The world of predictive maintenance is growing at an exponential rate. The ability to predict and prevent failures before they occur can save companies money, time and resources. However, if your organisation wants to really succeed in this area it is important to have proper plc programming for your predictive maintenance tasks.
Below are just some of the ways that PLC programming can help ensure your predictive maintenance program's success:
PLC programming languages allow you to create a program that can be executed by the PLC in real time, without human intervention.
This means that you can write your programs and test them out immediately without having to wait for them to compile or execute on another computer, which is what happens when you’re writing code in other languages like C++ or Java.
Describe the process of preparing instructions for input into a PLC.
The process of preparing instructions for input into a PLC is known as program preparation or programming. The steps involved in creating a program using PLC programming languages include:
- Selection of a suitable language, e.g., Ladder Logic Diagram (LAD), Structured Text (ST) or Function Block Diagram (FBD).
- Creation of an electrical ladder diagram that electricians use when installing control devices, which will be translated into ladder logic by the programmer.
A programming language is a set of rules that defines how to write programs. There are several different types of programming languages, including: Machine code (binary) Assembly language, High-level languages, such as C and Java Scripting languages like HTML.
Programming languages are also categorised as low-level or high-level. Low-level programming languages use machine code, which consists of unique binary numbers that computers can read. High-level programming languages are easier for humans to read and write than low-level ones.
Ladder logic diagrams are the most common programming language for PLCs. Ladder logic diagrams use a graphical representation of electronic circuits in order to program PLCs.
These electrical ladder diagrams represent the electrical scheme of a control system, and they can be used by electricians when installing control devices such as circuit breakers, switches, timers and other devices that are connected directly to a power source.
Ladder logic diagrams contain several blocks that represent different functions like input/output (I/O) or storage registers, among others.
Each block has its own function or purpose; however, these blocks can be interconnected with each other using wires in order for them to perform their designated tasks within the system.
Conclusion
PLC programming is an essential activity that can help you save time and money in the long run. By programming PLCs with the most up-to-date maintenance procedures, you will be able to ensure that your machinery runs efficiently for years to come.
