Book Image

Mastering PLC Programming

By : Mason White
Book Image

Mastering PLC Programming

By: Mason White

Overview of this book

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a new feature of PLC programming that has taken the automation world by storm. This book provides you with the necessary skills to succeed in the modern automation programming environment. The book is designed in a way to take you through advanced topics such as OOP design, SOLID programming, the software development lifecycle (SDLC), library design, HMI development, general software engineering practices, and more. To hone your programming skills, each chapter has a simulated real-world project that’ll enable you to apply the skills you’ve learned. In all, this book not only covers complex PLC programming topics, but it also removes the financial barrier that comes with most books as all examples utilize free software. This means that to follow along, you DO NOT need to purchase any PLC hardware or software. By the end of this PLC book, you will have what it takes to create long-lasting codebases for any modern automation project.
Table of Contents (25 chapters)
1
Part 1 – An Introduction to Advanced PLC Programming
6
Part 2 – Modularity and Objects
10
Part 3 – Software Engineering for PLCs
14
Part 4 – HMIs and Alarms
19
Part 5 – Final Project and Thoughts

Alarms — Avoiding Catastrophic Issues with Alarms

Thus far in this book, we have covered the basics of catching errors, mainly by doing something such as blinking an LED or changing the color of a control. For many things, simply changing a control’s color or blinking an LED is fine. However, there are times when a more dedicated HMI element is needed. With all that said, enter the world of alarms.

In many SCADA and HMI systems, alarms are dedicated controls that are specifically designed to warn operators about the status of the machine. Normally, alarms will allow you to change colors, display text, log issues, and more. Each HMI or SCADA package that offers alarms will offer different alarms, styles, functionality, and more. However, the core principles that govern most alarms are universal.

Much like HMIs, developing and properly implementing an alarm is as much a science as it is an art. This chapter is dedicated to implementing alarms logically and effectively...