Zookes wrote:Hello! Original Poster here; just unifying some accounts.
Or confusing the natives.
I like the sound of PLC, this particular system type has been recommended to me in another forum where I have posted a topic about a new machine build if you'd like to see it:
www.cnczone.com/forums/general_electroni...ion_aventure_uk.htmlI don't have time today to read in depth. However it does sound like an Automation task. Do realize there are numerous ways you can go about automating a device. You don't even need to use electricity if you can get into pnuematic logic. No one way is perfect or the absolute best.
Many of us are likely reccomending PLC type control because it seems like good fit for this project, even if the project hadn't been well detailed. It may be advisable to go the commercial PLC route, depending upon you experience and local support. There are many players in the commercial PLC arena, with Allen Bradley, Omron, Automation Direct and others being common brands. An advantage to local vendors of commercial goods is training and networking. Pulling off this project might be easier with professional help.
I'm glad to hear that two of you specialise in industrial automation, as it is becoming clear that is the nub of what I'm trying to do.
I hope my absence hasn't caused you to lose interest in my project!
Without more detail I'm pretty much convinced this is an automation project. However I'm not so certain that LinuxCNC and Classic Ladder are the way to go for a beginner.
As to your project, I'm so busy I just sit down to comment when I can do nothing more constructive.
I'm starting to learn that the stepper control may be the simplest part, as you have said Wizard. If you read the other thread, you may get some insight into my application.
Actually I've gotten no insight at all. I have no idea what you are trying to do and have tried to fill in with best guesses. For example Stepper motor control can be extremely simple or vary involved depending upon your needs. Your needs may also imply that no motors are required at all. The KISS principal often applies in automation
To Marzetti: That's good to know, but I hope to run the control PC remotely, so that I can check performance and perhaps take video feeds as well.
Does the Ubuntu version LinuxCNC is on support virtual network computing? And does ClassicLadder have the ability to write logs to files and respond to sensor events?
One thing to suggest here, logging can be extremely useful in automation systems. Simple logging can be done via the PLC, given a fairly modern implementation, but if you need finer more verbose logging often a different approach can be useful. That is a control system programmed either in a scripting environment like Python or in a more hard core programming language like C++. Just make sure log data is saved in human readable files.
Having worked on a few machines and instruments that have had excellent diagnostics and logging capabilities and many that haven't had such attention I can say the few are far preferred. Disk space is cheap these days typos not so much.
Thanks for all the help so far chaps, I can't believe how I was stumbling around in the dark before I came here asking for guidance!
You still have a ways to go.
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