Industrial HMI Survival: From Lab to Factory Floor Secrets

Deploying an AdvancedHMI project on the industrial floor sounds like an easy task, but there are a few things that you should consider. The HMI (Human Machine Interface) user interface will run on a computer. The industrial environment is one in which temperature, dust, electrical noise, etc. are always present. This can also be combined … Read more

Turn Your PLC into a Data Goldmine with Modbus TCP Logging

Using Visual Basic 2015, we will log three holding registers from the PLC, along with the time and date, into a Microsoft Access Database. We will log every minute to the database, including the information we collect from the PLC via Modbus TCP (Ethernet). All code will be done and shown so you can implement … Read more

Master Industrial Temperature Control with Modbus Magic

Modbus RTU will be the serial (RS485) method in which we will communicate between the AdvancedHMI Screen and the Automation Direct Solo Process Temperature Controller. We can address up to 247 (Solo 1 to 247) devices on this master-slave protocol. A maximum of 32 devices (Nodes) on the network can communicate to the master. A … Read more

USB to Serial Communication Device Driver Configuration Tutorial

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

The Hidden Language of PLCs: How Bits Control Everything

plc basics programmable logic controller

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 7-Cylinder Sequencer: Program 500 Steps Like a Pro!

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

Building a PLC Program – Part 5 – Simon Game

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

Build Your Own FREE PLC Training Lab with Real HMI Control

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

Supercharge PLC Data Extraction with VBA and Modbus!

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

Turn PLC Data into Excel Charts: Live Automation Insights

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