Permissives vs. Interlocks: They Are Not the Same Thing
In industrial automation, the words permissive and interlock are often used as if they mean the same thing.
They do not.
Both are conditions that influence whether equipment is allowed to operate, …
Read MoreIndustrial Tank & Pump Control in PLCLogix 5000 — From 4–20 mA Level Signal to Fault-Validated Automatic Control
Introduction
One of the best ways to improve PLC programming skills is to stop thinking only in terms of individual instructions and start thinking in terms of process behavior, equipment states, …
Read MoreAI and the Future of Industrial Automation: Will It Replace the Automation Technician?
Artificial Intelligence is moving into industrial automation faster than many technicians expected.
AI is beginning to appear in engineering tools, predictive maintenance systems, digital twins, robotics, machine vision, process optimization, and …
Read MoreCan a PLC Course Really Make You a PLC Programmer?
There is a message becoming increasingly common in industrial automation:
Take a PLC course, learn ladder logic, become a PLC programmer, and start making great money.
There is some truth inside that …
Read MorePLC Programmer vs. Process Engineer: How Much of the Machine Should You Really Understand?
A PLC programmer does not need to be a chemical engineer, mechanical engineer, process engineer, electrician, instrumentation specialist, and machine designer all at the same time.
But there is another extreme …
Read MoreFaults vs. Alarms vs. Notifications: Are We Calling Everything an Alarm?
In industrial automation, the word alarm is often used for almost everything that goes wrong.
A motor fails to start.
A tank reaches a high level.
A VFD trips.
A communication module disconnects.
An operator …
Read MoreOne Device, One Control Point: Why Multiple Writes Make PLC Troubleshooting Dangerous
A PLC program can work perfectly and still be difficult to troubleshoot.
That distinction matters.
When we first learn ladder logic, the goal is usually simple:
Make the motor run.
Later, the goal becomes …
Read MoreTrigger, Hold-In, Interrupt: Is This Really the Backbone of PLC Programming?
One of the most useful PLC programming patterns a technician can learn is also one of the simplest:
Trigger → Hold-In → Interrupt
The idea is straightforward.
Something starts the action.
Something keeps it …
Read MoreSeal-In Logic vs. Latch/Unlatch: Which Is Better for Industrial PLC Control?
In industrial PLC programming, there are often several ways to make the same machine work.
Two of the most common methods for maintaining a control condition are Seal-In logic and Latch/Unlatch …
Read MorePLC vs. SCADA Control: Don’t Leave the Technician at a Troubleshooting Dead End
Modern industrial automation systems are no longer isolated PLCs controlling a few inputs and outputs.
Today, a machine may interact with PLCs, HMIs, SCADA platforms, historians, databases, MES systems, remote I/O, …
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