ACC Automation: PLC & Industrial Control Learning
Practical Tips and Techniques
We will be installing a USB to rs485 installation on our computer. The USB-485M is a 2-wire USB to RS-485 serial communication adapter for RS485 use. It does not require an external power supply or complicated configuration. It has a Type A (plug) USB connector for the computer side and a universal female RJ45/RJ12 modular … Read more
We will be creating an HMI (human machine interface) login screen for the cylinder program that we developed previously. BUILDING A PLC PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN BE PROUD OF – PART 6 Our program had a Run, Jog and Teach mode for the cylinders. Our user will login with a user name and password. Based … Read more
People often ask “What is a PLC?” and “PLC Meaning”. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is a piece of hardware that isolates inputs from outputs. Programs are written to look at the inputs solve logic and set the outputs to perform work. Today we are going to look at the basic fundamental way we program. … Read more
Master cylinder control with programmable 500-step sequences! Learn to build a 7-cylinder sequencer using AdvancedHMI and Modbus TCP. Full tutorial included. We will continue the series by looking at a sequencer controlling seven cylinders that can be taught. The cylinders can be programmed by the operator from the AdvancedHMI screen. You will be able to … Read more
We will now look at the Game of Simon for our part 5 in this series of building a PLC program. Learning all about bit manipulation and sequencers Simon is a memory game introduced in 1978. It has four colored buttons, each producing a particular tone when it is pressed or activated by the device. … 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
We are using Modbus TCP protocol, reading ten registers in the PLC, and displaying a bar graph in Excel. e will use Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to communicate with a PLC. Previously we have used VB6 to communicate Modbus TCP. Sequence for Modbus TCP on Excel using VBA The following steps will be done: … Read more
Manufacturers have software to program the programmable logic controller (PLC) or the human-machine interface (HMI). However, there are a few free tools that will help in the development of your PLC programs. We will look at three software tools and show how beneficial they can be to you. Free PLC Software Tools Synergy – Share … 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
In part 1, we looked at writing PLC programs to control a traffic light using discrete bits and timed sequencing using indirect addressing. Part 2 used indirect addressing for inputs and output to control the program’s sequence of pneumatic (air) cylinders. We will now return to the traffic light application and expand our program significantly. … Read more