@Rayman said:
Was contemplating using a second FT231X chip to enable a second (debug?) interface to PC.
But, just noticed this FTDI FT200XD chip that does kind of the same thing, but with I2C.
Think there's an advantage here because with the P2 being I2C master, data could have several different endpoints with the attached PC just being one of them...
Maybe you could hack something similar with FT231X, but wouldn't be clean...
Scratching my head on this one, but might be something to think about...
You could also look at the CH347 ? This is 9Mbd Dual with choice of CDC UART and i2c or SPI. HS-USB and large buffers should make for fewer no-handshake-lines issues.
I think anything not UART, needs driver support on the PC side ?
Hardware full-duplex UART interface, integrated independent transmit-receive buffer, supports communication baud rate varies from 1200bps to 9Mbps.
UART supports 8 data bits, supports odd, even, and none parity, supports 1 or 2 stop bits.
Built-in 12K bytes RX-FIFO and 4K bytes TX-FIFO for each UART.
Support common MODEM signals RTS, DTR, DCD, RI, DSR and CTS.
Support CTS and RTS hardware automatic flow control.
The setup I'm working on is already in an EMI shielded metal box though. So, don't really see the point of a metal case.
Who really uses DIN rail electronics outside of a metal box anyway?
Anybody know when one would go through the trouble of using a metal box instead of plastic for a PLC?
If using a larger case, or if didn't need all those relays on bottom board, could move the USB to bottom board...
Might have to explore having Stamp and this USB/LAN/RJ45 connector on bottom board...
@Rayman said:
The setup I'm working on is already in an EMI shielded metal box though. So, don't really see the point of a metal case.
Who really uses DIN rail electronics outside of a metal box anyway?
Anybody know when one would go through the trouble of using a metal box instead of plastic for a PLC?
Generally you use a metal case when you have to, for IP rating/waterproofing, or robustness, or its going in a steel mill. Another reason is to command a premium price.
I did speak to Bud a few weeks back regarding getting cutouts made in the AL extrusion, and yes they can do that, but not exactly like the plastic din rail boxes, more for 'access' than large generic openings like on the plastic version.
At first, it wasn't. Both power (not) good LEDs were lit and 3.3 V rail was measuring ~2.65 V.
I'm used to the pain of new boards not working though...
Turns out that the P2 Stamp has an "ON" pin that needs connecting to 5 V to turn on power supply.
So, just a little solder bridge and all good.
@Rayman said:
The setup I'm working on is already in an EMI shielded metal box though. So, don't really see the point of a metal case.
Who really uses DIN rail electronics outside of a metal box anyway?
Anybody know when one would go through the trouble of using a metal box instead of plastic for a PLC?
Generally you use a metal case when you have to, for IP rating/waterproofing, or robustness, or its going in a steel mill. Another reason is to command a premium price.
I did speak to Bud a few weeks back regarding getting cutouts made in the AL extrusion, and yes they can do that, but not exactly like the plastic din rail boxes, more for 'access' than large generic openings like on the plastic version.
Unfortunate blunder with the LCD on top board... Seems the pinout assumes that LCD is connected to bottom side of PCB through a hole...
Guess should actually do that next time...
Can at least develop code for the display with connector spun 180 degrees...
Nothing. That is our problem... inherited machine and none of us knows how to program it...
But thats a different goal than the one focused on here... im just doing a vacuum system. Just a small part of the big system. For now anyway...
@Rayman said:
Nothing. That is our problem... inherited machine and none of us knows how to program it...
BINGO!
Precisely what I keep harping-on about. Imagine a production-line, dead-in-the-water and a bunch of hourlies, standing around. Welcome to my world
@Rayman said:
We found some people that would help us with the big plc, but they wanted $30-40k.
Plus downtime
In my case; "yeah, we no-longer support that system and we don't give-out the code but we can sell you a new machine" ($150K - $500K)
I recently pulled-out a Siemens S7-1500. It was a brand new install but this Siemens flag-ship PLC is incapable of coordinated servo motion control and this is a 5-axis machine
They managed to get 3 axes moving at a snail's pace. The company went under.
Comments
You could also look at the CH347 ? This is 9Mbd Dual with choice of CDC UART and i2c or SPI. HS-USB and large buffers should make for fewer no-handshake-lines issues.
I think anything not UART, needs driver support on the PC side ?
https://www.lcsc.com/product-detail/USB-Converters_WCH-Jiangsu-Qin-Heng-CH347T_C5122332.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004996204007.html USB2.0 High Speed USB to UART / I2C / SPI / JTAG / GPIO Open Source USB-HS-Bridge
Thanks @jmg, but I'm kind of entrenched in FTDI, devil you know sort of thing...
Just noticed these metal version of the Bud DIN rail cases:
https://www.budind.com/series/nema-ip-rated-boxes/dmx-extruded-aluminum-din-rail-enclosure/#group=series-products&external_dimensions_group=0&internal_dimensions=0
The setup I'm working on is already in an EMI shielded metal box though. So, don't really see the point of a metal case.
Who really uses DIN rail electronics outside of a metal box anyway?
Anybody know when one would go through the trouble of using a metal box instead of plastic for a PLC?
If using a larger case, or if didn't need all those relays on bottom board, could move the USB to bottom board...
Might have to explore having Stamp and this USB/LAN/RJ45 connector on bottom board...
If could squeeze the Stamp into DMB-4771, this would be nice and could use it in this one bay module, or the 2, 3, or 4 bay versions...
https://www.budind.com/product/general-use-boxes/din-rail-mount-multi-board-box-series/dmb-4771/#group=series-products&external_dimensions_group=0
Maybe like this...
Think have this PCB wrapped up. Also, made adapter so can plug in Wiznet IO board to this board and make the ethernet work.
Think could instead use the @ManAtWork network driver. That uses 3 cogs as I understand it. Might be Ok though and save $$$.
Generally you use a metal case when you have to, for IP rating/waterproofing, or robustness, or its going in a steel mill. Another reason is to command a premium price.
I did speak to Bud a few weeks back regarding getting cutouts made in the AL extrusion, and yes they can do that, but not exactly like the plastic din rail boxes, more for 'access' than large generic openings like on the plastic version.
4775 PCB is alive!
At first, it wasn't. Both power (not) good LEDs were lit and 3.3 V rail was measuring ~2.65 V.
I'm used to the pain of new boards not working though...
Turns out that the P2 Stamp has an "ON" pin that needs connecting to 5 V to turn on power supply.
So, just a little solder bridge and all good.
Now time to see if it fits in the enclosure...
As my stuff is not cost-sensitive, I have been working with this
The selection of predefined shapes is limited but importing dxf is supported and has worked perfectly for me.
I guess that the most cost-effective approach would be to procure a die-cast box and throw away the original lid(?)
PCBs more or less fit in 4775.
Hacked away more of the plastic than should have though...
Unfortunate blunder with the LCD on top board... Seems the pinout assumes that LCD is connected to bottom side of PCB through a hole...
Guess should actually do that next time...
Can at least develop code for the display with connector spun 180 degrees...
Just learned that our giant Siemens plc is programmed in stl and not ladder logic.
What support and machine documentation is there? Is the coding done in-house?
Nothing. That is our problem... inherited machine and none of us knows how to program it...
But thats a different goal than the one focused on here... im just doing a vacuum system. Just a small part of the big system. For now anyway...
BINGO!
Precisely what I keep harping-on about. Imagine a production-line, dead-in-the-water and a bunch of hourlies, standing around. Welcome to my world
We found some people that would help us with the big plc, but they wanted $30-40k. Might still end up there…
Plus downtime
In my case; "yeah, we no-longer support that system and we don't give-out the code but we can sell you a new machine" ($150K - $500K)
I recently pulled-out a Siemens S7-1500. It was a brand new install but this Siemens flag-ship PLC is incapable of coordinated servo motion control and this is a 5-axis machine
They managed to get 3 axes moving at a snail's pace. The company went under.
So this machine is getting a P2 + PicoMite