Industrial Automation, PLC, VFD, and Troubleshooting
When programmers begin learning state machines, two names appear very quickly:
Moore Machine
Mealy Machine
Both are finite state machine models, but they differ in one very important way:
A Moore machine determines outputs …
Read MoreState machines are one of the most powerful programming concepts used in industrial automation.
They are especially useful when a machine can exist in several clearly defined operating conditions such as:
Idle
Starting
Running
Stopping
Opening
Closing
Manual
Automatic
Faulted
Instead …
Read MoreAs Studio 5000 projects become larger, tag organization becomes increasingly important.
A small machine may only have a few motors, valves, sensors, and alarms. In that type of project, individual tags …
Read MoreOne of the biggest challenges in industrial troubleshooting is dealing with problems that happen too fast to observe.
A sensor may turn off for only 100 milliseconds. A motor feedback signal …
Read MoreTimers are everywhere in industrial automation.
A motor may need a few seconds to prove that it started. A valve may need time to reach its open position. A photoeye signal …
Read MoreIf you are learning Studio 5000, one of the first instructions you will see everywhere is the MOV instruction. At first glance it looks almost too simple, but in real …
Read MoreWhat Is a PLC?
A PLC, or Programmable Logic Controller, is an industrial computer used to control machines, equipment, and automated processes.
In simple words, a PLC reads signals from field devices, …
Read MoreA PLC system is made of several hardware and software components that work together to control an industrial machine or process.
At a basic level, a PLC system receives information from …
Read MoreHow the PLC Scan Cycle Works
The PLC scan cycle is one of the most important fundamentals to understand in industrial automation.
A PLC does not normally read an input, solve one …
Read MorePLC Inputs and Outputs Explained
In industrial automation, a PLC does not work by itself. It needs to interact with real-world devices installed on the machine or process.
These real-world devices are …
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