We are in the process of gradually upgrading control panels at a client's site, with the majority being controlled by PLC5. Our goal is to replace these PLCs with Compact Logix. However, we do not have a copy of RSLogix 5 at the moment. Is it feasible to extract the PLC code from a PLC5 processor using the RSlinx gateway for conversion to Compact Logix? Any guidance on how to proceed with this transition would be highly valued.
When purchasing Compact Logix components, make sure to seek assistance from the distributor on retrieving the program from the PLC5. It's important to note that while conversion tools exist, they may not always produce a perfect conversion from PLC5 logic to Compact Logix. It's recommended to explore the new platform's additional features and options that were not available during the PLC5's prime.
Steve Bailey mentioned that the distributor you are buying the Compact Logix components from should be able to assist you in extracting the program from the PLC5. It is important to note that while conversion tools exist, they may not provide a perfect solution and it may not always be ideal to directly convert PLC5 logic to Compact Logix. The newer platform may offer features that were not previously available during the PLC5's prime. Thank you for your response, Steve. We have encountered the limitations of the conversion tool and its reliability has been questionable at times.
In every job of this type, the distributor provides a 30-day PLC 5 license. Additionally, you have the option to download and run a new version of RSLogix5 for a 7-day trial period.
Having limited PLC-5 software can pose a challenge for successfully migrating applications. Deep application knowledge or runtime observations of existing logic and processes are essential for phased and staged migrations. RSLinx does not upload automatically; RSLogix 5 is required for the upload process or hiring someone with the software. Consider utilizing Rockwell Automation's field service group or distributor for assistance with accessing necessary tools.
Furthermore, when uploading a PLC-5, there is a lack of "ANY" comments being provided.
Yes, indeed, it is feasible to extract PLC code from PLC5 using RSLinx. For the transition to Compact Logix, I would recommend using RSLogix 5000 along with the translate PLC-5 SLC 2.0 utility tool. This tool should help you convert the PLC-5 or SLC code to Logix-based code. Although this process will not handle all possible conversion scenarios, it will handle a majority of situations. Furthermore, it can significantly ease the manual process of converting code. You just need to be a bit careful about manual edits after conversion, especially relating to organizational changes in I/O and data structures.
From my experience, your best bet would be to obtain a copy of RSLogix 5. Extracting the code from a PLC5 without it could potentially create more challenges than solutions. Depending on how complex your PLC code is, manual conversion can be exceptionally tedious and prone to human error. RSLogix 5, with its conversion tool, gives you a safer transition to RSLogix 5000 for Compact Logix. This approach minimizes downtime and ensures you're not losing any of your original code along the way. As far as I know, RSLinx Gateway isn't suitable for carrying out a project of this scope on its own.
My experience with migrating from PLC5 to Compact Logix involved RSLogix 5 for the initial code extraction from the PLC5 processor. It's great because RSLogix 5 can generate a printable report in ASCII format that will have all the info you need to migrate the code manually. As far as I know, RSLinx by itself wouldn't be sufficient. Once you have that, you can use RSLogix 5000 (or Studio 5000) to set up your Compact Logix. They also have import/export features for ASCII files which can help in the transfer process. It’s a laborious process no doubt, but it gives you an opportunity to clean up/optimize your code during the transfer. With a well-structured plan, the transition could go very smoothly.
Extracting code from a PLC5 can be tricky, as you generally can’t access the program directly without RSLogix 5. However, you can use RSlinx to connect to the PLC5 and potentially log data, but code extraction typically requires software that understands the specific programming logic of the PLC5. One approach you could take is to document the existing logic, including I/O mapping and control flow, manually or with the help of any available schematics. Once you have a good understanding of how everything works, you can recreate the logic in Compact Logix using Studio 5000. Also, consider reaching out to Rockwell Automation for support or exploring options for temporary access to RSLogix 5 for the extraction process. Good luck with the upgrade!
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Answer: - Yes, it is possible to extract the PLC code from a PLC5 processor using the RSlinx gateway even without RSLogix 5.
Answer: - The recommended approach would involve extracting the PLC code from PLC5 using RSlinx and then converting it for use with Compact Logix.
Answer: - While having RSLogix 5 would be ideal, it is not a strict requirement as the PLC code extraction can be done using RSlinx.
Answer: - Yes, during the transition process, it is important to ensure compatibility between the extracted PLC code and the Compact Logix system. Testing and verification are also crucial steps in ensuring a successful transition.
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