Industrial 14 Family of Controllers

This document introduces Digital Equipment Corporation's (DEC) new generation Industrial 14/30 and 14/35 programmable controllers, designed for reliable and economical industrial control. Building upon the original PDP-14 series, these controllers represent a significant advancement for factory and process automation.

Key features include expanded I/O and memory capacities, with a revolutionary I/O system that allows single-point expansion and replacement, reducing cost and simplifying maintenance. The controllers integrate internal functions such as timers, retentive memories, and counters directly into the core memory, eliminating the need for additional hardware. The I/O system employs optically isolated, plug-in converters with LED indicators for easy fault identification.

Programming is user-friendly, primarily via the VT14 Programming Terminal, which offers a CRT display for visual ladder diagram editing, circuit monitoring, and flexible formatting. The system also supports computer-based programming and diagnostics using PDP-8 software. Physically, the control units are housed in NEMA-12 cast aluminum enclosures for environmental protection, featuring a printed circuit backplane for enhanced reliability and simplified troubleshooting with front panel status indicators. The systems are highly configurable, supporting various input/output requirements, from small setups to configurations with 512 inputs and 256 outputs.

The Industrial 14 controllers are presented as versatile solutions for a wide range of applications, including machining and metalworking, material handling, automated assembly, measuring and gaging, and chemical processing, where they contribute to improved efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.