Hello,

I'm in the process of creating a study for my company on the feasibility of switching from PLC based controls to and MCU controls. By this I mean we are looking if it is worthwhile to change from the rather expensive PLC to a more inexpensive MCU. I currently work with the AT89S8252 and think with port expanders and driver chips to be able to control most all the valves and LEDs that our equipment uses. Currently the PLCs that are used are NOT relay output and the control voltage is 24VDC.

To my question has anybody done one of these studies before? And has any good tips on what to include in the study? If possible email or post their findings and conclusions.

Currently I have set some points that I have to ensure to address in the Study of converting from the PLC to the MCU.
These are:
-> Engineering Time:
-> Warranty Aspects:
-> Risks with MCU Integration:
-> Rewards of the MCU Integration:
-> How I would make the PCB:
-> Quantity per year <200:

Please be assured that this is not a school project for myself and that I understand that I might be getting a rather biased opinion from this boardJ However I have posted a few time before here and fell like that there are some individuals that could give me some good tips on there experience in trying to go into an embedded design. I for myself love the MCU world and al of its facets.



Thank you for your time, Richard