ACC Automation: PLC & Industrial Control Learning
Practical Tips and Techniques
Math instructions perform mathematical calculations. The Productivity 2000 Series PLC has math instructions that you can use in various applications. We will look at the Data Statistics (DATA) and the Math Editor (MATH). We will demonstrate both of these instructions using the examples in the help file. An average wind speed will be calculated using … Read more
EasyPLC comes with many prebuilt machines for you to develop the programming logic. These can be modified, or new custom machines can be programmed using the machine editor. The machine editor comes as a standard feature of the EasyPLC Software Suite. The EasyPLC Machines Simulator editor is an easy-to-use tool enabling you to create easy, … Read more
Most programmable logic controller (PLC) programs will include a counter instruction. The Productivity 2000 Series PLC has two different counter instructions for your program. These can be used in several different ways to adapt to your application. Basically, counters are used to count up or down to a specific limit. When the limit is reached, … Read more
The EasyPLC palletizing robot will demonstrate sequencing and robot control using a PLC. This palletization process will fill a box container with six cans. A servo-controlled gantry robot using x and y is used to do this operation. The complete box will then travel along to another conveyor to an unloading area. A robot will … 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
Timers are one of the first things you learn about programmable logic controllers. (PLC) Just about every PLC program will include timer instructions. The Productivity 2000 Series PLC has several different timer instructions for your program. We discussed the timed coil (TMC) and flasher coil (FLS) last time as part of the ladder logic output … Read more
The EasyPLC machining center loading robots will demonstrate sequencing and robot control using a PLC. Two input lines feed blanks to the robot. The robot will alternate taking the blanks and putting them into the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine. The robot moves the piece to the finished conveyor when the part has been machined. … Read more
PLC ladder logic counters are used in just about every PLC program. They will indicate how many times something has happened within the controller logic. Counters then can be used to trigger other outputs or items in the PLC. You can find counter applications in a variety of things every day. We will discuss three … Read more
Normally open (NO) contacts or inputs in the PLC ladder logic program do not mean the same as a wired normally open switch. NO contacts on the ladder logic provide the logic condition for the rung to turn on the output. We will be looking at three things about the normally open (NO) contact on … Read more
The Machine Simulator (MS) is part of the EasyPLC software suite. It has many built-in machines that are used to show different programming techniques. The robotic cell example is one of these machines. This will demonstrate a sequencer example. In this case, an engine is lifted and placed onto a rack. The logic will step … Read more