Came upon one of these units the other day. Is it a PLC? From what era (prior to PLC-2, etc)? What software and hadrware is/was used to program it? Anybody know? Thanks!
The following is only partially correct. Here is the real deal. AB Milwaukee released the 1742, called the Modular Automation Controller (MAC)
back in the late 70's/early 80's at the same time that AB Cleveland released the PLC-4, which puts both products in the market at the same time as the PLC-2.
The MAC was a dog with no connectivity to anything. The PLC-4 was somewhat connectable to data highway. Both products were actually replaced by the original SLC-100 and the rest is history, as they say. A hand held programming device was used to program the MAC; a separate and different hand held was used for PLC-4. This was a classic case of AB Milwaukee trying to get into the PLC market as a defensive move to combat loss of relay sales against its own sister division.
Programming software for these types of products did not exist until first a company call Xcel in Indiana and then ICOM which became the beginning of Rockwell Software-too bad as ICOM was the real deal and a fun company to do business with.
