLC C Programmer's
Toolkit.
Proceco - Quebec
Application: Industrial Parts Washing
Machine Hardware:
SoftPLC In Tealware Motivation: Needed to interface serially to sophisticated
motion control, along with PLC control. Key
Features: COMGENIE made
serial interface very easy. Machine also included a "teach mode" to learn parts
which was made easy with SoftPLC's virtually unlimited memory
space.
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