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Old School I/O without 'Arduino' !!!
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GlennSprigg:
Don't know what time I have left!, but I've been coding a project for years, to create a Windows based graphical programming & controller, to interface with (initially!) multiple custom made I/O boards, via RS232/USB to the PC/Laptop.  I'm simulating an old Honeywell system I used to work with, called 'Excel', (not to be confused with Microsoft's product!!), using something like it's 'RACL', (Row And Column Language), except with a nice graphical interface for circuit layouts & control.  The result is like a 'P.L.C.' being used to receive many inputs (analog & digital) and control outputs, for the purpose of relatively simple Process Control, small building HVAC systems, Security systems etc. No prob there, and its looking good!

The 'problem' I have, is that I've only fairly recently been 'discovering' all this 'Arduino' stuff. (With all their I/O attachments). I'm a bit 'Old School', and I definitely want to keep my Graphics/FrontEnd, as the whole idea was that anyone with an old Laptop can run the software, and cheaply interface to single/multiple RS232/USB ports!! (Very limited need for purchase of parts! Existing Laptop etc becomes the full P.L.C.).

Is this 'Arduino' stuff all it is cracked up to be?... And yes, I've noticed the cheap 'copies' on the Net...  ;D
I just wanted something that anyone can run and use with what they've got, except for the I/O boards they can make/buy from my plans.
(And yes, I have various plans for certain bought/custom I/O boards from USB etc.)
greenpossum:
You don't need an Arduino if you just want digital (or even analog) GPIO pins. Your PC already has the processing power. Search for something called "USB GPIO expander".
GlennSprigg:

--- Quote from: greenpossum on April 24, 2020, 11:24:44 am ---You don't need an Arduino if you just want digital (or even analog) GPIO pins. Your PC already has the processing power. Search for something called "USB GPIO expander".

--- End quote ---

Yea, thanks mate. I haven't seen the 'numato' products before. One example below...   :-+
https://numato.com/product/32-channel-usb-gpio-module-with-analog-inputs
RoGeorge:
To be honest, I don't understand what you are really asking.

Arduino is an 8 bit microcontroller from the AVR family, for example ATmega8.  Read the datasheet of ATmega8 to see what an arduino is.  It has it's own internal RAM and Flash memory.  It can do what any 8 bit computer can do.  All it needs is to write a program for it, like you would write a program for a PC/Laptop.

Later, other microcontroller models were used, too, on a similar board with the older 8 bits Arduino.  Some of these newer models are more powerful, based on ARM microcontrollers.

They all can be programed the same, in C/C++.  You can think about an Arduino to be an 8 bit computer with a lot of input/output ports, both analog and digital.

The tool with which you usually write programs for an Arduino board, the IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is also called "Arduino", like the board, and that adds a lot of confusion.  Software people usually think about the C/C++ IDE when they talk about Arduino, while hardware people usually think about an AVR microcontroller when they talk about Arduino.
 ;D

Depending on what you need to control with the PLC, an Arduino board alone can be more than enough, without any laptop attached to it.

Also, for industrial PLC, having a PC/laptop involved in the control loop is something to be avoided, because consumer PC/laptops are not ruggedized for industrial environments, while PLC usually are.

Does this answer the question?
GlennSprigg:

--- Quote from: RoGeorge on April 24, 2020, 11:40:32 am ---To be honest, I don't understand what you are really asking.

Arduino is an 8 bit microcontroller from the AVR family, for example ATmega8.  Read the datasheet of ATmega8 to see what an arduino is.  It has it's own internal RAM and Flash memory.  It can do what any 8 bit computer can do.  All it needs is to write a program for it, like you would write a program for a PC/Laptop.

Later, other microcontroller models were used, too, on a similar board with the older 8 bits Arduino.  Some of these newer models are more powerful, based on ARM microcontrollers.

They all can be programed the same, in C/C++.  You can think about an Arduino to be an 8 bit computer with a lot of input/output ports, both analog and digital.

The tool with which you usually write programs for an Arduino board, the IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is also called "Arduino", like the board, and that adds a lot of confusion.  Software people usually think about the C/C++ IDE when they talk about Arduino, while hardware people usually think about an AVR microcontroller when they talk about Arduino.
 ;D

Depending on what you need to control with the PLC, an Arduino board alone can be more than enough, without any laptop attached to it.

Also, for industrial PLC, having a PC/laptop involved in the control loop is something to be avoided, because consumer PC/laptops are not ruggedized for industrial environments, while PLC usually are.

Does this answer the question?

--- End quote ---

Partly. I understand about the processing power of the controllers you mention, using C/C++ etc, but what I talk of requires and is part of a Graphical customer/controller interface. I understand too when you talk of equipment needing to be 'ruggedized', and I've seen the good & the bad over the years with my work, but the 'Pseudo' P.L.C. (Laptop!) is in an Office environment etc. (Unlike a PLC out in the field).

It just seems to me, that a lot of these Arduino 'modules' (Shields??!!!) are fine for making toys/robots. All self contained. Of course I could not explain enough about the scenarios for use in my case in a short description, but it is not in heavy industrial environments. I was only wondering if my 'old school' methods are redundant in this 'Arduino' world now, or If I should ignore them. Hard to describe, sorry.  :)
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