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Automation PLC Question

  • 01-04-2021 12:52PM
    #1
    pdiddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 268 ✭✭


    Hi all im doing a plc programming course and this question has come up in a student exercise for over the easter.

    Multiple CPU modules are mounted on the same base unit in many cases within factory automation.

    • What advantages does it offer?
    • Chose a suitable PLC and application suitable for multiple CPU modules.

    Can any one here help explain this a bit.

    all i have at the moment is you can have one cpu running a routine to control a robot and another cpu running a routine to control a conveyor and part counter.

    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    ...__...
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 507 ✭✭✭...__...


    pdiddy wrote: »
    Hi all im doing a plc programming course and this question has come up in a student exercise for over the easter.

    Multiple CPU modules are mounted on the same base unit in many cases within factory automation.

    • What advantages does it offer?
    • Chose a suitable PLC and application suitable for multiple CPU modules.

    Can any one here help explain this a bit.

    all i have at the moment is you can have one cpu running a routine to control a robot and another cpu running a routine to control a conveyor and part counter.

    Thanks

    Provides efficiency for the operator ie you can have a control room to oversee all routines from one point

    For the example you can create a process flow like you have


  • #3
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,717 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    pdiddy wrote: »
    Multiple CPU modules are mounted on the same base unit in many cases within factory automation.

    • What advantages does it offer?

    Redundancy. In the event that one CPU fails the other takes over.
    • Chose a suitable PLC and application suitable for multiple CPU modules.

    I installed a Siemens S400H PLC in a tank farm in a pharmaceutical plant.
    The "H" is for high reliability. This had a redundant CPU configuration. Why? Because the entire plant depended on the tank farm, so we needed a very resilient control system.
    all i have at the moment is you can have one cpu running a routine to control a robot and another cpu running a routine to control a conveyor and part counter.

    So in your example if the robot fed the conveyor then you would have 2 single points of failure i.e. the loss of either CPU will result in system failure.


  • #4
    pdiddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 268 ✭✭pdiddy


    Cheers for the replies lads

    PLC i Picked was the Mitsubishi Q Series mainly because all were using in the labs is GX works


  • #5
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,717 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    pdiddy wrote: »
    Cheers for the replies lads

    PLC i Picked was the Mitsubishi Q Series mainly because all were using in the labs is GX works

    Half the automation engineers in ireland learnt how to program PLC’s on Mitsubishi’s thanks to a very talented lecturer who past away far too young.


  • #6
    pdiddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 268 ✭✭pdiddy


    2011 wrote: »
    Half the automation engineers in ireland learnt how to program PLC’s on Mitsubishi’s thanks to a very talented lecturer who past away far too young.

    I find the gx works 3 nice to work with and not to expensive, but Allen Bradley and Siemens seem to be the most popular in industry its just a pity the colleges haven't got the facilities to give labs on all 3.
    I know the programming would be much the same but would still be nice to get a few labs on all 3 to get some experience. The software is pretty spicy for the Siemens and Allen Bradley


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