8. Tutorials - MicroLogix

8.1 A-B Micrologix with RSLogix Software

• Goal: To learn how to install the software

• Note: These instructions should lead you point by point, but pay attention to the details on the computer screen.

• Instructions:

1. Turn on the computer, it will start to boot up. Once booted determine if the RSLogix 500 software is installed. If it is skip this section.

2. Examine the contents of the software box. There should be manuals for the software and the PLC. There should also be a CDROM and a floppy disk. You will also find quick reference cards, training information, etc.

3. Put the CDROM in the computer. A screen should automatically appear asking you to install the software. Click on the install button and the installation should begin.

4. When prompted .....

5. After this install RS-Linx. This program will be handle communication between the ladder logic program and the PLC.

• Goal: To learn how to connect the PLC to the computer.

• Instructions:

1. Open the PLC box and remove the manuals and PLC, or find the manuals on-line at http://www.ab.com. Examine both. Flip up the terminal strip covers and look at the labels.

2. Connect the provided power cord. Plug the PLC in, turn it on and look to see if the power light turns on. Turn off the PLC before the next step. NOTE: the power is wired directly to the PLC L1, L2/N and ground terminals on the front of the PLC.

3. The communication cable has two connectors. The round connector plugs into the front of the PLC: there is a small door on the left hand side. The other end of the cable should plug into the back of the computer. This will either be in ‘COM1’ or ‘COM2’. Chances are if there is a serial mouse attached to the computer, it will be ‘COM2’. If you are not sure, you can try both later.

4. Turn on the power. You should see the ‘power’ light go on. Other lights may also be on.

• Goal: To run the software and communicate with the PLC.

• Note: You should only need to do this the first time the software is set up.

• Instructions:

1. Move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen to where the “Start” button is located and click once. Next, click on “Programs” then “Rockwell Software”, then “RSLogix 500 English”, and finally “RSLogix 500 English”.

2. This should start the RSLogix ladder logic programming software. A blank window should come up. It will be necessary to open a project before beginning to program.

3. Select ‘File’-’New’ and then select the processor ‘Micrologix 1000’. Next, change the driver to ‘AB_DF1-1’. This may cause the software to start the RS-Linx program: if it does go to step 4, if not go to step 5.

4. (If RS-Linx has started and is on the screen) Go to ‘Communications’-’Configure Drivers...’-’RS-232 DF1 Devices’-’Add New’. Pick the appropriate COM port and set the device to ‘micro/panelview’. Then select ‘Autoconfigure’. It should find the PLC and set the port appropriately. Click ‘OK’ and get the RSLogix software back.

5. Click ‘OK’ on the new file creation screen. The program will put up a project window. This will include a scrolling menu on the left that allows access to many functions of the PLC. The ladder logic will appear on the right hand side. At this point you are ready to enter some ladder logic.

• Goal: To set up a new project file and a simple program.

• Note: A separate project file is needed for each controller. If a controller has multiple programs, each one should have a project file.

• Instructions:

1. A window will appear on the screen. On the right hand side is where ladder logic is entered and displayed. On the left are system settings. On the top are the controls used for programming and other functions.

2. Look carefully at the bar at the top of the screen. At the right hand side there are small symbols. Point to the left most symbol and hold down the left mouse button (keep it pushed for now). Drag the mouse down to the ladder logic window. A green box will appear, drag the mouse pointer to it and let the mouse button go. This should add an empty rung to the program.

3. Use the same method with the mouse to drag down a set of input contacts to the empty ladder rung.

4. Now drag down an output coil to the ladder logic run so that it looks like the one below.

5. Now the names of the inputs and outputs will be added. For the input contact, double click with the left mouse button on the “?” above the input contact. Type in the value shown below and press return. Do the same for the output coil. Note: what is displayed will appear different from what was entered.

6. Right click on the input contacts and select “Edit Description: I:0/0”. Enter the description for the contact “Button A”. Do the same for the output coil so that it looks like the figure below.

‘A<ENTER>’, press <ESC> when done.

• Goal: To transfer a program to the PLC and run it.

• Instructions:

1. At the top of the window select “Comms” then “Download”. You will be asked for a filename, enter ‘seminar’ for now. Later on you should give this a name related to the project.

2. You will be asked if you are sure you want to download, select “yes”. You may get a message that the SLC is in “RUN MODE”. If you select “Yes” the program in the PLC will stop running so that the new program can be downloaded. After the program is downloaded you will be asked if you want to switch back to “RUN” mode, select “Yes”.

3. When asked “Do you want to go Online?” select “Yes”. The screen will now show the actual state of PLC inputs and outputs. Turn on Input 0 to the PLC, and notice that the rung on the screen changes. It is also worth noticing that there is a slight delay between pushing the switch, and the change on the screen.

NOTE: After this point, keystrokes and menu choices will not be fully described.

• Goal: Enter and edit ladder logic with branches and add comments.

• Instructions:

1. Start by disconnecting from the PLC by selecting “Comms”, then “Go Offline”. Edit the program to look like the program below by dragging down a normally open contact, and adding the numbers shown.

2. Download the program to the PLC and run it. Push buttons and see how it behaves.

3. Go offline and add in the branch in the figure below. To do this drag down a branch icon from the bar above to a green box before the two input contacts. Then use the mouse to drag the other side of the branch (shown as a red box) to the other side of the input contacts.

• Goal: To learn how latches work

• Instructions:

1. Go offline and enter the following ladder logic.

 

2. Download the ladder logic and observe how the switches change the operation of the latches. Notice that the second last line of ladder logic has no effect: this is because the output ‘O:0/2’ was used twice, and only the last use counts.

3. After a latch is set (O:0/1) turn off the PLC, and turn it back on. Do the latched outputs stay latched? The programming software will give an error message “Communications loss to processor“, just click “retry” to reconnect to the PLC.

• Goal: To learn how timers work

• Instructions:

1. Go offline and enter the following ladder logic. The Timer function can be found by clicking on the “timer/counter” tab. You can return to the normal functions by clicking on the “user” tab.

 

2. Run the ladder logic and observe how the switches change the operation of the timers. Try running the timer by switching the input on and off a few times while it is counting.

3. After running the timer turn the PLC off and on, does the output stay on?

4. Change the counter so that it takes 2 seconds to run by clicking on the “preset” on the timer and then entering “2”.

5. Change the time base to 0.01: you will need to go offline and download the program again. How does this change the operation of the timer?

6. Edit the ladder diagram to use a “TON” timer, as shown below. You will have to go offline to do this. SHORTCUT: Click on the “RTO” on the top of the timer, and then type in “TON” instead.

 

7. Run the ladder logic. This time the input must stay on for a full 10 seconds before the output will turn on. How is this different from the “RTO”?

8. Edit the ladder diagram so that it looks like the diagram below.

 

9. Run the ladder logic. This timer uses the switch turning off to start counting. Try pushing the switch a few times quickly then slowly.

• Goal: To learn how timers work

• Instructions:

1. Enter to following ladder logic and observe how the switches change the operation of the counters. Does it match what was discussed earlier?

 

2. Modify the counter to count from 0 to 10.

• Goal: To see basic mathematical calculations

• Instructions:

1. Now we will write a program that adds two numbers. If the sum is greater than 8 then an output will turn on. Enter the ladder logic and run the program. Watch the values displayed, and notice how inputs I:0/0 and I:0/1 change the values.

 

1. Run the software and start the off line programming module. Clear all of the memory and enter the following program.

 

Note how the bit addresses changes. In particular B3:1/2 changed from the word format to the bit count format B3/18. The calculation is 1*16 + 2 = 18.

2. Download and run the program. In on-line programming mode, test the program to see how it behaves.

3. Next, look at the values in the memory of the PLC. First look at the left-hand side of the screen. One of the sections is labeled “Data Files”, under this there is “B3: Binary”. Double click on this one to bring up a display window.

1. Run the ladder logic program and enter the following ladder logic. Run the program and see what happens.

 

2.. Select the data file memory under “Data Files” as “T4:0”. Now press the input buttons and watch the values for T4:0 change.

1. Under “Data Files” select “S2: Status” to display the status memory of the PLC. Look through and notice many of the values that are available. The values that are gray can only be written to, while the others can be set by on the screen or by a ladder logic program. Also notice that memory addresses are also provided.

2. Enter the following ladder logic. Notice that the first scan value ‘S2:1/15” has been recognized as the first pass value. Download and run the program. Turn off the PLC and repeat. Notice how the bit is only set when the PLC is turned on.

 

3. Go to “Database” then “Address/Symbol” and double click. This will bring up a list of labels for all of the IO points in the system, including those defined by the user, and predefined values such as status bits.

1. Enter the program below, and run it. Try pushing input buttons in different combinations and see what happens.

 

 

1. Enter and run the following ladder logic.

 

2. Modify the last ladder logic program to match the one below. Run the program.

 

3. Write a program that uses the other types of comparison functions.

1. Enter and run the following program.

 

2. Try other Boolean logic functions in the previous program. Try changing the numbers written into N7:1.

1. Enter and run the following ladder logic.

 

2. Modify the previous program to make lights flash across the outputs (like christmas tree lights).

1. Enter and run the program below.

 

1. Enter and run the program below.

 

1. Enter and run the programs below.