MIcrologix

[Wayne I. Vernon Jr.]

I just wanted to poll the site here and ask if there is any way to communicate with Micrologix 1100, preferably by Ethernet?  I realize that it is a fairly new controller from Allen-Bradley, but wanted to see if the NI engineers had done anything with it.

[Ryan.S]

Only MicroLogix 1500 with serial port interface is supported. Not sure the differenct between 1100 and 1500. Perhaps you can use this object to communicate with 1100. But the compatibility cannot be guaranteed.

The other way is to use a 3rd party OPC server to communicate with 1100 and use Lookout OPC client.

[bkinard@kinardcontrolsyst]

About the only similarities between the 1100 and the 1500 is that each has a serial port and both of them have I/O points. The capabilities of the 1100 are more along the lines of a 1200. Personally, I really like the 1100's. But, I have the same problem. Lookout will only communicate with it by changing the serial port protocol to Modbus and not at all on the ethernet port without reinventing the wheel.

I agree that the NI engineers need to work on some drivers for AB. If you havent noticed, the MicroLogix 1000, 1100, and 1200 are not on the driver list either. I prefer Lookout for the HMI, but I had to use RSView in several places because of not having the proper DF1 drivers for the MicroLogix series. (Other than the 1500)

[Bassett1]

Have you tried using the SLC500 Ethernet driver to connect to the ML1100?

[Wayne I. Vernon Jr.]

Yes, although it has some months since I tried.  It couldn't have been too long ago, because the controllers themselves just came out in the middle of last year, I think.

The Lookout driver for the SLC will communicate off and on, but gives comm errors every five seconds or so.  I think that when the Lookout engineers ever get around to it, it will be fairly easy for them convert the SLC driver into a ML 1100.  While they are at it, I hope they go ahead and create a serial driver for it as well.  (HINT, HINT!  I hope someone is listening!)

I heard that AB is coming out with a USB port on a PLC.  Interesting!  Plug and Play PLCs.

Message Edited by Wayne I. Vernon Jr. on 06-02-2006 07:25 AM

[arenner]

Yes. I prefer to communicate with ethernet. I also like the fact that I can program online.

I am still playing with it.

[capsuleguy]

I know this is an old thread, but I have the same problem.  I need to communicate with a MicroLogix 1000 via serial.  Is there a way to do this without full RSLinx -> OPC?  Is there a driver that might work?  I am on 6.1 on this machine at the moment.