Rockwell SLC 500 PLC Migration To Logix
|
Share |
It has been almost 25 years since the SLC 500 PLC controller was released by Rockwell Automation.
But sadly the time has come to say goodbye and move forward as the SLC 500 PLC is being phased out of manufacturing and support. We look at the Why, the What and the How of migration, and show you what you need to do so your plant does not suffer when support ends. Will you be fully migrated before the SLC 500 PLC says goodbye? |
Why do I need to migrate my SLC 500 PLC system?
We hear it all the time, “Why do I have to migrate when there is nothing wrong with it?” It is a question that I can understand but it is a question that worries me also because the person asking needs to understand what is at risk!
The SLC 500 PLC has been (and still is) a very popular controller that has been sold since 1991, and has proven itself to be a reliable and cost effective solution in many automation applications. Since its inception there have been large developments in automation technology and Rockwell Automation have since released newer and faster systems. The SLC 500 PLC has been produced for over 20 years now and the problem is that Rockwell cannot keep manufacturing old technology for many reasons, which I am sure are obvious. The SLC 500 PLC is already in the “Active Mature” phase, which is one step before “End of Life”. In fact there are many products in this range that have already been phased out and no longer available. You can use the Rockwell Product Lifecycle Status link to check your system's hardware status. |
|
|
What does SLC 500 PLC migration mean for us?
In short it means that very soon you will no longer be able to buy new parts for your SLC 500 PLC systems.
There are second hand and refurbished parts available on the web but there is no guarantee of their quality or reliability, and as the availability of SLC PLC parts decrease the costs to buy what is left only increases! The time is coming that your SLC PLC system will need servicing and there will be no parts available, and Murphy’s Law says that this will all happen right when you need your system the most. We would all love our automation systems to work flawlessly and last forever, but you know that's not going to happen. The reality is that although your system may be working perfectly well right now, all PLC’s are electronic devices with components that are sensitive and they will fail at some stage, the only question is “When?” Your automation system is the heart of your business. What would happen if you couldn't run your automation system due to a hardware failure? What if there were no spare parts available? This will be your future if you don't take migration seriously. |
How do I find a SLC 500 PLC migration solution?
Migrations are not overly complex or difficult and depending on your situation there can be a number of solutions available to you. Fortunately it is not too late to start your migration while SLC 500 PLC support is still available, but time is fast running out!
The need to migrate doesn’t mean that you have to rip out and replace your entire system. Using a CompactLogix Controller from Rockwell, we can reuse your existing SLC 500 PLC Input and Output cards which means there are no changes needed to your field device wiring. This greatly reduces installation time and migration costs. Potentially you could use one Logix Processor to control multiple SLC 500 PLC systems, allowing for a multi-staged migration plan and reducing migration costs. An overall migration plan with prioritised upgrades can be developed where key and important systems are migrated to the latest Logix platform first, which in turn will create spare parts from the first system to help support the other SLC 500 PLC systems you have, until you’re ready for the next system migration. |
|
Automated Electrics will develop a tailored migration solution that best fits your requirements and budget.
We will sit down with you and evaluate your existing equipment to work out what products and services are going to give you the easiest migration with minimal disruption.
Most of the SLC 500 PLC migration process will happen while your existing system is still running. We have tools that can convert your existing SLC 500 PLC programming code into the latest Logix PLC platform, so we don't have to reprogram your entire system from scratch like some others. We will test your new Logix PLC and programming code off-site in our workshop prior to the changeover on-site for a quick and efficient migration.
We will sit down with you and evaluate your existing equipment to work out what products and services are going to give you the easiest migration with minimal disruption.
Most of the SLC 500 PLC migration process will happen while your existing system is still running. We have tools that can convert your existing SLC 500 PLC programming code into the latest Logix PLC platform, so we don't have to reprogram your entire system from scratch like some others. We will test your new Logix PLC and programming code off-site in our workshop prior to the changeover on-site for a quick and efficient migration.
Get the right advice with a team you can trust, Automated Electrics.
We take the worry out of any SLC PLC migration.
We take the worry out of any SLC PLC migration.
Benefits of Migrating Your SLC 500 PLC System
|
Risks of NOT Migrating Your SLC 500 PLC System
|