Another newbie with a newbie question

[Kanewtin]

I am working with a customer that is using a DL205.  I purchased DirectSoft5 software and I'm working on figuring out how it works.  When I start a new project, it asks me for the PLC family but I don't see 205.  Is it just an 05??  I am hoping that I can just go online with the processor and upload the existing project that is in the machine.  They purchased a used machine and want to make some modifications to it.  Hopefully this process is easy.  It generally is but if anyone had problems with this simple task, I'd love to know ahead of time!

Thanks!

[b_carlton]

The 'Family' would be 'Direct Logic 0/1/2/4/350'

The next will require more information. The '205' is a family of 2xx CPUs. You will need to determine the exact CPU (230, 240, 250, 260) and select it in the right hand column.

But you don't want to start a new project from your following lines.

You can just 'go online' with the processor and upload the existing project. But be warned, the text documentation is not stored in the PLC. The original programmer and and supplied copies would have the documentation.

[Kanewtin]

I think I may be out of luck with the program documentation unless someone happened to get the back-up copy when they bought the used machine.  I've worked on this documentation-less equipment quite a bit.  It's a pain but doable if they have machine prints.  I'm hoping they do.  Thanks for the help!

[b_carlton]

Have you tried the original machine manufacturer for help?

[Controls Guy]

I agree with b_carlton.  The OEM if still in business should have a copy.  They may give it to you or they may want to sell it to you, but it should be well worth what they're asking in saved time for you, unless they want $10K or something.

I once had an OEM tell me they couldn't divulge the control program (on a very simple machine -- about 30 I/O plus another 30 running heaters with a repeating code block) because that was the only thing stopping everyone from cloning their machine.