I have been considering purchasing a starter kit to fullfill the need for a ladder logic solution to my situation...
I have a custom built I/O rack (from the component level up) this is connected to a PC via rs232.
the PC is running a basic program compiled w/QB45 this program reads the rs232 port and collects data from the I/O rack... processes the info, and writes a data string out to the serial port to the i/o rack.
heres the big question....
can the m-series PLC's be programmed to communicate via rs232 with my I/O rack, bypassing the PC altogether?
I would like to have a turn key setup and only use the computer to "load" the PLC.
I dont want to re-wire the whole system... wich would be required if I where to eliminate my existing I/O rack.
this rack uses a protocall of our own design, and is not modbus capable. it is totaly unique.
actualy we have 2 of these racks connected together on the same serial line. both addressable by the PC
can the m-series plc do the communicating and the logic processing in place of the PC?
if so how should they be connected together?
rs232 to rs232 with the PLC as the host device?