Plx Programming Book Essay Example for Free

Plx Programming Book Essay The PLC has input lines where sensors are connected to notify upon events (e. g. temperature above/below a certain level, liquid level reached, etc. ), and it has output lines to signal any reaction to the incoming events (e. g. start an engine, open/close a valve, etc. ) The system is user programmable. It uses a language called Relay Ladder or RLL (Relay Ladder Logic). The name of this language implies the fact that the control logic of the earlier days, which was built from relays, is being simulated. [edit]The PLCs purpose in life The PLC is primarily used to control machinery. A program is written for the PLC which turns on and off outputs based on input conditions and the internal program. In this aspect, a PLC is similar to a computer. However, a PLC is designed to be programmed once, and run repeatedly as needed. In fact, a crafty programmer could use a PLC to control not only simple devices such as a garage door opener, but their whole house, including turning lights on and off at certain times, monitoring a custom built security system, etc. Most commonly, a PLC is found inside of a machine in an industrial environment. A PLC can run an automatic machine for years with little human intervention. They are designed to withstand most harsh environments a PLC will encounter. [edit]History of PLCs When the first electronic machine controls were designed, they used relays to control the machine logic (i. e. press Start to start the machine and press Stop to stop the machine). A basic machine might need a wall covered in relays to control all of its functions. There are a few limitations to this type of control. Relays fail. The delay when the relay turns on/off. There is an entire wall of relays to design/wire/troubleshoot. A PLC overcomes these limitations, it is a machine controlled operation. [edit]Recent developments PLCs are becoming more and more intelligent. In recent years PLCs have been integrated into electrical networks i. e. all the PLCs in an industrial environment have been plugged into a network which is usually hierarchically organized. The PLCs are then supervised by a control center. There exist many proprietary types of networks. One type which is widely known is SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition). [edit]Basic Concepts [edit]How the PLC operates The PLC is a purpose-built machine control computer designed to read digital and analog inputs from various sensors, execute a user defined logic program, and write the resulting digital and analog output values to various output elements like hydraulic and pneumatic actuators, indication lamps, solenoid coils etc. [edit]Scan cycle Exact details vary between manufacturers, but most PLCs follow a scan-cycle format. Overhead Overhead includes testing I/O module integrity, verifying the user program logic hasnt changed, that the computer itself hasnt locked up (via a watchdog timer), and any necessary communications. Communications may include traffic over the PLC programmer port, remote I/O racks, and other external devices such as HMIs (Human Machine Interfaces). Input scan A snapshot of the digital and analog values present at the input cards is saved to an input memory table. Logic execution The user program is scanned element by element, then rung by rung until the end of the program, and resulting values written to an output memory table. Output scan Values from the resulting output memory table are written to the output modules. Once the output scan is complete the process repeats itself until the PLC is powered down. The time it takes to complete a scan cycle is, appropriately enough, the scan cycle time, and ranges from hundreds of milliseconds (on older PLCs, and/or PLCs with very complex programs) to only a few milliseconds on newer PLCs, and/or PLCs executing short, simple code. [edit]Basic instructions Be aware that specific nomenclature and operational details vary widely between PLC manufacturers, and often implementation details evolve from generation to generation. Often the hardest part, especially for a beginning PLC programmer, is practicing the mental ju-jitsu necessary to keep the nomenclature straight from manufacturer to manufacturer. Positive Logic (most PLCs follow this convention) True = logic 1 = input energized. False = logic 0 = input NOT energized. Negative Logic True = logic 0 = input NOT energized False = logic 1 = input energized. Normally Open (XIC) eXamine If Closed. This instruction is true (logic 1) when the hardware input (or internal relay equivalent) is energized. Normally Closed (XIO) eXamine If Open. This instruction is true (logic 1) when the hardware input (or internal relay equivalent) is NOT energized. Output Enable (OTE) OuTput Enable. This instruction mimics the action of a conventional relay coil. On Timer (TON) Timer ON. Generally, ON timers begin timing when the input (enable) line goes true, and reset if the enable line goes false before setpoint has been reached. If enabled until setpoint is reached then the timer output goes true, and stays true until the input (enable) line goes false. Off Timer (TOF) Timer OFF. Generally, OFF timers begin timing on a true-to-false transition, and continue timing as long as the preceding logic remains false. When the accumulated time equals setpoint the TOF output goes on, and stays on until the rung goes true. Retentive Timer (RTO) Retentive Timer On. This type of timer does NOT reset the accumulated time when the input condition goes false. Rather, it keeps the last accumulated time in memory, and (if/when the input goes true again) continues timing from that point. In the Allen-Bradley construction this instruction goes true once setpoint (preset) time has been reached, and stays true until a RES (RESet) instruction is made true to clear it. Latching Relays (OTL) OuTput Latch. (OTU) OuTput Unlatch. Generally, the unlatch operator takes precedence. That is, if the unlatch instruction is true then the relay output is false even though the latch instruction may also be true. In Allen-Bradley ladder logic (and others) latch and unlatch relays are separate operators. However, other ladder dialects opt for a single operator modeled after RS (Reset-Set) flip-flop integrated circuit chip logic. Jump to Subroutine (JSR) Jump to SubRoutine For jumping from one rung to another the JSR (Jump to Subroutine) command is used. [edit]Wikibooks Links Programmable Logic [edit]External links Wikipedia: Programmable logic controller Ladder logic IEC 61131-3 PLC programming language standards SCADA Others: Introductory PLC PLC Complete Tutorial PLC tutorial site for beginners PLC simulator Management of your companys PLC Timeline of PLC History Basic PLC Online PLC Training Interview with Dick Morley (pdf) PLC Books Logic to Ladder Diagram (pdf) Subjects: Introductory PLC Programming | Computer engineering What do you think of this page? Please take a moment to rate this page below. Your feedback is valuable and helps us improve our website.