LinuxCNC as a PLC

Hi all,

I have a small project where I would need some plc action. 20 ins and 20 outs about and maybe more.

My thoughts are as follows:

Use 5i25 with 7i74, 7i70 and 7i71

Use classic ladder to do the plc stuff, but have no typical GUI instead a custom gui interface showing some ins and outs and adjusting a few things via the GUI. Definate use of HAL is required.

Instead of embarking on learning a whole new system re: Beremiz, I am comfortable and have confidence in Mesa and linuxcnc.

What I dont know is if it is possible to use Linuxcnc without the typical frontend...... but able to bring up the classicladder interface and use a custom inteface.

Is any of this possible?

Thanks,

Bob

Yes it is. It is possible to to just load hal, and Classicladder. (You can even do it from halcmd).

But it might be more cost effective and practical to just to use a true plc. There are rather inexpensive and simple to configure ones out there such as the Click ones from Automation Direct.
www.automationdirect.com/adc/Overview/Ca...cro_Brick)/PLC_Units

Todd Zuercher wrote: Yes it is. It is possible to to just load hal, and Classicladder. (You can even do it from halcmd).

But it might be more cost effective and practical to just to use a true plc. There are rather inexpensive and simple to configure ones out there such as the Click ones from Automation Direct.
www.automationdirect.com/adc/Overview/Ca...cro_Brick)/PLC_Units

yes I have a few of their PLC's. DL05 and DL06's. I used them on alot of projects. Problem is I need to interface it with a GUI.
I know they have ability but the software is expensive and proprietory. I am limited to what they think I need.

I would need an interface to query the status of ins and outs and some graphics etc.......

I thought the software for configuring the user interfaces from Automationdirect is free (but probably has to run in Windows).

Oops, guess I was wrong. (but it isn't terribly expencive.)

If you don't have to have a touch screen, This UI/display's configuration software is free (if you download it $25 for the CD).
www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Ca...Accessories/EA3-T6CL

Todd Zuercher wrote: If you don't have to have a touch screen, This UI/display's configuration software is free (if you download it $25 for the CD).
www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Ca...Accessories/EA3-T6CL

Oh yeah? I thought it was in the thousands. I bought the software to program them which 10 years back it was 500.00.

Anyway, Don't talk me out of it...lol I am using linuxcnc.