ACC Automation: PLC & Industrial Control Learning
Practical Tips and Techniques
The Productivity Suite Software comprises more than 82 instructions divided into 14 categories. These instructions include NO / NC, NO Edge / NC Edge, and Compare. Contacts are one of these instructions to program your productivity PLC controller. Ladder logic contacts are in every PLC program. We will be looking at these instructions in the … Read more
A rock crusher (jaw crushers) is also known as “rock breakers” and is used to break up larger, more complex materials into more manageable pieces. The EasyPLC simulator rock crusher plant will show you how you can control this process through a programmable logic controller. We will be using Do-More technology to control this plant … Read more
If you are looking to purchase a PLC system, there are three key components that you should look for. If your current system does not contain these features, you need to replace it with one that does as soon as possible. The three most important features you should look for in your new PLC system … Read more
The Productivity Suite Software allows us to use tags in the PLC. Tags are a method for assigning and referencing memory locations (numbering systems) within the programmable logic controller. They allow a more structured programming approach and are stored within a tag database. The tag database is stored in the memory of the Productivity Series … Read more
Traffic lights are used just about everywhere on busy roads around the world. They can help prevent traffic accidents and keep traffic flowing smoothly in the right direction by regulating the flow of cars, trucks, and other vehicles. The most common traffic light uses red, yellow, and green lights, along with arrows or flashes to … Read more
We will use an MQTT broker in Node-RED to communicate to the productivity PLC clients. MQTT stands for Message Queuing Telemetry Transport. This simple ‘publish and subscribe’ communication protocol does not take too many resources. Constrained devices with low bandwidth are ideal for MQTT. This protocol provides machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity, perfect for the Internet of … Read more
The Productivity Suite Software allows us to modify our existing program and execute the new code without stopping the scanning of the PLC. This is referred to as online programming or editing. We change the ladder logic code and when we save it to the PLC, the current scan of the PLC is held until … Read more
The Machine Simulator (MS) is part of the EasyPLC software suite. It has many built-in machines that are used to show different programming techniques. The robotic cell example is one of these machines. This will demonstrate a sequencer example. In this case, an engine is lifted and placed onto a rack. The logic will step … Read more
The Do-More Designer Programming Software (2.9) or higher includes a Modbus I/O Scanner with some profiles for Modbus Server (Slave) devices. This will greatly reduce the time it takes to implement and troubleshoot communications in your projects. Modbus communications are done independent of the PLC scan time and will have little or no ladder logic … Read more
The Productivity Series 2000 and 3000 CPUs and remote controllers have OLED/LCD displays. The data can be system errors and information or user-defined messages programmed through ladder logic. Operators, maintenance, or programmer can use this information for running conditions, troubleshooting, or other items for the PLC system. We will be looking at the CPU OLED/LCD … Read more