SQL to PLC to Diverter gate, can it be done

[razorbak71]

I do not know anything about PLC's, but I know that they can do some pretty amazing things.

I have data in a SQL database, and I was wondering if there was a way to get a value from it, send to a PLC and have the PLC trigger a diverter gate so that parts would be diverted to a different bin, if the value is above a specified value.    Is there anything out there that will allow me to do this?   Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

[12brich]

You need a middle-tier software to do this.  Can you write VB or C code?  You would also need a Modbus driver which is commercially available.  If you just wanted to do one command only (diverting bin) then you can fabribcate the modbus single-write command message yourself.

Simply query your SQL database for changes using VB/C.  Send the control bit out to PLC via Modbus protocol.
Don