ACC Automation: PLC & Industrial Control Learning
Practical Tips and Techniques
This article was written by Chris Urban, an automation educator and PLC trainer with over 40 years of hands-on experience. Find Chris on YouTube and LinkedIn. — CU Against the popular belief that relays are obsolete and too simple to discuss, there are people who think that after nearly 200 years, the relay is still not fully understood. This … Read more
If you’ve ever wanted to practice PLC ladder logic without buying hardware, the ACC PLC Simulator is built for you. It’s free, it runs in your browser, and it uses standard PLC register conventions. No downloads. No license fees. Just open the page and start programming. In this tutorial, I’m going to walk you through … 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
PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) can significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing a machine. The PLC programming can be reduced as much as 50% with the use of simulators. A PLC Simulator is a piece of software that enables a programmer to test their code without the need for hardware. This means that the logic can … Read more
We will now program our Pneumatic Pusher simulator with the Click PLUS PLC. The Machine Simulator (MS) is a valuable component of the Machine Simulator Software Suite. It offers a range of built-in machines, including the pneumatic pusher machine, which effectively demonstrates various programming techniques. We will use the Click PLC programming software to showcase … Read more
Photoelectric sensors detect the presence or distance of objects in various industrial applications. They typically integrate all necessary optics and electronics into a single unit, requiring only a power source to function and provide an output based on their specifications and the object detection criteria. Photoelectric sensors, also called photo eyes, detect object presence or … Read more
PLC Simulator is a convenient tool for testing and troubleshooting ladder logic programs in the XG5000 programming software. It allows you to simulate the operation of a programmable logic controller (LS Electric PLC) without needing actual hardware. This makes it a valuable asset for beginners and experienced programmers. We will demonstrate how to effectively use … Read more
This introduction to IoT Industry 4.0 overviews the concepts and practical approach to the Industrial Internet of Things. Industry 4.0 builds on the digital revolution brought by Industry 3.0, which introduced computers like PLCs to the manufacturing floor and took us to the next level of technological advancement. The Internet of Things (IoT) protocol and … Read more
Logic circuits in a PLC ladder logic program are either on or off. The inputs change, which will affect the outputs. This can be expressed in a timing diagram. The timing diagram or chart will show you how the ladder logic program will respond to the changing states of the inputs and outputs. This visual … Read more
Programmable logic controllers (PLC) use a cyclic scan. The time that it takes to complete one scan is called Scan Time. Typical scan times range from 10 milliseconds to 10 microseconds. This translates from 0.01 to 0.0001 seconds per PLC scan. Understanding how the program scan will help us in programming and troubleshooting the PLC. … Read more