Industrial Automation, PLC, VFD, and Troubleshooting
PLC Communication Basics
Modern PLC systems rarely work alone.
A PLC may communicate with:
HMI panels
VFDs
Remote I/O
Servo drives
Robots
Barcode readers
Vision systems
SCADA computers
Industrial switches
Other PLCs
Data collection systems
In older systems, many signals were hardwired point-to-point.
Example:
PLC output …
Read MoreIndustrial Ethernet is everywhere in modern automation.
PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, remote I/O racks, vision cameras, SCADA computers, robots, and industrial switches all need to communicate reliably.
For that communication to work, each …
Read MoreModern industrial machines depend on communication.
A PLC may need to communicate with:
HMIVFDsRemote I/OSCADAServo drivesVision camerasBarcode readersOther PLCsIndustrial switchesHistorian servers
When communication fails, the machine may stop, lose control, show faults, or …
Read MoreIndustrial Ethernet switches are one of the most important parts of modern automation networks.
A switch connects devices such as:
PLC
HMI
VFD
Remote I/O
SCADA workstation
Vision camera
Robot controller
Servo drive
Barcode scanner
Engineering laptop
Historian server
A simple way to …
Read MoreUnderstanding How the HMI Talks to the PLC
In an industrial HMI system, the screen is only useful if it can communicate with the controller.
The HMI needs to read machine status …
Read More