Idec Corporation releases its FC6A MicroSmart, a PLC with up to 520 I/O. The MicroSmart PLC reportedly provides the power of a PAC (programmable automation controller) in a low-cost controller with a small form factor. MicroSmart PLC is designed for applications in industries including oil and gas, chemical, solar, marine, packaging, food & beverage, material handling, utility vehicles and OEM machinery and process skids. MicroSmart PLC is especially suited to applications requiring control of standalone machines, process skids, vehicles and small-scale systems.
Basic instructions can be executed in 0.042 microseconds, and program memory is 640 kB, according to the company. There are 1,024 timers and six of the 512 counters are high-speed at rates up to 100kHz. These capabilities combined with extensive data and bit memory reportedly double the capacity of a typical micro PLC. MicroSmart PLC can handle large programs with complex control requirements such as PID, flow totalization and recipes, according to the company.
Three MicroSmart PLC models are available, each with 24 Vdc or 100-240 Vac input power. The 16 I/O model has nine inputs, and seven relay or transistor outputs. The 24 I/O model has 14 inputs and 10 relay or transistor outputs. The 40 I/O model has 24 inputs and 16 relay or transistor outputs. Each model also includes an integral 0-10 Vdc analog input. The 16 and 24 I/O models can accommodate one plug-in analog cartridge, and the 40 I/O model can accommodate two plug-in analog cartridges. Each cartridge has two analog I/O points, either two inputs or two outputs.
Up to 12 expansion modules can be added to the 16 I/O model and up to 15 expansion modules can be added to the 24 and 40 I/O models. These modules can be of any type with no restrictions as to the number of analog and specialty modules. The 40 I/O MicroSmart PLC has the capability to handle up to 520 I/O with a maximum of 126 analog I/O.
