Simulate this!

[palexandre]

Hey everyone,
this is my first posting, and before I put forth this question I have searched and all the results were no's and were posed just under 10 years ago, so I am hoping that the good people here have done something about.

question: how on earth is one supposed to simulate a project that I write?

I have read through my manual pdf and still nothing.

Am I blind or is this the only plc software on the market that cannot test without hardware?


thanks!
-alexandre

[franji1]

The DL CPUs do not have a simulator.  However, Host Engineering is developing a new CPU for the 205 that DOES have a simulator.  See the MX Technology Preview forum at the top of the main forum page http://forum.hosteng.com.

If you are using 205 I/O, or are considering 205 I/O, definitely consider this new CPU (and not just because it has a PC based simulator).

[palexandre]

so, the end result is that I have to purchase yet another program? in order to do a run through, I should buy another software like rs link/logix in order to test my program just to bring it over to directsoft 5? are there any work-arounds that anyone knows, like maybe exporting the program to a freeware simulator?

[franji1]

so, the end result is that I have to purchase yet another program? in order to do a run through, I should buy another software like rs link/logix in order to test my program just to bring it over to directsoft 5? are there any work-arounds that anyone knows, like maybe exporting the program to a freeware simulator?

Unlike the big guys who charge big $$$ for their simulators and programing software, the MX based programming software and simulator will be FREE.  That does NOT mean they are CHEAP.  These products have some very advanced features.

The MX Technology Preview is PERFECT for you to "kick the tires".  It's Beta, but you should get a good feel for what the end-product is going to be like.

If you have an existing project you need to "convert" - try exporting the mnemonic text file to get the basic ladder logic across (e.g. STR/AND/OUT).  However, some instructions have no "equivalent" instruction, and hence the code must be re-written for MX (e.g. communications, accumulator math, etc.).