Siemens PLCs
Continuing the series I began last week with the Allen-Bradley PLC platform, this week I am discussing the Siemens family. My first exposure to Siemens PLCs was in the late 1990s when I customer wanted a quote on upgrading their …
Tag: programming
Serial Device Communications
Today’s post is in response to Amit’s question on a previous topic about leak testers. He asks “What is the process to send or receive data from a Cosmo leak unit tester?” Rather than address Cosmo specifically, I decided to …
Ladder Logic 207: Interrupts and Periodic Tasks
Today’s post is in response to Darko’s comment on my Ladder Logic 206: Scanning post. He mentioned that readers might want to learn a little bit about interrupts. It can be difficult to discuss this subject generically since different manufacturers …
The Importance Of Machine Safety And Hiring A PLC Programming Specialist
Today’s article is a guest post from Automation Solutions, a Melbourne, Australia-based company. If you would like to post an article on this site, let me know! The Importance Of Machine Safety And Hiring A PLC Programming Specialist. Automated production …
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Generic Programming Rules
I have covered a lot of material on ladder logic on this site, but not all programming is for PLCs. This is an excerpt from Industrial Automation: Hands On that applies to all programs, not just ladder ( 6.1.1 – …
Ladder Logic 103: More on Program Organization
Today’s post covers a bit more on program organization and layout. A reader posted a question on a previous post “Ladder Logic 204: Auto Sequences”: “I’m still really new to the field and have yet to create my own program …
Ladder Logic 302: Data Tracking and Structure Data Type
Today’s post is the second “advanced” topic I have covered on PLC ladder logic, The first being toggle circuits. It is often necessary to track data on individual parts through a machine or production line. If using devices like barcode/datamatrix …
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Ladder Logic 301: Toggle
Today’s post is the first “advanced” topic I have covered in this blog. By advanced, I mean that rather than covering basic information on Ladder Logic and program structure like I did in my 100 Series, or general programming routines …
Ladder Logic 206: Scanning
In last week’s post I mentioned that there was a mistake in the organization chart I have been using in my ladder logic posts. My friend Gordon mentioned it at lunch a couple of weeks ago and when I checked …
Ladder Logic 205: System Routine 1
This is a continuation of the series on PLC ladder logic. It is meant to be a mid-level tutorial for people who have some familiarity with programming in ladder logic, but want to start the next phase of writing their …