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

PLC/automation device communication

UDP and TCP are general communication protocols. By this, I mean that they are used for many different types of IT applications, such as internet applications, common computer networks, and so on. However, many of the PLC manufacturers produce their own communication systems to be used with their PLCs and various types of industrial components. Some of these systems are very similar and use the same physical connectors as standard computers do – for example, Ethernet cables. However, some use exotic connectors and will be unique for certain devices. The first communication protocol we are going to discuss is one of the most popular, which is called Modbus.

Modbus

Modbus is an industrial communication protocol. Modbus is a little different than the other protocols that we have discussed thus far. Where TCP and UDP are more agnostic in terms of IT applications, Modbus was developed in the late 70s for use in PLC communications by the company...