Previous page Content Next page Introduction to PLC controllers, for begginers too! Author: Nebojsa Matic Paperback - 252 pages (June 10, 2001) Dimensions (in inches): 0.62 x 9.13 x 7.28 Content: What are they? How to connect a simple sensor. How to program in ladder diagram. In this book you will find answers to these questions and more . C o n t e n t s Chapter I Operating system Introduction 1.1 Conventional control panel 1.2 Control panel with a PLC controller 1.3 Systematic approach to designing a process control system Chapter II Introduction to PLC controllers Introduction 2.1 First programmed controllers 2.2 PLC controller parts 2.3 Central processing Unit –CPU 2.4 Memory 2.5 PLC controller programming 2.6 Power supply 2.7 Input to PLC controller 2.8 Input adjustment interface 2.9 PLC controller output 2.10 Output adjustment interface 2.11 Extension lines Chapter III Connecting sensors and output devices 3.1 Sinking-Sourcing concept 3.2 Input lines 3.3 Output lines Chapter IV Architecture of a specific PLC controller Introduction 4.1 Why OMRON? 4.2 CPM1A PLC controller 4.3 PLC controller output lines 4.4 PLC controller input lines 4.5 Memory map for CPM1A PLC controller Chapter V Relay diagram Introduction 5.1 Relay diagram 5.2 Normally open and Normally closed contacts 5.3 Short example Chapter VI SYSWIN, program for PLC controller programming Introduction 6.1 How to connect a PLC controller to a PC 6.2 SYSWIN program installation 6.3 Writing a first program 6.4 Saving a project 6.5 Program transfer to PLC controller 6.6 Checkup of program function 6.7 Meaning of tool-bar icons 6.8 PLC controller function modes 6.9 RUN mode 6.10 MONITOR mode 6.11 PROGRAM-STOP mode 6.12 Program execution and monitoring 6.13 Program checkup during monitoring 6.14 Graphic display of dimension changes in a program Chapter VII Examples Introduction 7.1 Self-maintenance 7.2 Making large time intervals 7.3 Counter over 9999 7.4 Delays of ON and OFF status 7.5 Alternate ON-OFF output 7.6 Automation of parking garage for 100 vehicles 7.7 Operating a charge and discharge process 7.8 Automation of product packaging 7.9 Automation a storage door Addition A Extending a number of U/I lines Introduction A.1 Differences and similarities A.2 Marking a PLC controller A.3 Specific case Addition B Detailed memory map for PLC controller Introduction B.1 General explanation of memory regions B.2 IR memory region B.3 SR memory region B.4 AR memory region B.5 PC memory region Addition C PLC diagnostics Introduction C.1 Diagnostic functions of a PLC controller C.2 Errors C.3 Fatal errors C.4 User defined errors C.5 Failure Alarm –FAL(06) C.6 Severe Failure Alarm –FALS(07) C.7 MESSAGE –MSG(46) C.8 Syntax errors C.9 Algorithm for finding errors in a program Addition D Numeric systems Introduction D.1 Decimal numeric system D.2 Binary numeric system D.3 Hexadecimal numeric system Addition E Detailed set of instructions Introduction E.1 Order of input lines E.2 Order of output lines E.3 Order of operating instructions E.4 Timer/counter instructions E.5 Instructions for data comparison E.6 Instructions for data transfer E.7 Transfer instructions E.8 Instructions for reduction/enlargement E.9 Instructions for BCD / binary calculations E.10 Instructions for data conversion E.11 Logic instructions E.12 Special instructions for calculations E.13 Subprogram instructions E.14 Instructions for operating interrupts E.15 U/I instructions E.16 Display instructions E.17 Instructions for control of fast counter E.18 Diagnostic functions E.19 Special system instructions Subject : Name : State : E-mail : Your message: Send us a comment about a book © Copyright 2002 mikroElektronika. A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e d . F o r a n y c o m m e n t s c o n t a c t webmaster. Cooment about PLC book USA Submit Reset Previous page Content Next page CHAPTER 1 Process control system Introduction 1.1 Conventional control panel 1.2 Control panel with a PLC controller 1.3 Systematic approach to designing a process control system Introduction Generally speaking, process control system is made up of a group of electronic devices and equipment that provide stability, accuracy and eliminate harmful transition statuses in production processes. Operating system can have different form and implementation, from energy supply units to machines. As a result of fast progress in technology, many complex operational tasks have been solved by connecting programmable logic controllers and possibly a central computer. Beside connections with instruments like operating panels, motors, sensors, switches, valves and such, possibilities for communication among instruments are so great that they allow high level of exploitation and process coordination, as well as greater flexibility in realizing an process control system. Each component of an process control system plays an important role, regardless of its size. For example, without a sensor, PLC wouldn’t know what exactly goes on in the process. In automated system, PLC controller is usually the central part of an process control system. With execution of a program stored in program memory, PLC continuously monitors status of the system through signals from input devices. Based on the logic implemented in the program, PLC determines which actions need to be executed with output instruments. To run more complex processes it is possible to connect more PLC controllers to a central computer. A real system could look like the one pictured below: 1.1 Conventional control panel At the outset of industrial revolution, especially during sixties and seventies, relays were used to operate automated machines, and these were interconnected using wires inside the control panel. In some cases a control panel covered an entire wall. To discover an error in the system much time was needed especially with more complex process control systems. On top of everything, a lifetime of relay contacts was limited, so some relays had to be replaced. If replacement was required, machine had to be stopped and production too. Also, it could happen that there was not enough room for necessary changes. control panel was used only for one particular process, and it wasn’t easy to adapt to the requirements of a new system. As far as maintenance, electricians had to be very skillful in finding errors. In short, conventional control panels proved to be very inflexible. Typical example of conventional control panel is given in the following picture. In this photo you can notice a large number of electrical wires, time relays, timers and other elements of automation typical for that period. Pictured control panel is not one of the more “complicated” ones, so you can imagine what complex ones looked like. Most frequently mentioned disadvantages of a classic control panel are: - Too much work required in connecting wires - Difficulty with changes or replacements - Difficulty in finding errors; requiring skillful work force - When a problem occurs, hold-up time is indefinite, usually long. 1.2 Control panel with a PLC controller With invention of programmable controllers, much has changed in how an process control system is designed. Many advantages appeared. Typical example of control panel with a PLC controller is given in the following picture. Advantages of control panel that is based on a PLC controller can be presented in few basic points: 1. Compared to a conventional process control system, number of wires needed for connections is reduced by 80% 2. Consumption is greatly reduced because a PLC consumes less than a bunch of relays 3. Diagnostic functions of a PLC controller allow for fast and easy error detection. 4. Change in operating sequence or application of a PLC controller to a different operating process can easily be accomplished by replacing a program through a console or using a PC software (not requiring changes in wiring, unless addition of some input or output device is required). 5. Needs fewer spare parts 6. It is much cheaper compared to a conventional system, especially in cases where a large number of I/O instruments are needed and when operational functions are complex. 7. Reliability of a PLC is greater than that of an electro-mechanical relay or a timer. 1.3 Systematic approach in designing an process control system First, you need to select an instrument or a system that you wish to control. Automated system can be a machine or a process and can also be called an process control system. Function of an process control system is constantly watched by input devices (sensors) that give signals to a PLC controller. In response to this, PLC controller sends a signal to external output devices (operative instruments) that actually control how system functions in an assigned manner (for simplification it is recommended that you draw a block diagram of operations’ flow). Secondly, you need to specify all input and output instruments that will be connected to a PLC controller. Input devices are various switches, sensors and such. Output devices can be solenoids, electromagnetic valves, motors, relays, magnetic starters as well as instruments for sound and light signalization. Following an identification of all input and output instruments, corresponding designations are assigned to input and output lines of a PLC controller. Allotment of these designations is in fact an allocation of inputs and outputs on a PLC controller which correspond to inputs and outputs of a system being designed. Third, make a ladder diagram for a program by following the sequence of operations that was determined in the first step. Finally, program is entered into the PLC controller memory. When finished with programming, checkup is done for any existing errors in a program code (using functions for diagnostics) and, if possible, an entire operation is simulated. Before this system is started, you need to check once again whether all input and output instruments are connected to correct inputs or outputs. By bringing supply in, system starts working. © Copyright 1998 mikroElektronika. A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e d . F o r a n y c o m m e n t s c o n t a c t webmaster. Previous page Content Next page CHAPTER 2 Introduction to PLC controllers Introduction 2.1 First programmed controllers 2.2 PLC controller parts 2.3 Central Processing unit -CPU 2.4 Memory 2.5 How to program a PLC controller 2.6 Power supply 2.7 Input to a PLC controller 2.8 Input adjustable interface 2.9 Output from a PLC controller 2.10 Output adjustable interface 2.11 Extension lines Introduction Industry has begun to recognize the need for quality improvement and increase in productivity in the sixties and seventies. Flexibility also became a major concern (ability to change a process quickly became very important in order to satisfy consumer needs). Try to imagine automated industrial production line in the sixties and seventies. There was always a huge electrical board for system controls, and not infrequently it covered an entire wall! Within this board there was a great number of interconnected electromechanical relays to make the whole system work. By word "connected" it was understood that electrician had to connect all relays manually using wires! An engineer would design logic for a system, and electricians would receive a schematic outline of logic that they had to implement with relays. These relay schemas often contained hundreds of relays. The plan that electrician was given was called "ladder schematic". Ladder displayed all switches, sensors, motors, valves, relays, etc. found in the system. Electrician's job was to connect them all together. One of the problems with this type of control was that it was based on mechanical relays. Mechanical instruments were usually the weakest connection in the system due to their moveable parts that could wear out. If one relay stopped working, electrician would have to examine an entire system (system would be out until a cause of the problem was found and corrected). The other problem with this type of control was in the system's break period when a system had to be turned off, so connections could be made on the electrical board. If a firm decided to change the order of operations (make even a small change), it would turn out to be a major expense and a loss of production time until a system was functional again. It's not hard to imagine an engineer who makes a few small errors during his project. It is also conceivable that electrician has made a few mistakes in connecting the system. Finally, you can also imagine having a few bad components. The only way to see if everything is all right is to run the system. As systems are usually not perfect with a first try, finding errors was an arduous process. You should also keep in mind that a product could not be made during these corrections and changes in connections. System had to be literally disabled before changes were to be performed. That meant that the entire production staff in that line of production was out of work until the system was fixed up again. Only when electrician was done finding errors and repairing,, the system was ready for production. Expenditures for this kind of work were too great even for well-to-do companies. 2.1 First programmable controllers "General Motors" is among the first who recognized a need to replace the system's "wired" control board. Increased competition forced auto-makers to improve production quality and productivity. Flexibility and fast and easy change of automated lines of production became crucial! General Motors' idea was to use for system logic one of the microcomputers (these microcomputers were as far as their strength beneath today's eight-bit microcontrollers) instead of wired relays. Computer could take place of huge, expensive, inflexible wired control boards. If changes were needed in system logic or in order of operations, program in a microcomputer could be changed instead of rewiring of relays. Imagine only what elimination of the entire period needed for changes in wiring meant then. Today, such thinking is but common, then it was revolutionary! Everything was well thought out, but then a new problem came up of how to make electricians accept and use a new device. Systems are often quite complex and require complex programming. It was out of question to ask electricians to learn and use computer language in addition to other job duties. General Motors Hidromatic Division of this big company recognized a need and wrote out project criteria for first programmable logic controller ( there were companies which sold instruments that performed industrial control, but those were simple sequential controllers û not PLC controllers as we know them today). Specifications required that a new device be based on electronic instead of mechanical parts, to have flexibility of a computer, to function in industrial environment (vibrations, heat, dust, etc.) and have a capability of being reprogrammed and used for other tasks. The last criteria was also the most important, and a new device had to be programmed easily and maintained by electricians and technicians. When the specification was done, General Motors looked for interested companies, and encouraged them to develop a device that would meet the specifications for this project. "Gould Modicon" developed a first device which met these specifications. The key to success with a new device was that for its programming you didn't have to learn a new programming language. It was programmed so that same language ûa ladder diagram, already known to technicians was used. Electricians and technicians could very easily understand these new devices because the logic looked similar to old logic that they were used to working with. Thus they didn't have to learn a new programming language which (obviously) proved to be a good move. PLC controllers were initially called PC controllers (programmable controllers). This caused a small confusion when Personal Computers appeared. To avoid confusion, a designation PC was left to computers, and programmable controllers became programmable logic controllers. First PLC controllers were simple devices. They connected inputs such as switches, digital sensors, etc., and based on internal logic they turned output devices on or off. When they first came up, they were not quite suitable for complicated controls such as temperature, position, pressure, etc. However, throughout years, makers of PLC controllers added numerous features and improvements. Today's PLC controller can handle highly complex tasks such as position control, various regulations and other complex applications. The speed of work and easiness of programming were also improved. Also, modules for special purposes were developed, like communication modules for connecting several PLC controllers to the net. Today it is difficult to imagine a task that could not be handled by a PLC. 2.2 PLC controller components PLC is actually an industrial microcontroller system (in more recent times we meet processors instead of microcontrollers) where you have hardware and software specifically adapted to industrial environment. Block schema with typical components which PLC consists of is found in the following picture. Special attention needs to be given to input and output, because in these blocks you find protection needed in isolating a CPU blocks from damaging influences that industrial environment can bring to a CPU via input lines. Program unit is usually a computer used for writing a program (often in ladder diagram). 2.3 Central Processing Unit - CPU [...]... that each PLC controller can programmed through a computer if you have the software needed for programming Today's transmission computers are ideal for reprogramming a PLC controller in factory itself This is of great importance to industry Once the system is corrected, it is also important to read the right program into a PLC again It is also good to check from time to time whether program in a PLC has... sensor (eyes, ears, touch, smell) and by taking action through hands, legs or some tools Unlike human being who receives his sensors automatically, when dealing with controllers, sensors have to be subsequently connected to a PLC How to connect input and output parts is the topic of this chapter 3.1 Sinking-Sourcing Concept PLC has input and output lines through which it is connected to a system it directs... output is used to generate the analogue signal (ex motor whose speed is controlled by a voltage that corresponds to a desired speed) 2.10 Output adjustment interface Output interface is similar to input interface CPU brings a signal to LED diode and turns it on Light incites a photo transistor which begins to conduct electricity, and thus the voltage between collector and emmiter falls to 0.7V , and... Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of a PLC controller CPU itself is usually one of the microcontrollers Aforetime these were 8-bit microcontrollers such as 8051, and now these are 16and 32-bit microcontrollers Unspoken rule is that you'll find mostly Hitachi and Fujicu microcontrollers in PLC controllers by Japanese makers, Siemens in European controllers, and Motorola microcontrollers in American ones CPU... , and a device attached to this output sees this as a logic zero Inversely it means that a signal at the output exists and is interpreted as logic one Photo transistor is not directly connected to a PLC controller output Between photo transistor and an output usually there is a relay or a stronger transistor capable of interrupting stronger signals 2.11 Extension lines Every PLC controller has a limited... turns LED on, whose light in turn incites photo transistor which in turn starts conducting, and a CPU sees this as logic zero (supply between collector and transmitter falls under 1V) When input signal stops LED diode turns off, transistor stops conducting, collector voltage increases, and CPU receives logic 1 as information 2.9 PLC controller output Automated system is incomplete if it is not connected... 4.2 CPM1A PLC controller 4.3 PLC controller input lines 4.4 PLC controller output lines 4.5 How a PLC controller works 4.6 CPM1A PLC controller memory map 4.7 Timers and counters Introduction This book could deal with a general overview of some supposed PLC controller Author has had an opportunity to look over plenty of books published up till now, and this approach is not the most suitable to the purposes... from the viewpoint of a number of attached lines or possible options Still, this PLC controller is ideal for the purposes of this book, and that is to introduce a PLC controller philosophy to its readers 4.2 CPM1A PLC controller Each PLC is basically a microcontroller system (CPU of PLC controller is based on one of the microcontrollers, and in more recent times on one of the PC processors) with peripherals... joined bit at PLC input can be hooked up to the PLC controller inputs In order to realize a change, we need a voltage source to incite an input The simplest possible input would be a common key As CPM1A PLC has a source of direct voltage of 24V, the same source can be used to incite input (problem with this source is its maximum current which it can give continually and which in our case amounts to 0.2A)... central processing unit Most PLC controllers work either at 24 VDC or 220 VAC On some PLC controllers you'll find electrical supply as a separate module Those are usually bigger PLC controllers, while small and medium series already contain the supply module User has to determine how much current to take from I/O module to ensure that electrical supply provides appropriate amount of current Different types . several PLC controllers to the net. Today it is difficult to imagine a task that could not be handled by a PLC. 2.2 PLC controller components PLC is actually. Previous page Content Next page CHAPTER 2 Introduction to PLC controllers Introduction 2.1 First programmed controllers 2.2 PLC controller parts 2.3 Central Processing