ACC Automation: PLC & Industrial Control Learning
Practical Tips and Techniques
A lot of times when programming a PLC you need to track what has previously happened. Shift registers allow you to do just that. The Click PLC has a shift register in the instruction set. We will discuss the shift register and look at an example.
I have been recently asked how you can move data conditionally on an excel spreadsheet once the information has been obtained from the PLC? Monthly data was being collected from the PLC and put on an excel spreadsheet using Omron CX-Server DDE. They wanted at the beginning of each month to move the data to … 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
Utilizing the CX Server DDE Manager will allow us to provide a link to the information in the Omron PLC. This link can be placed on an Excel spreadsheet. Charts, graphs, etc., can be made from the data. We will create links on an excel spreadsheet from a CQM1H and a CP1L PLC. The information … Read more
We will use VBA in Excel to communicate to an Omron PLC. This will use the serial host link protocol. ACC Omron Host Link VBA In Part 1, we used VB6 to communicate from the computer to the PLC (Host Link Protocol). We will now use Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to accomplish the same … Read more
Did you know that the average industrial control panel has shrunk by nearly 40% over the past two decades, yet the demand for functionality has tripled? That stat alone tells you everything about where automation is headed. The days of massive control cabinets taking up half your floor space are fading fast. Enter the Productivity1000 … Read more
Did you know that over 500 articles and tutorials are now freely available on ACC Automation? That’s right—more than a decade of accumulated PLC programming knowledge, HMI design guides, communication tutorials, and hands-on examples waiting for you to explore, all without spending a dime. Whether you’re a complete beginner trying to understand your first rung … Read more
The Iron Heart of Your Network: The Industrial Ethernet Switch. Unboxing and Mastering the STRIDE Industrial Ethernet Switch Did you know that over 40% of industrial network failures are attributed not to software bugs or hackers, but to simple environmental stress?Imagine a scorching summer day on a factory floor, ambient temperatures rising above 100°F, or … Read more
If the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is the brain of an industrial automation system, the power supply is undoubtedly its heart. Without a clean, reliable flow of energy, the most innovative control systems in the world are just expensive paperweights.In the complex ecosystem of an industrial control cabinet, managing power isn’t just about turning things … Read more
Stop Wasting Money on PLC Training Hardware: Why Digital Twins Are Revolutionizing Industrial AutomationWhat if you could test your entire factory floor before spending a single dollar on equipment?Welcome to the world of digital twins—and Nirtec’s Machines Simulator is leading the charge.The Million-Dollar Problem Nobody Talks AboutHere’s the harsh reality: Traditional PLC training and industrial … Read more