It’s been over a year since the Do-more PLC joined the AutomationDirect family, and it has proven to be one of the best PLC values in the automation industry. We have gotten overwhelming positive feedback from our customers on this amazing product. Here is a list of 10 game changing advantages that customers are enjoying with the new Do-more PLC!
1. Free Programming Software and Support
Stop paying for software, upgrades and support. The Do-more Designer software is a powerful, easy-to-use programming environment with all the features you expect from modern PLC programming software:
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- Flexible program management supports astraight ladder logic, tasks, and stage structures for a best-of-all-worlds approach that simplifies your code and makes troubleshooting easier
- Support for up to 2,000 PID loops with auto-tuning AND instruction-specific monitoring windows for PID, RAMPSOAK, and High/Low ALARM instructions
- Spreadsheet style Math instruction supports formulas, variables, nesting
- “Axis Mode” for motion
- Enhanced security
- Strong data typing and much more…
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And our award winning tech support is only a phone call away. Our US-based support crew answers your calls professionally and promptly. Our online forums have a wealth of information compiled by users like you, and all our manuals and other documentation are also online and free to access 24/7.
2. Do-more is a Communications Powerhouse
[blockquote type=”blockquote_line” align=”right”]”Great product. We have bought over 10 and are using them as our standard platform for a networked plant wide upgrade…” – Ken[/blockquote]The Do-more has a built-in USB, serial, and optional Ethernet ports ON-BOARD. If that’s not enough and you need more, Do-more can do that too! Add Ethernet ports for $301 each, or serial ports – three for $176. We’ve filled a rack with 25 serial ports and Do-more doesn’t flinch. It supports custom protocols and lets you name all your devices for easy recognition throughout your program. Connect bar code readers, scales, servo drives, and more!
3. Smart Architecture and Fast Processor
Do-more offers about nine times the data memory and four times the program memory of the previous DL205 processors, and you can allocate all that data memory the way you want it – no rigid, predefined blocks of wasted space! And the Do-more CPU is lightning fast executing a 1k Boolean program in just 0.2ms. This is about 20x faster than the DL205 processors.
4. Expansion I/O over standard Ethernet
Connect up to 16 I/O racks and/or GS drives to the built-in Ethernet port on the Do-more CPU (H2-DM1E). This Ethernet I/O is auto-discovered and appears as native I/O to the CPU.
5. Powerful Control Over Program Execution
Define execution order for your tasks and programs. Then give each a fixed time-slice, with smart “yield points” for logical pause locations. You have complete control over the order and timing of your PLC code.
6. Enhanced Troubleshooting Tools
Suspend tasks or programs and disable stages. Monitor program status bits. Trend data in multiple views. Turn on the Do-more Logger and log error messages right to the Network Message Viewer application on your PC. Do-more has all the troubleshooting tools you need to get your code up and running quickly and efficiently.
7. Practical High Speed Counting & Pulse Output for Motion Control and More
At $299, the new high-speed counter module (H2-CTRIO2) has four independently configurable timer/counter channels (up to 250 kHz) and two pulse output generators (up to 250 kHz). All configuration and profile setup is now built into the Do-more Designer software, so it’s a snap to integrate with your other application logic. The original H2-CTRIO is also supported.
8. Store all Your Project Documentation “On-Board”
Do-more stores all your project documentation on the CPU where it can easily be retrieved by any PC with the FREE Do-more Designer software installed. You can also store your own PDF, HTML or other format files with the disk-based version of the project to aid future improvement or troubleshooting efforts.
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If you are currently using the DL205 series PLCs, there is even more of a reason to give the new Do-more a try!
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9. Leverage Your Existing, Cost-Effective Hardware
[blockquote type=”blockquote_line” align=”Left”]”Versatility and price make this a go to in more complex applications. Tech support second to none!” – James[/blockquote]More than 50 compatible I/O modules and four base sizes. Proven and reliable I/O modules; with prices that are among the lowest in the industry. DL205 I/O modules offer a wide range of points per module including 4, 8, 12, 16 and 32-point modules. To help you wire them fast and inexpensively, ZIPLink quick connection cables and terminal blocks help you connect I/O modules to terminal blocks in seconds. These easily pay for themselves by reducing wiring costs. We also offer relay, fused and LED ZIPLink modules that save even more time AND money!
10. Newly released Migration Utility
The Migration Utility gives you a head-start on the conversion of your existing DirectLOGIC project. This utility takes the project export (.txt file) from any DirectSOFT 05/06/205/350/405 project and brings it into Do-more Designer as a Designer project. Although the Do-more architecture is different from DirectLOGIC, most of the contacts and basic coils migrate well, along with many instruction boxes. Of course, all Element Documentation (Nickname, Wiring Info, Description), and Ladder Comments are brought in unchanged. For any instructions that are now obsolete or implemented differently, a ‘Stub Instruction’ is created as a place-holder within your Designer project to alert you that additional steps will be necessary. The user is responsible for recreating the original functionality at each location where a stub is inserted.
The Migration Utility is a tool that can assist in the conversion of your project – it is NOT 100% automatic. If any element does not map directly to a Do-more element, it is mapped to an Unassigned Nickname so you can address it later. All original DirectSOFT element text is appended to the Do-more element’s Description documentation field to assist with the migration process. Access this new utility via the File->Import->Migrate DirectSOFT project menu.
The Do-more PLC is a game-changing new product from AutomationDirect, and the benefits of this platform cannot be ignored. And to top it all off, the Do-more processor is now available in the popular Terminator I/O form factor as well. You can learn more about the differences between the two in this post. (Do-more H2 or Do-more T1H: How to choose – Issue 28, 2014)
Maybe it’s time you give the Do-more PLC a try and start to “Do-more and Spend Less.”
Learn more about the Do-more PLC by visiting our online store at www.Automationdirect.com/do-more-plc.
Originally Published: April 2014