Do you know what PLC programming language to use?
Next-generation PLC programming tips and benefits are available in this article and from the instructors of a detailed one-hour Sept. 10 webcast, archived for a year.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how the Sept. 10 programmable logic controller (PLC) webcast from Control Engineering (archived for a year) will explore programming language advantages beyond ladder logic.
- Learn about the PLC programming webcast instructors, see programming samples from different languages and link to the registration page for the webcast.
PLC programming webcast insights
- The Sept. 10 programmable logic controller (PLC) webcast from Control Engineering (archived for a year) explores programming language advantages beyond ladder logic.
- PLC programming webcast instructors provide programming samples from different languages and discuss and compare programming languages. A link is provided to the registration page.
For programming programmable logic controllers (PLCs), ladder logic programming is used for many applications, and the Sept. 10 Control Engineering webcast (archived for a year) examines “PLCs: Programming tips and tricks appropriate for next-generation applications.” More about the PLC programming, some programming tips from the webcast, details about the instructors, along with how to see it are provided below, including a PLC programming language comparison. Those attending live will be able to ask the instructors questions and take a quiz for RCEP credit.
Figure 1: Programming language samples IL – Instruction List, LAD – Ladder Logic, and ST – Structured Text are explained in the Control Engineering Sept. 10 webcast, archived for a year: “PLCs: Programming tips and tricks appropriate for next-generation applications.” This is from webcast instructor Frank B. Lamb, founder and owner of Automation Consulting LLC and creator of The Automation Primer blog and The Automation Academy. Courtesy: Automation Consulting LLC, Control Engineering
PLC programming webcast will explore the following questions
The webcast description says, “If your organization only uses ladder logic for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), what advantages and flexibilities from other IEC 61131-3 programming languages might you be missing? What is available to improve PLC programming now and in the future? How can automation programming with more modern methods interest and attract engineering talent? Finally, how can properly designed PLC programming help with future upgrades? Explore what you’ve been missing and gain insights into other ways programming can advance automation projects.”
Figure 2: Programming language samples of FBD – Function Block and SFC – Sequential Function Chart are explained in the Control Engineering Sept. 10 webcast, archived for a year: “PLCs: Programming tips and tricks appropriate for next-generation applications.” This is from webcast instructor Frank B. Lamb, founder and owner of Automation Consulting LLC and creator of The Automation Primer blog and The Automation Academy. Courtesy: Automation Consulting LLC, Control Engineering
Learning objectives for the webcast are:
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Understand PLC programming language advantages beyond traditional ladder-type programs.
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Explore how non-ladder PLC programming tools can help now and with future automation implementations.
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Consider how new engineering talent may be more receptive newer PLC programming options.
Figure 3: Programming language samples CFC – Continuous Function Chart and UML – Class Diagram are explained in the Control Engineering Sept. 10 webcast, archived for a year: “PLCs: Programming tips and tricks appropriate for next-generation applications.” This is from webcast instructor Frank B. Lamb, founder and owner of Automation Consulting LLC and creator of The Automation Primer blog and The Automation Academy. Courtesy: Automation Consulting LLC, Control Engineering
PLC programming webcast instructors
Instructors for the PLC programming webcast are:
- Frank B. Lamb is founder and owner of Automation Consulting LLC and member of the Control Engineering editorial advisory board. Lamb is founder of Automation Consulting LLC and creator of The Automation Primer blog and The Automation Academy, online system integration and industrial automation training site, which includes teaching PLC, HMI and SCADA programming. Previously, he was a senior project engineer with Wright Industries, president of Automation and Consulting Services Inc. and president of Stephenson Control and Systems. He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Tennessee and is a U.S. Air Force Veteran.
- Nathan Phillips is process control engineering, APCO Inc. – Advanced Process Control and Optimization and has expertise in PLC and HMI programming, Python programming language, machine learning, chemical engineering, and electrical design. He has a Bachelor of Science in in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University.
Figure 4: Programming languages such as FDB, ST and SFC, allow for more future change and growth with an increase in sophistication. As systems grow in size and complexity, tools such as ST can better handle the larger datasets, as explained in the Control Engineering Sept. 10 webcast, archived for a year: “PLCs: Programming tips and tricks appropriate for next-generation applications.” This is from webcast instructor Nathan Phillips is process control engineering, APCO Inc. – Advanced Process Control and Optimization Courtesy: APCO, Control Engineering
PLC programming languages, advantages beyond Ladder Logic
IEC 61131-3 defines what programmable controller data types, instructions and languages, Lamb said, and provides examples of what the following programming languages look like (Figures 1-3) along with advantages and disadvantages of each. Many engineers need tips about PLC programming, Lamb noted. IEC 61131-3 programming languages are:
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IL – Instruction List, text
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LAD – Ladder Logic, graphical
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FBD – Function Block, diagram graphical
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ST – Structured Text, text
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SFC – Sequential Function Charts, graphical.
Using PLC programming languages other than Ladder Logic may have some distinct advantages, explained Phillips, including flexibility and scalability, advanced functionality, better data-handling capabilities and future-proofing. See Figure 4 for additional explanation of advantages.
Figure 5: Frank B. Lamb is founder and owner of Automation Consulting LLC and creator of The Automation Primer blog and The Automation Academy and member of the Control Engineering editorial advisory board. Nathan Phillips is process control engineering, APCO Inc. – Advanced Process Control and Optimization Mark T. Hoske is editor-in-chief, Control Engineering, WTWH Media, mhoske@wtwhmedia.com, and moderator for this PLC programming webcast. Courtesy: Control Engineering
Mark T. Hoske is editor-in-chief, Control Engineering, WTWH Media, mhoske@wtwhmedia.com, and moderator for this webcast.
KEYWORDS
PLC programming languages, PLC programming tips, Control Engineering webcast
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Are you using the best PLC programming language for a particular application?
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See the Control Engineering Sept. 10 webcast, archived for a year: “PLCs: Programming tips and tricks appropriate for next-generation applications.”
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