One of the top 5 most popular types of PLC programming languages is ladder logic. But what makes it so popular, and what does it take to master the language? Ladder logic is a programming language and one of the first languages that was ever used for PLCs or programmable logic controllers.
In part 2 on how to reduce scan using Ladder Logic, we will examine the remaining three of our five general tips on how to minimize PLC scan cycle time with ladder logic programming. We will provide examples of each case as we did for the first two tips we discussed in Part 1 of this blog.
In the next two blogs, we will discuss scan time and its impact on everyday PLC applications as well as examine how it can be reduced. Scan time is an important metric to be considered in many high-speed PLC applications. The time it takes to perform a single scan cycle can have significant impact on the input stimulus and/or output control signals present or required for high-speed applications. Specialty I/O modules are often employed in these situations and offer significant advantages.
In keeping with GBC’s longstanding tradition of garnering student and industry feedback, we are happy to announce that we have updated our PLC Technician Certificate program curriculum to include new features and content directly in response to industry needs and our students most prevalent requests.
Though it may be hard to believe that industrial automation has been around for nearly 70 years, what’s harder still is that technology is continually finding new and innovative ways to improve production capabilities and process efficiencies. Of the very long list of industrial technologies that emerged from what has come to be known as the third industrial revolution, the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is arguably one of the most impactful.
In some ways, the phrase, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is an adage that can be applied to the manufacturing sector, particularly when it comes to the use of Programmable Logic Controllers (or PLCs).
In our last installment of the Practicing PLC Technician Series, we examined some of the common approaches used when programming PLCs for industrial applications. In this installment we will examine some of the most common programming errors and oversights that occur when working with the instructions we have covered to date in our ongoing series. Here are some basic programming oversights and issues to watch out for.
Over these next two installments of our ongoing Practicing PLC Technician Series we will examine some common programming concepts as well as some of the most common programming errors that occur when utilizing the instructions we have covered in basic control applications.
