Ladder Logic 304: Timer Application
Today’s post is in response to Dave Tompkins, who posted a request for help last week for an application. Since he posted it on one of my series posts on ladder logic (204: Auto Sequences) I decided to frame it …
Category: Hardware
Mechanical and electrical hardware
Ease and Efficiency of Robotic Assembly Lines (Acieta)
This week’s post is presented by Acieta, a robotics integration and automation company with facilities in Wisconsin and Iowa. This article lists some of the advances that have made the use of robots common in various manufacturing areas. ******************************************************** Robots …
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Wonderware
As many of you know from reading this blog, I spend about 40% of my time teaching software programming classes for Automation Training, a Canadian company. I started out teaching the Allen-Bradley SLC and ControlLogix platforms and Siemens Step 7 …
Non-Native Devices: .eds and .gsd files
When designing a control system, sometimes it becomes necessary or advantageous to communicate with devices that were not made by the PLC manufacturer. If these devices need to be placed on an Ethernet, DeviceNet or Profibus network there are methods …
Ladder Logic 303: PLC Forensics
Today’s topic involves a project I have been working on over the last few months. The project consists of adding process equipment including tanks, pumps, valves and instrumentation to an existing system… while it is running. Because production runs 24 …
SCADA and HMIs
I often get asked when teaching my Siemens and Allen-Bradley classes the difference between SCADA systems and HMIs. While there can be some overlap, especially now with enhanced HMI capabilities on CE computers or thin clients, there are some fairly …
PLC Articles – Software and Hardware
Since I started this blog in early 2011 I have written a lot of articles on PLCs. The PLC is a major part of many industrial facilities and machines, and indeed has been an important part of my career. Now …
The Art of Cross-Referencing
There are many reasons you may want to replace a component in your automated system with something else. Some of the more common reasons might include: 1. The manufacturer doesn’t make it anymore. 2. I can’t get it as quickly …
Idec PLCs
Today’s post continues the series on PLC platforms started last year. This is another guest post from Steve Myres, who also wrote an article on Indirect Addressing. Articles in this series include Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Koyo and Panasonic platforms. I wrote …
Dynamic (Indirect) Addressing
Today’s post is another guest article, this one written by Steve Myres. Steve owns Automation Solutions, a controls integration company that also provides machine mechanical, electrical, and fluid power troubleshooting and design. ************************************************************ Dynamic addressing In this article, I’ll describe …