Mitsubishi PLC in Molding Machine

[eccan]

Hello All A customer of mine has a number of Mitsubishi Molding Machines. They all have A2USH PLCs in them, but I know most of the control (proportional hydraulics, temperature control, etc) is done through the main molding machine controller (which is made by Mitsubishi). The PLC seems to be a gateway just for the digital inputs, etc, but it does have a dedicated input card that is used for "communication data" from the PLC to the main controller. I do not have access to the PLC program right now, but I wonder if I could view all the molding machine parameters and cycle data in the PLC? If it does, I could add an MES Interface module and create reports, etc from the data in the PLC If anyone has experience with a Mitusbishi Molding Machine and has looked at the PLC program, I would appreciate any info. Thanks Edited February 15, 2008 by eccan

[Crossbow]

I doubt highly the molding machine has all of its data accessible in the PLC. Depends on how the two are connected to start with. I have no experience with molding machines, and the Q Series (newer PLC) does offer an MES module, but I do not know of an MES solution (at least not rack mount hardware) for the old A Series, even the AnSH. Some part numbers and more specifics of what you are trying to do and what tools you have available would help you get better answers.