Machsupport Forum

Third party software and hardware support forums. => PoKeys => Topic started by: yahuie on March 09, 2010, 07:32:36 PM

Title: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: yahuie on March 09, 2010, 07:32:36 PM
Hi,

I have been doing a retrofit for way longer than I would like to admit and purchased an Automation Direct DL06 and all the necessary breakout hardware for doing a lot of the i/o on a vertical machining center with a tool changer.  I am just now getting to the tool changer and was thinking about maybe using the pokeys for the i/o instead.  It seems like it might be easier to program it with a brain or macro rather than having the plc handle some of the i/o and the smoothstepper I am using handle the rest. 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Bill
Title: Re: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: borisz on March 10, 2010, 12:23:31 AM
PoKeys works just fine with brains.

regards

Boris
Title: Re: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: Hood on March 10, 2010, 04:23:31 AM
Bill,
 Pokeys is a great wee device but I would say the PLC is the better option for a tool changer especially as you already have it. Main reason is your tool changer is very likely to be 24v and the PLC can interface directly to that (presuming its a DC or relay out PLC) , with the pokeys you would need to convert the 5v to 24v and vice versa.
The Pokeys is very nice for switch panels and hand held pendants and is a nice price when comparing to a PLC, especially if you want analogue Inputs.

Hood
Title: Re: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: N4NV on March 10, 2010, 08:25:30 AM
I used a PLC (Cubloc) to run my tool changer.  I found it much easier to program than using brains for control.

Vince
Title: Re: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: yahuie on March 10, 2010, 11:18:00 AM
Thanks for all the input.  This might be wishful thinking, but I wonder if anyone has posted a program for a tool changer anywhere.  I haven't done ladder logic in forever.  I know I would have to edit it, but that always seems way easer than starting from scratch.

Best,

Bill
Title: Re: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: N4NV on March 10, 2010, 01:12:07 PM
This is getting off topic, but if you check out this thread I posted the code needed to run my tool turret.  I also posted some code for Mach to talk to the Cubloc.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50685&highlight=cubloc
It's a long thread so you may have to did to find the information.

Vince
Title: Re: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: Hood on March 10, 2010, 02:18:13 PM
How does the changer work?
Hood
Title: Re: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: yahuie on March 10, 2010, 03:49:07 PM
The whole carousel moves over to the spindle.  I am going through the logic right now.
Title: Re: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: borisz on March 10, 2010, 04:17:37 PM
Do you have any photos?

regards

Boris
Title: Re: pokeys vs DL06 PLC?
Post by: yahuie on March 10, 2010, 05:05:15 PM
It is a cincinatti Arrow 500.  I just attached a few photos.

Thanks,

Bill