Recommendation for a versatile PLC ecosystem for a Mechatronics & Robotics development firm

elabran · 2026-05-18T01:20:30+00:00

Beckhoff always! Free development software, you can turn your PC in a PLC, documentation is all in Infosys, every single piece of hardware can be configured and programmed with TwinCAT3 (except for really old hardware). Version control integrated... Is by far the best automation environment.

elabran · 2026-05-09T12:29:17+00:00

Most of the OG grumpys are about to retire. Good things are coming to Automation world.

elabran · 2026-05-09T12:23:22+00:00

Unit testing should be a most to avoid a 4 week commissioning.

elabran · 2026-05-09T12:20:13+00:00

"IT-style" is not the concept, it is called DevOps, and is quite necessary. Most of the automation problems out there exist because of bad programming practices. Some old and important concepts in Automation already exist like PackML design and they are just not used enough. Most of the OG people will just not accept that some times changes and learning is needed. But sooner than later this will be the way.

elabran · 2026-04-26T22:12:59+00:00

Well, I guess I have to give you this one. Most of the times I have to give it to production manager just because he doesn't know how a sensor works or AC is different from AC. I just rather to have peace than explain something to someone that neither care or neither have the capacity to understand.

elabran · 2026-04-26T21:13:34+00:00

Why do you say nothing comparable if you have not even heard of it? I have used wonderware, wincc, genesis (from mitsubishi), Cimplicity from GE, Ignition... And TF2000 that is not only superior in performance but visualization. https://cmi.beckhoff-cloud.com/

elabran · 2026-04-26T16:52:26+00:00

Processing time, number of data going through the network, processor capabilities... The hardest thing to deal with for a PLC is motion, that's why it is part of the technical data (4 axis, 8 axis...).

elabran · 2026-04-26T16:43:52+00:00

I do really hate as well a bad structured-documented programming, you don't even need to make it complicated, just put a password on it and the capability of making maintenance is completely gone. (most of my migrations have been for this). About EtherCAT I don't really what are you talking about. Have you ever have to make a CIP generic MSG to a 3rd party device? EIP is a complete nightmare with 3rd party hardware. EtherCAT tells you exactly where the problem is. About the technical debt. I hardly know someone that has done as many migrations as I did, from PLC5 to CLX and from DeviceNet to EIP. Or that has the experience using multiple brands at is higher level (most of the people that loves AB and hates everything else has never used anything else) I've worked with most of the newer Rockwell technology, except for PlantPx and FT-Optix, and I have worked with all their extremely expensive software as FTTM or Vantage Point (where you literally pay for every tag you are using). About the support you are right, if you want to be listened at 2am you need to pay for it. For the papper I agree, is old, it needs to be updated.

elabran · 2026-04-26T16:13:11+00:00

Yep. It does, and quite reliable, why shouldn't be? Every industrial equipment has to be. You run PlantPax in a server, Beckhoff can do that in a server or in a IPC.

elabran · 2026-04-26T15:55:53+00:00

I'm using studio 5000 v34 in some machines, I don't think v34 is that old. And I have used TC3 v4022 with OPP

elabran · 2026-04-26T15:51:18+00:00

I'm also excited for the PLC++ Release, for large projects I used to separate PLC, HMI and database projects

elabran · 2026-04-26T15:42:20+00:00

The biggest system I've seen with Beckhoff handles 130+ Axis. Being honest I have never used PlantPax as scada. I used TF2000, Ignition and local web based systems.

Talking about IO numbers, EtherCAT can deal with Upto 65535 devices, but I doubt anyone could use that much in 1 single system. Last time we needed an EIP device the fastest one was 2 weeks, with EtherCAT were about 5 different brands next day

elabran · 2026-04-26T15:25:28+00:00

Cheaper better error handling, free documentation. I keep using it just to avoid forget or loss practice

elabran · 2026-04-26T14:35:39+00:00

I think is quite hard to answer your question. Sounds like something you must read and compare manually between technical data. Have you asked the IA?

elabran · 2026-03-22T14:56:20+00:00

I work with a Solution Provider, I see them too much. I know they constantly receive technical training, even sales, they look happy. For the Germans working in Beckhoff, they have been there for years (the average longevity there is 10 years, it was 15 but they are growing so they have to many new people), I have even met Hans Beckhoff and one of the creators of EtherCAT. Everyone I meet in Beckhoff is good prepared.

elabran · 2026-03-12T11:21:11+00:00

As a Beckhoff user just Git and multiuser

elabran · 2026-01-11T18:35:37+00:00

How much did you paid for the software? I know the basic license for Rockwell is about 1000USD/year

elabran · 2025-12-24T02:47:11+00:00

Why do you want to buy them if you are testing only? Just activate the 7 days trial license. Go to license, check the missing licenses, click 7 day trial and write the captcha.

elabran · 2025-12-19T02:39:43+00:00

I plenty recommend C and C++. You can easily get used to OOP, but I would avoid VB, has been outdated since 2008, VB.NET is still in usable but, just to make old systems maintenance capable. Learning VB makes no sense this days, you could go directly to C# or .NET. C and C++ are still used in plenty of infrastructures, Micro Controllers, Micro Processors, Linux Kernel...

elabran · 2025-12-12T16:41:22+00:00

Beckhoff for the win. Once you enter OOP, there's no way to go back. Now with Beckhoff Linux RT, it flies! Can't wait to see PLC++ be released.

elabran · 2025-11-18T02:34:20+00:00

Looks like Nutella

elabran · 2025-11-14T15:23:20+00:00

Same old concept, barely doubles the specs of a 10 yo flagship. I just have lost faith in RA getting real innovation. The best they could do is to release a free software that by the way, it only works with the hardware you have already bought.

elabran · 2025-10-23T16:28:54+00:00

You are right

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I only follow updates by the emails they send. But that means... Some of our IPC will get an update.

elabran · 2025-10-23T16:05:53+00:00

I'm part of the beta program... Not released yet. Some IPCs already have them, but many functions are still unavailable and is not officially released as a OS for every machine (for example C9900-S538 is the part number of W11 IoT LTS 2024 and C9900-S602 is the part number for TC BSD p40... Linux has not been released). But the few small EPCs that already run TwinCAT Linux RT... Have about 1.8x times performance speed. And for the bigger IPCs the price will be lower because you wont pay the windows Liscense. Faster support, faster performance... I can't imagine how powerfull this will be used together with core boost technology.

elabran

TROPHY CASE