Course Syllabus

EET 464: Programmable Logic Controllers

Credit Hours: 3 sem hrs.

Text: Programmable Controllers:Theory & Implementation, Bryan, Industrial Text Co., 1988

Suppl. text: Using Microsoft Office, Kenny, Que Corp. Learning Visual Basic, Shelly/Cashman, ITP

Software: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visual Basic Allen-Bradley PCIS Rockwell AB500 and Wintelligent Software Series (MMI)

Prerequisites: EET 357

Instructor: Prof. Victor Rooney

Date Prepared: Fall 1996

Objectives:

• To learn the concepts needed to understand the hardware and software of a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).
• Introduction to Industrial type applications of PLCs requiring motion control.
• Study of automated manufacturing and the functions PLC serve in that environment.
• Introduction to Man-machine interface (MMI) software along with procedures to exchange data with Windows Applications such as Microsoft Excel using DDE and Visual Basic applications.
  

Topical Outline

Week 1: Introduction to PLC architecture
Study of PLC architecture (CPU, memory and I/O). Emphasis will be placed on memory and CPU registers and the interpretation of their contents.

Week 2: I/O devices
The introduction of manufacturing type input and output devices and how their statues are stored in memory.

Week 3: PLC Programs
Introduction to the concepts of a PLC program and its execution. The events which occur during the execution of a PLC's scan time will be studied in detail and related to those concepts previously studied.

Week 4: Boolean Algebra Review
Review of Boolean expressions, truth tables and simplification. Introduction to Ladder Logic Diagrams and how to implement Boolean expressions with them.

Week 5: PLC Programming & Ladder Logic
Introduction to programming a PLC using a Hand Held Terminal (HHT). Ladder Logic Diagrams derived from Boolean expressions will be used as the application to be programmed. The assigned program designs are to be demonstrated.

Week 6: Ladder Logic Applications
Introduction to PLC Ladder Logic development for elementary manufacturing control applications. The development and structure of a ladder logic diagram from an algorithm is studied. Such applications as controlling assembly­lines with both time and event driven operations are examined. PLC's based designs will be derived and implemented. The assigned projects are to be demonstrated.

Week 7: Timers & Counters
Investigation of PLC timer and counter instructions. Industrial applications which utilize these instructions are studied. Design projects will be assigned and are to be demonstrated.

Week 8: PLC Programming using a PC
Use of a personal computer (PC) to program a PLC will be studied and demonstrated. All future projects will require the use of a PC. In addition to programming the PC will be used to monitor a running program. Assignments are to be demonstrated.

Week 9: Advanced PLC Instructions
The study of more advanced PLC instructions will be undertaken. These instructions include computational type Instructions. Design problems are to be implemented and demonstrated.

Week 10: ADC & DAC
Introduction analog conversions. This introduction will cover the concepts of Analog­to­Digital Conversion (ADC) and Digital to Analog conversion (DAC). The design and implementation of analog control applications. Designs are to be implemented and demonstrated.

Week 11: MMI Software
Introduction to Man-Machine Interface (MMI) software. The concepts of MMI will be studied along with procedures to exchange PLC data (using Dynamic Data Exchange- DDE) with Microsoft Windows applications such as Excel.

Week 12: MMI Software Applications
Techniques to draw and animate a manufacturing system will be studied and implemented. Implementing system security and alarms using MMI.

Week 13: Advanced Topics
Investigation of the import/export of Microsoft Excel created databases using various MMI modules. Programming PLCs in a Windows environment will be implemented. Microsoft Visual Basic will be used to create special purpose Windows applications that relate to PLC projects.

Last Revised: September 1, 1996