2 Answers

Robot Controller or PLC?

Article From legacy.roboticsonline.com

Brief Summary:

When purchasing a robotyou must also determine the type of controller that best suits the robot and your needs. Depending on the difficulty of the task the robotic system will be performing you may need a PLC or just a simple robot controller. In many cases, the new robot controllers can support the needs of smaller manufacturers -- or simple robotic work cells -- by eliminating the need for PLC programming to control I/O. When planning a new robotic system, how can you determine whether you need a PLC or whether the robot controller can do it all? If your robot system includes only one or two material-handling robots, product infeed/outfeed conveyors and some escapements Systems with a low I/O count can be readily managed with one interface -- the robot programming pendant --using the robot's built-in functions. Robot control architecture has evolved. Previously, robots could just be ??nodes'? to a ??master'? PLC.Now, the robot controller can take on the role of I/O ??master'? over various different bus-level networks, such as DeviceNet, ProfiBus, EtherNet/IP, CC-Link, and others You can use the robot programming pendant to access everything associated with the robot (jobs, settings, and I/O sequencing code).If the I/O sequencing will be handled within a robot programming job, you can learn what you need to know at a basic robot-programming training class. However, using the robot controller for these advanced PLC-like functions does require some additional training in I/O sequencing from the robot manufacturer. In its most basic implementation, the robot can control I/O using commands written into the robot program. * Or, the robot controller can be a ??node'? serving the ??master'? PLC. Or, given the advances in ladder editing, connectivity, processing speed, and additional I/O, the robot controller can serve the same functions as a small PLC. Eliminating an external PLC and using the robot controller for system level control functions is now a viable ? and cost-effective -- alternative for many applications.

To read the original article please click:

http://legacy.roboticsonline.com/public/articles/archivedetails.cfm?id=1550

.

Hi,

Robots are often used for a process as a unit producing a product or part of a product, programmed that process in detail.

Pl Cs are most of the time used as processor for a handling, like push something of a production platform or process band. They are controlled by a central processor that have more of them connected. Sometimes those are controlled on their turn by a head computer that also has a connection with the office and the warehouse for administration and sale handling.

If you mean to start a study I think it would be wise to start an automation course that handle the both sort of processors and also logistic works.

I did study that in my early days.

Greetings Puran.