Halloween PLCs..Free Software List?

[Chris Elston]

I am trying to help some Halloween people out and wondered what brands of PLCs offer free software? I know AB has a 10pt model with RS Logix 500 Starter. Who else has free software? 1. AB Micrologix 1000 10-pt (RS Logix 500 Starter).

[Guest Guest]

Horner, Entertron and don't forget about AB PICO. Bob O.

[jstolaruk]

Jokab's Pluto Safety PLC comes with free software and interface cable. Edited November 15, 2005 by jstolaruk

[gravitar]

I think a safety PLC would be massive overkill for a halloween light project And it would probably be cheaper to buy the "Micrologix-only" version of RSLogix 500 than to get a safety PLC!

[TimWilborne]

Don't forget the Pico controller. You can download the software for it or use the display on the front to program it. Plus it is very inexpensive

[gravitar]

The A-B pico PLC (and everyone else's version of the same thing) would be a good choice if your I/O count is LOW. I suppose you could use several of them together, if you could break the job down into sections that needed little or no interlocking.. Hell, doesn't LEGO offer something like the Pico? Get one of those and get the whole family involved..

[gravitar]

And just for the record, Pepperl + Fuchs has a free controls software package I think.. It is very rudimentary and child-like, they use graphical depictions of prox switches, photos, solenoids, etc. in the rungs. My old boss was trying to learn that software before I convinced him that it was a waste of his time :)

[jstolaruk]

He asked about free s/w.

[gravitar]

Well yeah.. but he did also mention it would be for a halloween display :)

[Big Country]

If you are just using pneumatics SMC jsut came out with a sequencer valve kit, I beleieve that their software is free also.

[jstolaruk]

You must have ESP because he didn't mention a display.

[Chris Elston]

I am also in a Halloween Group, trying to spark some interest in that group (about 1200 halloweeners) to use a PLCs in there props. Right now the main stream is Basic Modules...sigh... So I was trying to compile a list of hardware plcs that offer free software for home users. That's my goal.

[Redneck]

CX programmmer sample disk from Omron is free for 30 days, program any Omron PLC. I believe it will program the smaller PLCs, CPM1 ect even after the 30 day trial. Edited November 17, 2005 by Redneck

[Ken Moore]

A couple of years ago I was looking into the Keyence (spelling may be off) line of small plc's. The software was available for free from thier website. I didn't purchase the plc, mostly because the software was soooooo bad. But, it was free. I ended up using the AB Pico instead. I used quite a few pico's in the last few months, you have to purchase the cable, but the software is free, and it has a built in simulator for testing your logic. For your group you could purchase one cable and pass it around, pass programs around, test out new ideas etc...... just a thought Regards, ken

[gravitar]

Regardless of whether or not it is for a "display" or some other haloween-related thing, I'm sure the reason for the original post was NOT to go off on a tangent or a flame war. I apologize if it appeared that I ridiculed you, and for all I know the Jokab safety PLC might be price-competitive with standard PLC offerings. I would have to assume not, but I've been wrong before. Once. :)