News:

  • October 14, 2025, 11:24:14 AM

Login with username, password and session length

« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: Do More and HMI all in one  (Read 13758 times)

Henryp

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 161
Do More and HMI all in one
« on: March 08, 2016, 12:42:14 PM »
A Do More and HMI all in one would be nice.
Logged

deep6ixed

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 105
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2016, 06:29:35 AM »
We use one of them, HornerAB I think, and it's okay but my downside is expandability.  Where I work people come up with new ideas for this machine, and I'm reminding them that the PLC is full and we can't add anything more.

I'd rather pay a little more and separate the two units.  Plus the way our operators man handle equipment, a broken HMI has happened... Repeatedly...
Logged

Controls Guy

  • Internal Dev
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3601
  • Darth Ladder
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2016, 11:33:19 AM »
Unless it's primarily an HMI and logic application with maybe a need for less than 10 I/O or something, I've never got the idea behind these. Who wants to run 100 wires to the door?

@deep6ixed: Many of Horner's units will talk to remote I/O (some are even remote-only), so you can put the I/O on the backplane, and expand it, if you like Horner's programming paradigm.  The ones I'm thinking of even talk Modbus/TCP, so you can use generic distributed I/O like Terminator or ProtosX, or 50 other distributed I/O systems.
Logged
I retract my earlier statement that half of all politicians are crooks.  Half of all politicians are NOT crooks.  There.

BobO

  • Host Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6126
  • Yes Pinky, Do-more will control the world!
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2016, 11:57:37 AM »
I love the idea of Host eventually getting into HMI, but that might be one of those "stay in your own sandbox" things.
Logged
"It has recently come to our attention that users spend 95% of their time using 5% of the available features. That might be relevant." -BobO

Controls Guy

  • Internal Dev
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3601
  • Darth Ladder
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2016, 12:17:26 PM »
If you did it, I know it wouldn't be a "Me too" product -- you guys would rock it!   :)
Logged
I retract my earlier statement that half of all politicians are crooks.  Half of all politicians are NOT crooks.  There.

HB_GUY

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 43
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2016, 01:30:00 PM »
Yea, an HMI with a built in Do-More engine and remote Ethernet IO... That could be great.
Host makes great products, and I am sure that if you went in that direction it would be an amazing combo!
Logged

Controls Guy

  • Internal Dev
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3601
  • Darth Ladder
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2016, 01:33:03 PM »
I'd still like if you're going to do an HMI, to at least offer a pure HMI version with no logic engine (for those rare times the customer forces me to use a lesser PLC, plus I like to modularize my apps anyway).
Logged
I retract my earlier statement that half of all politicians are crooks.  Half of all politicians are NOT crooks.  There.

BobO

  • Host Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6126
  • Yes Pinky, Do-more will control the world!
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2016, 01:53:46 PM »
Quote from: Controls Guy on March 10, 2016, 01:33:03 PM
I'd still like if you're going to do an HMI, to at least offer a pure HMI version with no logic engine (for those rare times the customer forces me to use a lesser PLC, plus I like to modularize my apps anyway).

So much comm work to become truly general purpose. Might be a reasonable second phase though, once the product was making enough money to justify the investment. And I suspect the politics of embedding Do-more would be far more manageable than another general purpose HMI.

I do seriously love the idea though and would think the opportunity is quite large.
Logged
"It has recently come to our attention that users spend 95% of their time using 5% of the available features. That might be relevant." -BobO

Controls Guy

  • Internal Dev
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3601
  • Darth Ladder
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2016, 01:59:34 PM »
The upfront comms work isn't too bad, so long as you employ the 80/20 rule.

Initially, just implement Modbus RTU, Modbus/TCP, and DMP or whatever Do-More protocol is called, and you'll have covered about 90% of the available market.  Add other drivers as you can demonstrate demand for them.  Seriously, EVERYTHING talks Modbus.
Logged
I retract my earlier statement that half of all politicians are crooks.  Half of all politicians are NOT crooks.  There.

BobO

  • Host Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6126
  • Yes Pinky, Do-more will control the world!
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2016, 02:04:47 PM »
Quote from: Controls Guy on March 10, 2016, 01:59:34 PM
The upfront comms work isn't too bad, so long as you employ the 80/20 rule.

Initially, just implement Modbus RTU, Modbus/TCP, and DMP or whatever Do-More protocol is called, and you'll have covered about 90% of the available market.  Add other drivers as you can demonstrate demand for them.  Seriously, EVERYTHING talks Modbus.

I can see that.

Probably would still embed the engine though, even if we offered without I/O. HMIs really benefit from scripting, and I just happen to already have a nice way to do that.
Logged
"It has recently come to our attention that users spend 95% of their time using 5% of the available features. That might be relevant." -BobO

Controls Guy

  • Internal Dev
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3601
  • Darth Ladder
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2016, 02:19:19 PM »
Quote from: BobO on March 10, 2016, 02:04:47 PM
I can see that.

Probably would still embed the engine though, even if we offered without I/O. HMIs really benefit from scripting, and I just happen to already have a nice way to do that.

That you do! ;D  I was going to mention that as long as the Ethernet port is accessible for HMI comms with a remote processor, it doesn't hurt anything if there's a DM engine in there, and as you note, a lot of times it's going to be quite valuable (especially once DM does ST). I've done that (used a combo HMI/PLC as a pure HMI) and it works fine.
Logged
I retract my earlier statement that half of all politicians are crooks.  Half of all politicians are NOT crooks.  There.

MAEdwards

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 56
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2016, 12:51:34 PM »
Quote from: BobO on March 10, 2016, 11:57:37 AM
I love the idea of Host eventually getting into HMI, but that might be one of those "stay in your own sandbox" things.

I have mentioned this to some friends before.  I would love to see a Host Eng HMI.
Logged

BobO

  • Host Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6126
  • Yes Pinky, Do-more will control the world!
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2016, 12:55:57 PM »
Quote from: MAEdwards on March 11, 2016, 12:51:34 PM
I have mentioned this to some friends before.  I would love to see a Host Eng HMI.

Well, from your new lofty perch amongst the shakers and movers in the automation world, you can begin softening the target for Host's eventual, and dare I say inevitable, entry into the HMI market. ;)

And yes...that was a joke.

Mostly.
Logged
"It has recently come to our attention that users spend 95% of their time using 5% of the available features. That might be relevant." -BobO

MAEdwards

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 56
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2016, 02:24:21 PM »
Quote from: BobO on March 11, 2016, 12:55:57 PM
Quote from: MAEdwards on March 11, 2016, 12:51:34 PM
I have mentioned this to some friends before.  I would love to see a Host Eng HMI.

Well, from your new lofty perch amongst the shakers and movers in the automation world, you can begin softening the target for Host's eventual, and dare I say inevitable, entry into the HMI market. ;)

And yes...that was a joke.

Mostly.

Lofty Perch?  You never fail to make me laugh, BobO.  You're awesome!
Logged

Controls Guy

  • Internal Dev
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3601
  • Darth Ladder
Re: Do More and HMI all in one
« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2016, 09:26:33 AM »
Lofty perch?  That's just a fish with am attitude!
Logged
I retract my earlier statement that half of all politicians are crooks.  Half of all politicians are NOT crooks.  There.
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »