Career move

[phil2]

I've been on the fringe of PLC's ie Switchgear/MCC's with minimal programming skills and have just been made redundant. I would like to improve my knowledge with the aid of free download programming tutorials etc, who is the best PLC vendor to get familiar with and any recommended books. Any recommendations/suggestions to help with this potential career move.

 

[xnuke]

In the U.S., Allen-Bradley is the most popular brand, followed by Siemens, GE Fanuc, and AutomationDirect (according to Control Design magazine's 2002 Readers' Choice Awards).

Some information on PLCs in general can be found at:

http://www.plcs.net

http://www.mrplc.com

http://www.thelearningpit.com

http://www.industrialtext.com

Specific brand information for the manufacturers listed above can be found at:

http://www.ab.com

http://www.siemens.com

http://www.gefanuc.com

http://www.automationdirect.com

 

[skills]

The best way to start learning is to get a plc and do a control job with it. As to the best brand to start with, that is really a lot like car brands. The best PLC in the world is the one on your desk with a cable connected to it. I use around 14 brands for my customers and I've learned that you have to have one to use it. Personally, I think that the Reliance Automax is the best in the world; but, I built racks that cost $27,000 sometimes. The Direct Logic is my next choice. Use what you will buy this week. For $150 you can get a nice DL05 that works as well as anyone's sub $500 models. The only argument for AB is that everybodys using it. I don't quess I see the point in that. A lot of people are hooked on drugs too; but, how does that argue any merit for addiction? I have pulled out 11 plcs this year, all slc500s, and upgraded with plcs costing a third the cost doing much more work than before.

 

[dydt]

hi...
one way you can digest and learn more about a PLC ladder logic is to look for a machine that has a PLC , not too complex if possible...see how the machine works..check the I/O's...watch the I/O's react when the machine is working at the same time study the ladder..better if you can go on-line...

...step by step try to add some outputs or inputs..modify the program and see if it works...trust me..if this works your gonna have fun tinkering with it until you developed your programming skills..just make sure you back up the original program in case you made a boo-boo...

although i am an AB, Siemens and OMRON PLC fan, i still recommend for you to try other PLC's...as long as you are familiar with logic gates and controls..you will be fine..

good luck and have fun
dydt