When a PLC is used primarily to replace relays, timers, and counters, it's hard to beat the simplicity and usefulness of ladder diagram programming. Their ability to accept programming in ladder ...

In part one of this series, we looked at the PLC’s internal architecture, briefly discussed Ladder Logic programming, Human-Machine Interfaces, advantages of the PLC’s ability to react consistently ...

The debate between programming languages revolves around the necessity of sticking to ladder logic for ease of troubleshooting versus adopting higher-level languages for enhanced functionality and ...

Ladder logic uses switch or relay contacts to implement Boolean expressions. In years past, ladder logic was made possible with discrete relays and was sometimes termed “relay logic.” Today most ...

Old habits die hard. But change is inevitable. And in this case, if proponents are right, change is on the way in the form of an open PLC programming standard known as IEC 61131-3. Promulgated by the ...

If your usual tools are the Arduino and the Raspberry Pi, you might find it surprising that the industrial world tends to run on Programmable Logic Controllers, or PLCs. You can think of a PLC as a ...

On the surface, a programmable logic controller (PLC) might seem like nothing more than a generic microcontroller, perhaps outfitted to operate in industrial settings with things like high ...