Latest PLCs Technical Articles

Is it best to ‘controller scope’ or ‘program scope’ your tags? This is the question asked by many new PLC…

Is it best to ‘controller scope’ or ‘program scope’ your tags? This is the question asked by many new PLC programmers, and it often comes down to personal preference.

Learn how to drive a compact Meca500 industrial 6-axis robot with a CompactLogix PLC over an Ethernet connection,…

Learn how to drive a compact Meca500 industrial 6-axis robot with a CompactLogix PLC over an Ethernet connection, transferring direct TCP set points in joint and world coordinate systems.

Learn how to set up a VFD, from initial unboxing to configuring the network parameters necessary to drive some simple…

Learn how to set up a VFD, from initial unboxing to configuring the network parameters necessary to drive some simple motion from a PLC.

Learn how to use simple ladder logic and discrete outputs to control the e-Actuator series from SMC, an interesting…

Learn how to use simple ladder logic and discrete outputs to control the e-Actuator series from SMC, an interesting electric motion axis designed to operate with only simple discrete signal inputs.

Networked remote I/O allows machine centers to operate while physically separated from the rest of the system, and often,…

Networked remote I/O allows machine centers to operate while physically separated from the rest of the system, and often, the solution can drop right into place.

When dealing with two or more I/O systems, the subject of power supply commons will arise. Sometimes the solution is…

When dealing with two or more I/O systems, the subject of power supply commons will arise. Sometimes the solution is simple, but it can require creativity to find the best (and safest) solution.

This article introduces Modbus, an industrial protocol that laid the foundation for fieldbus communication in industrial systems.

This article introduces Modbus, an industrial protocol that laid the foundation for fieldbus communication in industrial systems.

This article will illustrate the setup and use of OpenPLC variables and math instructions within a ladder diagram program…

This article will illustrate the setup and use of OpenPLC variables and math instructions within a ladder diagram program on a microcontroller or single-board computer platform.

Learn about more advanced Boolean logic functions, including truth tables, Schmitt triggers, and multiplexers that can be…

Learn about more advanced Boolean logic functions, including truth tables, Schmitt triggers, and multiplexers that can be implemented in a PLC function block programming environment.

Learn about some of the basic Boolean logic gates using the graphical PLC language of function blocks, recreating ladder…

Learn about some of the basic Boolean logic gates using the graphical PLC language of function blocks, recreating ladder logic and other IEC languages with a digital flair.

Learn how to configure a MELSEC PLC using the MX OPC server and GX Simulator to connect to Factory I/O.

Learn how to configure a MELSEC PLC using the MX OPC server and GX Simulator to connect to Factory I/O.

Finding a good PLC simulator can be challenging. Read an assessment of Factory I/O and learn how it works, how to get…

Finding a good PLC simulator can be challenging. Read an assessment of Factory I/O and learn how it works, how to get started, and how to use it in your automation learning journey.

In this article, we will learn how to set up a Mitsubishi FX PLC to drive a FR-D700 3-phase VFD, including detailed…

In this article, we will learn how to set up a Mitsubishi FX PLC to drive a FR-D700 3-phase VFD, including detailed parameter settings, wiring, and HMI integration.

Using a MOVE function block, a counter preset value can be loaded into an OpenPLC counter using a digital input. The…

Using a MOVE function block, a counter preset value can be loaded into an OpenPLC counter using a digital input. The technique allows flexibility in creating counter-based automation applications.

In this article, we’ll connect a Festo CMMT to a Rockwell CompactLogix PLC, and as a bonus, we’ll add an HMI to…

In this article, we’ll connect a Festo CMMT to a Rockwell CompactLogix PLC, and as a bonus, we’ll add an HMI to provide some basic on/off and positional targeting controls.

Learn how to segment your sequential control logic for easy troubleshooting using Step (STL) and Return (RET) commands in…

Learn how to segment your sequential control logic for easy troubleshooting using Step (STL) and Return (RET) commands in Mitsubishi PLCs.

Learn how to configure a single motion axis using Festo’s Automation Suite, a servo motor drive, and a simple electric…

Learn how to configure a single motion axis using Festo’s Automation Suite, a servo motor drive, and a simple electric linear slide assembly.

Learn in this detailed analysis about the performance of industrial PLC and a prototyping microcontroller to perform…

Learn in this detailed analysis about the performance of industrial PLC and a prototyping microcontroller to perform stepper motor motion control for an arc welding automation project.

Some new factories are networked from stem to stern, ready to roll. But sometimes, it’s just you and a new PLC, so it…

Some new factories are networked from stem to stern, ready to roll. But sometimes, it’s just you and a new PLC, so it won’t really matter how you set things up, it’ll probably work just fine, right?