I worked in a place with an old Modicon PLC. There were 8 blenders for storing plastic pellets. The PLC program was written in such a way that each blender and associated equipment were in their own "networks" Different functions (Make, Blend, Purge, Transfer) were defined (I guess) in their own network as well. So if you wanted the 2nd blender to transfer the command to position valves, turn blowers on, turn blowers off, etc were called from the Transfer network to monitor the inputs & affect the outputs of the 2 blender network.
As a technician troubleshooting a problem I knew I would start in 2 blender network, then go to the Transfer network & there was a function in the program where I could jump to whatever network I was looking for.
That was then. Now, I'm having to write a program for a Micro820. But there doesn't appear to be any "networks." I can write everything as one long program. I'm thinking I can do that, but I have to make sure to keep everything organized.
However, I see that I could write subroutines & that sounds like a better solution. Is that the "normal" convention for writing programs for the Micro800 controllers?
If I were called out on a job & I'm trying to figure out what a particular program is doing, can I expect to see a subroutine for "unloading" if it were a compressor or hydraulic unit? Or is it more normal just to write everything to a single large program?
As a technician troubleshooting a problem I knew I would start in 2 blender network, then go to the Transfer network & there was a function in the program where I could jump to whatever network I was looking for.
That was then. Now, I'm having to write a program for a Micro820. But there doesn't appear to be any "networks." I can write everything as one long program. I'm thinking I can do that, but I have to make sure to keep everything organized.
However, I see that I could write subroutines & that sounds like a better solution. Is that the "normal" convention for writing programs for the Micro800 controllers?
If I were called out on a job & I'm trying to figure out what a particular program is doing, can I expect to see a subroutine for "unloading" if it were a compressor or hydraulic unit? Or is it more normal just to write everything to a single large program?