Siemens Simatic 505 PLCs
The Siemens® Simatic 505® PLC was a pioneering entry in the programmable logic controller (PLC) market. Originally designed in 1985 by Texas Instruments®, this platform was acquired by Siemens in 1988. Even at its introduction, the 505 PLC was considered decades ahead of its time.
These processors are still in service globally. The robust construction of the 505 hardware allows it to tolerate the harsh manufacturing environments of heat, humidity, dust and vibration without complaint. Its programming languages and innovative features make it easy to write logic and rapidly deploy into production.
TISOFT: The Original 505 Programming Software
The original programming software for the 505 processors is a DOS application called TISOFT®. Its name references the inventor of the platform, Texas Instruments. This software is feature rich and provides access to all the hardware capabilities. However, the introduction of Windows operating systems by Microsoft and its improved functionality surpassed the restrictive user interface of DOS applications.
FasTrak SoftWorks, Inc. Creates Windows-based PLC Programming Software
In 1985, FasTrak SoftWorks, Inc. was the first company in the world to create PLC programming software that could be installed on desktops and laptops. These programming packages supported the biggest names in process automation.
FasTrak’s PLC WorkShop for Siemens 505
In 1995, FasTrak created the first ever Microsoft Windows®-based PLC programming software. In 1997, the company developed PLC WorkShop™ for Siemens 505, which was the first Windows-based programming package for the Simatic 505 processors. Because WorkShop easily imports TISOFT programs with a single mouse click, Siemens discontinued support for TISOFT and began offering its own version of PLC WorkShop, which was branded SoftShop®. Both WorkShop and SoftShop were updated and released in parallel.
Collaboration with Control Technology Inc. (CTI)
During this same time period, Siemens contracted with Control Technology Inc. (CTI)® in 1995 to manufacture the I/O modules for the 505 platform. Though Siemens declared the 505 product line mature in 2005, CTI recognized that a large portion of the PLC market relied on the 505 platform, and in 2007 developed its own family of compatible “2500” processors. The 2500 processors are direct replacements of the 505 processors that are both backward compatible and incorporate new technologies.
FasTrak’s Ongoing Support of the 505 PLC Platform
Although Siemens declared the 505 was at the end of its life cycle in 2016, FasTrak remains committed to supporting the 505 PLC and continues to regularly release new updated versions of PLC WorkShop Suite for Siemens 505.
In addition to regular updates of PLC WorkShop, FasTrak offers additional applications that support the WorkShop software environment:
- 505 Simulator™ is an application that serves as a virtual PLC for WorkShop. PLC programs can be loaded, edited, run and tested in the Simulator like a physical PLC.
- FTLogger™ is a data historian that records telemetry from 505 processors for later analysis.
- FTTrender™ displays on a timeline both real time and recorded data points from 505 processors.
- FTVersionTrak™ is version control and change management software with which every version of any file, including PLC programs, can be securely stored, retrieved and compared.
FasTrak also offers knowledgeable technical support and a curriculum of software training classes for its 505 related products.
FasTrak: The Future of the Simatic 505 Ecosystem
With the manufacture of factory fresh direct hardware replacements by CTI, and the ongoing commitment to software updates and educational support by FasTrak, the Simatic 505 processor ecosystem remains a relevant and viable solution in factory automation today. Protect your investment in the 505 PLC platform – download a demo of PLC WorkShop for Siemens 505 or contact us today.