Newbie Software Questions

Yes you are correct. The plc world is ever expanding so communication to the plc can also be via a network.
Some plcs are implemented underneath Windows NT (sometimes called soft plcs) and run on PCs (Beckhoff TwinCat for example).

I am guessing the RLL program is "compiled" into some tokenized language that is unique to that family of PLCs.

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Generally machine code.

Each manufacturer has their own flavor of compiler, true?

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Huge differences between brands.

If true, each compiler might be a tad different between brands, or differ by orders of magnitude, depending on the capability of the PLC it is intended to support.

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Huge difference between brands and even models.

I have about a million more questions to pose but I will refrain from posting too much too soon.

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I would suggest you prees the "learn PLC's button at the top of the page and buy Phil's book to start with.

All PLC's have different programming software, specific to the brand. The PLC's themselves all have diffent capabilities, functions, I/O counts tec. It is quite a minefield.

Try learn PLC's, ask questions nad there are plenty of people here that can help.

Many thanks! Phil's book is on order. Would an AutomationDirect DL-06 PLC and the PC-PGM-BRICK software be a reasonable learning platform? I was thinking I could make a learning kit with as many toggle switches as there are inputs and as many LEDs as there are outputs. That could be my desktop "machine". (I would mount the LEDs and switches onto an aluminum "L" bracket and affix the whole kit on a piece of shelving from the local hardware store.) Can you suggest a better approach? My funds are limited so I need to learn the most for each dollar spent.

Cheers!
Tom

Check Ebay!

mbedtom said:

That could be my desktop "machine". (I would mount the LEDs and switches onto an aluminum "L" bracket and affix the whole kit on a piece of shelving from the local hardware store.) Can you suggest a better approach? My funds are limited so I need to learn the most for each dollar spent.

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You might try hd_coop's very cool 'trainer' idea, pictured in THIS thread...



-Eric

P.S. This is also a 'hint' that hd needs to update us on his progress...

The DL-06 is a good place to start. The DL-05 is a little less expensive. Either will get you going on fundamantals.

You can save yourself a few bucks on the Output LEDs. PLCs have status indicators on Inputs and Outputs, so you really don't need to hook up LEDs to the outputs.