Do-More sometimes makes U do more

[jwbaker3]

I think the lower end platform would open a larger market for the Do More but I don't know about changing the programming model. How many programmers use all of the capability of DS or DMD, but it is there if you need it but you don't have too. I can see the need for the new system you are working on where lower I/O count, lower cost and smaller foot print is needed, but you may need all of the math, PID's ect. that the full size units have. If you had to dump some of the capability to keep the cost lower like the 05 vs the 205 (like less memory) I understand that. We already have to know the Click, DS, P3000, and DMD just for AD products, I would not like to have to remember, I cant use this command on this platform with the DMD software. But then again I have never built a PLC of written programming software for them and you have. (and a very good ones at that)  

[BobO]

I think the lower end platform would open a larger market for the Do More but I don't know about changing the programming model. How many programmers use all of the capability of DS or DMD, but it is there if you need it but you don't have too. I can see the need for the new system you are working on where lower I/O count, lower cost and smaller foot print is needed, but you may need all of the math, PID's ect. that the full size units have. If you had to dump some of the capability to keep the cost lower like the 05 vs the 205 (like less memory) I understand that. We already have to know the Click, DS, P3000, and DMD just for AD products, I would not like to have to remember, I cant use this command on this platform with the DMD software. But then again I have never built a PLC of written programming software for them and you have. (and a very good ones at that)  

The current thinking is that a DM1 is always a DM1, so if we put a DM1 on a low end platform, it would still be capable of everything the current CPUs are capable of. The better way to think about it is more like a Novice Mode and an Expert Mode for all DM1s, regardless of platform. The emphasis in Novice Mode would be to reduce the complexity to a level that a new guy with no experience could handle. If the basic stuff does the job (and it would in many cases) keep using Novice Mode as long as you like...but...when you hit a wall (which happens often with a very low end PLC), you can take off the training wheels and go to Expert Mode. Once riding without help, I seriously doubt anyone would go back.

As technology moves forward, kids coming out of school are much further away from something like a PLC than I was coming out of college in the 80s. It is imperative that we find ways of adapting to those changes and find ways to meet new users where they are. How do you reduce PLC programming to something that you could put on an iPad and can be used by a kid graduating in 2015? Answer that question well, and be successful for the next 20 years. Fail, and...well...that simply isn't an option.

Again, all of this is very preliminary and just brainstorming. For the same reason that I do my work on a desktop, running development tools that were natively compiled, producing code that is natively compiled, I think the Big Boy package will always be used by automation professionals, and as new folks become experts, that's where they will wind up. I just want to find ways to increase the number of automation professionals that use Do-more!!

[jwbaker3]

I understand your thinking, I think you are on the right the easier you make the systems to use the larger the possible user base. By doing that (getting a larger base) I think it will be an easier sell to some of the hard line guys that only want X or Y brand. If you can get the program to work in an Ipad I can get my grandson work with them (I think he sleeps with his Ipad and phone)  

I agree you  have to get the product in the hands of the people that use it with the tools they prefer to use. A lot of our customers want to run their machines with an Ipad or Android tablet as the HMI, we are working on how to do this better. Younger workers are more comfortable with them.

I just wanted to voice my concern that old farts like me will still have our toys to play with also.    In our company we try to keep thinking how to make it faster, easier, better, stronger, cheaper and more marketable, sound like we are not the only ones! Keep up the great work.

After I made him use DmD and the Do-More on a project, we have a Allen Bradley programmer in our shop that (without being forced too) recommended using Do-More on a project to one of our customers   that's like the Yankees rooting for the Cubs!!

JW

[BobO]

I just wanted to voice my concern that old farts like me will still have our toys to play with also.    In our company we try to keep thinking how to make it faster, easier, better, stronger, cheaper and more marketable, sound like we are not the only ones! Keep up the great work.

As Host's Old Fart in Chief, I do solemnly swear that I will not take away your toys, but will in every case reasonable, give you more and better toys to play with. If it helps any, our primary vision in developing Do-more was to build the controller that *we'd* want to use. That vision has not and will not change, although in becoming more aware that *we* are not the customers we will be selling to in 20 years, we are looking for ways to make it easier for the young guys coming up.

[franji1]

After I made him use DmD and the Do-More on a project, we have a Allen Bradley programmer in our shop that (without being forced too) recommended using Do-More on a project to one of our customers   that's like the Yankees rooting for the Cubs!!

Is this the guy that believes that when you die, you go to Milwaukee? 

[jwbaker3]

That's him, he still sip's the cool-aid, but we have him tasting the sweet tea!   He mainly works on large already in place networked AB systems, PLC5, SLC, Controllogix with DH+ and Ethernet (large plants). It is a hard sell to get these guys to think about anything other than AB but we did get our guy talking about Do-More so anything is possible.

JW