A Closer Look at Siemens SIMATIC S5 Programmable Controllers
It could be argued that despite being outdated, Siemens’ SIMATIC S5 range of programmable logic controllers is still one of the most popular automation systems on this planet, with a host of manufacturers around the world still relying on it. technology.
Manufactured and sold by Siemens AG, the Siemens SIMATIC S5 range was first introduced at the Hannover Fair in 1979 and quickly became a favorite with machine builders, system integrators, panel builders and automation dealers. In the early 1980s, automation customers demanded greater system functionality and the SIMATIC S5 family was the answer.
Available in a range of different chassis styles (90U, 95U, 101U, 100U, 115U, 135U and 155U), the Siemens S5 gave users a choice of various CPUs, memory types, I/Os, power supplies , communication cards, interface modules and function modules. These S5 options can be configured to suit users’ production requirements and budget. A general rule of thumb is that the higher the chassis number of the S5, the more sophisticated and expensive the system. Siemens SIMATIC S5 is versatile and can be used in any number of industries and functionalities.
In the mid 1980s, programming on the Siemens S5 became much simpler due to the introduction of operator panels and graphical programming tools such as Step 5. Step 5 is a PC-based software programming tool that is the main tool for programming, testing and launching programs. for SIEMENS S5 SIMATIC PLC. The original versions of Step 5 ran on the CPM operating system. Later versions ran under MS-DOS, and then versions of Windows through Windows XP. The final version of Step 5 is version 7.2. There has been no further development of this product line since then, due to its announced obsolescence.
Despite being outdated, Siemens S5 is still a popular platform and can be found installed in thousands of manufacturing facilities around the world. More and more users are migrating to Siemens Simatic S7, the latest generation programmable logic controllers from Siemens AG.