Teaching PLC's

[Rampage_Rick]

http://www.thelearningpit.com/plc/psim/psim.html

It's free.

I've done all the excercises and it's a pretty decent simulator, if not a bit dated. (no drag 'n drop here)

Back in September I went to a seminar for the new Modcon M340. Really impressed with the simulator built in to that software.

 

[iaov]

In the late eighties/ early nineties, I worked with Siemens PLC's. I had to learn ladder logic. I used a hand held programmer to set up the PLC's.

Does anyone remember this ancheint stuff? I would love to learn modern PLC's. Is there anything online to bring me up to date?

You can still use ladders on a lot of stuff but a lot of the new stuff like AB Control Logix is done with function blocks rather than ladder logic.

 

[cschmid]

I must check this out..I use RSlogix 500 software..

 

[petersonra]

You can still use ladders on a lot of stuff but a lot of the new stuff like AB Control Logix is done with function blocks rather than ladder logic.

Function blocks are in addition to ladder logic, not instead of.

I dislike FB code. It is very difficult for guys on the plant floor to understand and work with.

 

[KermodeKT]

I've been reading through this conversation and one thing comes to mind. I've been programming A-B's for 30 years, the new Logix platform changes the way you program enough that I would by-pass the 5 and 500 class and move right into 5000, unless your supporting "legacy" platforms. The new "kids" should learn the 5000 tag base system as opposed to file structure of old. Also I believe Funcution Block programming come with 5000 Pro not the standard package, I've found in my industry most applications are still written in ladder.

Just my opinion.

 

[Wes G]

Electrical Technology Instructor

Electrical Technology Instructor

Gregorsc, unless I'm mistaking the unit you have is probably a SLC 1000. Unfortunately the software for those units is no longer available as AB quit supporting it more than 5 Yrs ago. I do use the Learning Pit software simulator and find it very good for ladder logic and it is updated regularly.
There are still many PLC's that use ladder logic programing so I would recommend it as an excellent starting point. Good luck! There is high demand for technicians in this field.
Wes

 

[petersonra]

Gregorsc, unless I'm mistaking the unit you have is probably a SLC 1000. Unfortunately the software for those units is no longer available as AB quit supporting it more than 5 Yrs ago. I do use the Learning Pit software simulator and find it very good for ladder logic and it is updated regularly.
There are still many PLC's that use ladder logic programing so I would recommend it as an excellent starting point. Good luck! There is high demand for technicians in this field.
Wes

The micrologix 1000 is a current product and is well supported by rslogix500. You may be thinking of the slc100, which is obsolete.

My suggestion for those who want an AB simulator is to get a micrologix1100. It has 10 digital in, 6 digital out, high speed I/O (in dc I/O versions), 2 analog inputs , an ethernet port and an rs232 port. The rs232 port supports df1, dh485 and modbus (both master and slave). And it has a built in display.

Best of all, about $500.

You could add an analog output card if you wanted to play with analog outputs. You can snap up to four I/O cards on the side of the thing.

 

[crossman]

What we do is mount the PLC right on our motor control training boards. That way, the student gets the benefit of both wiring the IO and doing the program.

 

[cschmid]

unless you are using the slc500 the whole slc family is done deal..I just installed a micrologiz 1200 for just over $500 and it comes way more decked out then the 1100 series here is a link..

http://www.ab.com/programmablecontrol/plc/micrologix1200/controller.html

dollar for dollar it is better deal..and rs logix is very good software..I would assume with 20 yrs experience that Allen Bradley is #1 in the market place..that does not discount the other brands and I have worked on several that are good machines..

 

[petersonra]

unless you are using the slc500 the whole slc family is done deal..I just installed a micrologiz 1200 for just over $500 and it comes way more decked out then the 1100 series here is a link..

http://www.ab.com/programmablecontrol/plc/micrologix1200/controller.html

dollar for dollar it is better deal..and rs logix is very good software..I would assume with 20 yrs experience that Allen Bradley is #1 in the market place..that does not discount the other brands and I have worked on several that are good machines..

Nothing wrong with the 1200 either. but the 1100 has a built in ethernet port for about the same price. fewer built-in I/O but for learning purposes the number of I/O is less important IMO.

Communications with the outside world is a very critical part of the puzzle and having three of the common AB protocols available plus Modbus is going to give you a lot to learn on.