Industrial Automation, PLC, VFD, and Troubleshooting
An HMI, or Human Machine Interface, is the screen that allows operators and technicians to interact with a machine or process.
A PLC controls the machine, but the HMI gives the …
Read MorePLC 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 MoreIn industrial automation, three terms appear everywhere:
PLCHMISCADA
They are connected, but they are not the same thing.
A PLC controls the machine.An HMI allows the operator to interact with the machine.SCADA supervises, …
Read MoreIndustrial automation can feel overwhelming.
There are many areas to understand:
Electrical controlIndustrial electronicsSensorsInstrumentationPLCsLadder logicVFDsMotor controlHMISCADAIndustrial networksRemote I/OSafety systemsTroubleshootingDocumentationBackups
At times, it may feel like:
“I do not know enough.”“There is too much 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 MoreUnderstanding How an Industrial HMI Connects the Operator to the Machine
In the previous post, we explained what an industrial HMI is and why it is important in automation. Now we …
Read MoreA Beginner-Friendly Introduction for Industrial Automation Technicians
In industrial automation, an HMI stands for Human-Machine Interface. It is the screen, panel, or computer-based application that allows an operator, technician, or engineer …
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