Embedded Controls vs. PLC
Embedded Controls vs. PLC
(OP)
All,
Is there a rule of thumb for quantities being produced and when you migrate from a PLC platform and into an embedded controller?
Regards,
Rich....
Is there a rule of thumb for quantities being produced and when you migrate from a PLC platform and into an embedded controller?
Regards,
Rich....
Richard Nornhold, PE
http://www.ovenind.com





RE: Embedded Controls vs. PLC
PLCs are generally grossly overpriced because the market they sell to is not generally very sensitive and the attitude of open future modifications invites an extensible general design. Often an embedded system can be much less expensive. I marvel that I could build an entire embedded control system to do a job for the price of just the "processor" module of the PLC being used to do the job instead.
If you have a specific application you care to describe my answer could be better focused to your case.
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Embedded Controls vs. PLC
But your system cost doesn't include any design time costs. The writing of PLC code seems far easier then hammering out an embedded C program.
Regards,
Rich.....
Richard Nornhold, PE
http://www.ovenind.com
RE: Embedded Controls vs. PLC
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: Embedded Controls vs. PLC
Add to that, no hardware design was required. On that note, I will briefly mention that a commerically available PLC will have defined and conditioned inputs and outputs, issues that would have to be addressed in the hardware design. For a one or two off project, if the PLC solution fits, it seems to this embedded developer the way to go. Regards.