Overview
What's
the microLogic PLC?
A DOS PC running
software that goes beyond
standard PLC functions with almost unlimited
position control sequences possible in the X and
Y axis when using an encoder. (A PLC / CNC machine
in one?)
ULTRAsmart's news is maintained to assist our customers, and interested electronics and automation enthusiasts. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact David Jarvis.
WHAT'S NEW ARTICLES
New
Version 2 of Power Relay Cards / Modules
May 2006
ULTRAsmart will
start making available its new Version 2 Relay
modules in early June 2006. Both the 12 volt DC Coil Relay
Module, and a 24 volt DC Coil Relay
Module have been upgraded.
"What were already high quality
relay modules based around the amazing OMRON G5LE-14-VD power relays,
have been improved even further", said David Jarvis, ULTRAsmart's General Manager Marketing
and Communications. The main improvements include:
"What was great value for money is now even better", Mr Jarvis said.
Dec 2005
ULTRAsmart has
two new products: a 12 volt DC Coil Power Relay
Module, and a 24 volt DC Coil Relay Module, each capable of switching 250
VAC and 30 volt DC.
"These high quality
relay modules are based around the amazing OMRON G5LE-14-VD power relays which can switch
a large load for their compact size", said David Jarvis, ULTRAsmart's General Manager Marketing
and Communications. These
small, flexible, low cost modules will have a lot of uses in the control,
home automation and access control, and hobby electronics markets. The
relay modules have been tested with the K-2805 Card's digital outputs.
(Refer Sample Applications on page 6 of the instructions included
with the K-2805, wiring diagram labelled Driving Relays and LEDs .) The
relay modules have also been tested with the ICOP-6054VE mini-computers
digital outputs, but some additional circuitry was required to enable the
outputs to drive the relays. (We used circuitry which included a ULN2803
Darlington Driver chip.) "Because they are such great value for
money, we believe a lot of people and markets will find these relay modules
to be just what they have been looking for", Mr Jarvis said.
Latest
Version of microLOGIC
Soft PLC has Four New Modules - including a Scheduler
Aug 2005
ULTRAsmart has
just added four new modules to create its latest
version of microLogic soft PLC
software - version 1.6, build 6g.
"Our microLogic software
now has a Schedule module with eight options, including triggering every day
at the same time, and every Monday (or Tuesday, or Wednesday etc....) at the
same time", said David Jarvis, ULTRAsmart's General Manager Marketing
and Communications.
The other modules
enhance the "arithmetic" possibilities of the software. They are:
B2A (Binary to Analog), PLUS (addition of two analog values), and SUBT
(subtract one analog value from another) modules. "These modules are
not just useful when accessing analog inputs. The B2A module enables digital
inputs to be converted to analog values. The PLUS and SUBT modules allow
arithmetic to be performed, and the TRGDA (debunced analog trigger) module
already built into the software enables analog values to be converted back
to digital", Mr Jarvis said. The programming possibilities this adds
to a standard PLC are endless commented Mr
Jarvis said.
MicroLOGIC
Soft PLC Now Supports ICOP Embedded PC I/O
April 2005
ULTRAsmart has
just finished upgrading its microLogic soft PLC
software to version 1.6, build 6c so it can use the General Purpose I/O built
into the ICOP mini-computer
ICOP-6054VE V11
models. This provides 16 fast digital I/Os - 8
inputs and 8 outputs on the computer running the software!
"Our microLogic software is a good match with the embedded 386SX CPU in the ICOP-6054VE", said David Jarvis, General Manager Marketing and Communications.
Inputs are: GPIO[8] =
IP 1; GPIO[9] = IP 2; GPIO[10] = IP 3; GPIO[11] = IP 4; GPIO[12] = IP 5;
GPIO[13] = IP 6; GPIO[14] = IP 7; GPIO[15] = IP 8. Outputs are:
GPIO[0] = OP 1; GPIO[1] = OP 2; GPIO[2] = OP 3; GPIO[3] = OP 4; GPIO[4] = OP
5; GPIO[5] = OP 6; GPIO[7] = OP 7; GPIO[7] = OP 8. Running on the DOS operating system, our software
does not require lots of processor overhead. It's fast on the cheaper, low
spec 386 SX and similar CPUs. "While made for and tested on the ICOP-6054VE
V11 mini-computer, any ICOP model which uses the DM&P (Ali) M6117D
chipset, or the Ali 5113 multi I/O chipset will probably be able to access
the GPIO with the new 1.6 build 6c version of our microLogic software", Mr Jarvis said. As
well as adding this new I/O, the latest version has improved editing facilities.
"This makes it easier to change such things as module calculation
order, module links, and module parameters", Mr
Jarvis said.
Jaycar
No Longer Sells the KC5230 I/O Card Kit - Check with us for Alternate
Supplies
January 2005
ULTRAsmart has
been advised that Jaycar no longer supplies the
KC5230 kit: "I/O Card for PCs". This
was the first Card supported by the microLOGIC soft
PLC.
"We were sorry to
discover Jaycar had ceased selling this kit. Its ease of use and built in
relays make it a perfect starter kit", said David Jarvis, General Manager Marketing
and Communications. Mr Jarvis advised that ULTRAsmart would investigate
to find out if others supply this kit. "If we can't find an alternate
supplier, we may look to source the kit ourselves", Mr Jarvis said. "It's
just too good a kit to let it disappear from Australia", Mr
Jarvis said.
August 2004
ULTRAsmart has added a new module to its
microLOGIC PLC software which enables the analog inputs on the K-2805 Card
to be used as digital inputs.
"Many K-2805 users wanted a way of turning the analog inputs into digital inputs so they could use the normal PLC programs written for the KC5230 Card and ICOP-6054VE mini-PC", said David Jarvis, General Manager Marketing and Communications. "So we created the TRGDA module!"
Mr Jarvis advised that the Debounced Trigger Analog module could take the output from a K-2805 Card's analog input and convert it to a digital output which could be used by the various logic and other digital modules built into the microLOGIC PLC software.
"It may sound complicated ..... but it's not. It's easy to use and just made the K-2805 Card a whole lot more useful", Mr Jarvis said.
Mini
and Embedded PCs Available
January 2004
ULTRAsmart can
supply single and multi-board industrial strength PCs for your embedded
computer control needs.
"We chose ICOP products
because they represent excellent value for money", said David Jarvis, General Manager Marketing
and Communications. Mr Jarvis advised that ICOP produces units with 386
up to Pentium 166 MHz equivalent performance. Mini
and embedded PCs are becoming very real alternatives to traditional PLCs
and other types of controllers. And they often provide greater flexibility,
Mr Jarvis advised. "Computers running the DOS operating system do not
normally need as much
CPU processing power as those running Windows, so the ICOP units are a good
match for our microLogic PLC software", Mr Jarvis said. "Check availability
as units may need to be imported depending upon stocks", Mr
Jarvis said.
Connect up to 3 I/O Cards
to One Parallel Port
January 2004
ULTRAsmart
has designed a simple cable to connect one parallel port to 2 x JC:KC5230 and 1 x DS:K-2805
Input/Output cards for use with its microLogic PLC on a DOS PC
software.
Approx 40 cm long, 2x Male and 2x Female 25 pin "D" sockets.
"Build
the cable yourself, or purchase a ready made and tested unit from us", said David Jarvis, General Manager Marketing
and Communications. Mr Jarvis advised that the
order in which the cards were connected, where the PC's parallel port was
connected, and the length of the cable are important to achieving stable
communications. "We will place information
on our web site to help those wishing to make their own cable", Mr
Jarvis said.
microLOGIC PLC
Supports Mouse Shaft Encoder "The mouse protocol is designed for passing position information,
the PC's mouse drivers have been designed for speed, and modern mice have
quite high resolution. There are some important disadvantages - but
why not use all this technology in a shaft or position encoder?",
asked David Jarvis, General Manager Marketing
and Communications. Mr Jarvis advised that ULTRAsmart would soon place information
on
a web page outlining how it had made its own proto-type mouse based encoder. "We
designed the mouse based encoder for initial testing of our software - just
emulate an encoder by moving the mouse on it mat - and decided to leave it
in the final version", Mr Jarvis said. Mr Jarvis advised that the
mouse based encoder had a number of significant disadvantages such as loss of position
and accuracy at high speeds. "We do not recommend using the mouse
based encoder or communications protocol and driver for important work, or
on potentially dangerous machines. It's a learning and testing tool.", Mr Jarvis said.
December 2003
ULTRAsmart's microLogic
PLC software now enables you to use your DOS PC's serial mouse as a
shaft/position encoder!
