ACC Automation: PLC & Industrial Control Learning
Practical Tips and Techniques
Safety controllers monitor over-voltage / short circuit protection, redundant relays, and positive guided contacts to provide a level of fail-safe operation for applications. The modular MOSAIC safety controller is an expandable, cost-effective choice over standalone safety relays. Especially as the required number of relays/channels increases. It will also reduce the wiring of your safety circuits. … Read more
Secure PLC Email messaging is now available in the latest version of the Productivity Programming suite. SMTP or Transport layer security (TLS) email with an attachment and/or latest data log files can be sent. To be able to use this feature you must have installed Productivity programming suite v3.4 or higher and then load the … Read more
The productivity series of PLCs comes with 4 built-in communication ports for easy connectivity to your PC or various industrial networks. Ethernet protocols like Modbus TCP can be utilized with the RJ45 port on this PLC. Modbus TCP is an open (published) protocol that uses the Server (Master) / Client (Slave) architecture. It’s a very … Read more
We will now send email and text messages using our BRX Do-More controller. Sending email messages from the PLC sounds like an easy task. However, very few applications do this on the production floor. This is probably due to the networks involved, and user authentication can be complicated. In our example, we will use a … Read more
A majority of the programmable logic controller (PLC) programs will include a counter instruction. The BRX Do-More series of programmable logic controllers have several different counters available for your program. There are five different basic counter instructions in the PLC. The memory area for counters (CT) includes the Counter PVs (Present Values) Counter SVs (Set … Read more
Understanding how the PLC will scan and update your program is critical in programming and troubleshooting your system. Typically a PLC will solve your logic from left to right, top to bottom. The status of the memory from the previous rung, are available for the next rung to use. We will look at a few … Read more
We will now create a PLC with HMI Training and learning environment. We will use the Automation Direct Do-More programming software tied into the Advanced HMI learning package via Modbus TCP. All of the software is free and fully functional. Learn PLC programming and use a powerful HMI (Human Machine Interface) easily and freely. Setting … Read more
Sending email messages from the PLC sounds like an easy task. However, very few applications do this on the production floor. This is probably due to the networks involved, and authentication can be complicated. In our example, we will use a restricted Gmail SMTP server so that no authentication will be required. We will walk … Read more
We will look at a PLC basic tutorial of a paint spraying station. Following the five steps to program development, this PLC programming example should fully explain the procedure for developing the PLC program logic. Ladder logic will be our PLC programming language. We will use the Do-more Designer software, which comes with a simulator. … Read more
Simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) is the email protocol for sending information. We can use this ability to email from our data logged from the PLC. Faults or errors the PLC detects can be emailed to individuals for correction. Shift reports on productivity can be automatically emailed to recipients. Note: Google is removing “Less Secured … Read more