Any Good Free PLC Simulator Software?

[Aljubovic]

I just started to learn how to program PLCs. I was searching for the best simulator programs for learning how to code PLCs. The best one I could find was EasyPLC which only had a demo but also had tutorial example scenarios to code which you had to buy the whole simulator. Is there any free PLC simulators that can teach me how to code pumps, motors, etc. My end goal is to learn how to control a pump using a electrical to pneumatic transducer and other things like pressure transmitters. Let me know if there are any good free software's out there were I can start learning. Any example videos for complex examples would be great too.

 

[JeremyM]

This software is free to use: https://www.axelsoftware.it/en/download/

Supports the major languages and provides a working simulator for various hardware targets.

Arduino PLC IDE is very much similar (in fact it's a port of the Axel solution) with C++ "sketch" support but more limited in the number of hardware targets supported out-of-the-box. Its simulator isn't working yet, so you'll need to wait for an update or acquire a relatively inexpensive PMC or the upcoming Opta (half the price).

https://www.arduino.cc/pro/software-plc-ide

 

[OkiePC]

Automation Direct Do-More and Productivity Suite both have simulators. The Do-More simulator is really good. I actually used it running on a laptop through my USB to serial converter to a radio network to test a conversion from a DL250 to a BRX PLC before I swapped out the hardware.

https://www.automationdirect.com/support/software-downloads?itemcode=Do-more Designer

With that said, it does set up and program a lot differently than some of the more popular brands.

Allen Bradley has RSLogix Emulate 500 that is okay for simulating logic for the SLC and Micrologix families, but it will not simulate PID or communication instructions, and IIRC, will only simulate the Micrologix 1000 or 1100 unless you have a license for RSLogix 500 installed.

https://www.solisplc.com/tutorials/downloading-a-free-copy-of-rslogix-500-rslogix-500-emulate-rslinx

 

[ojz0r]

Codesys is free download. You can program and simulate with it.

 

[parky]

Trilogi, Mitsubishi Alpha (note: this is FBD based no ladder but free).

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.raincontinues.simplc2&gl=US&pli=1

only used the Mitsubishi alpha so do not know what the others are like, also there are on-line simulators one on this site.
I beleive there are others for well known PLC's

here are some others
OpenPLC Editor
WPLSoft
Do-more Designer
WTE PLC Configuration Tool.
Direct logic has a limited version I think it limits it to 100 words.

 

[Aljubovic]

I will be using their click plc. Is the Do-More software similar to the click programing software?

 

[OkiePC]

I will be using their click plc. Is the Do-More software similar to the click programing software?

Not really. The Click uses fixed, named addressing and the BRX is tag name based (you make up the tag names you want as you go along). The Click uses Modbus TCP and Modbus RTU for communications so every Click address has a correlating Modbus address. The BRX can do many different protocols including Modbus, but you have to map the things you want to made available to its Modbus table. The BRX is much more powerful and complicated than the Click.

We have a few of the BRX PLCs on simple systems and a bunch of Click and Click Plus PLCs too. I like them both, but have had better reliability with the Click which has more than enough capability for what we do.

Two of the BRX we used to replace proprietary RTU boards that run on 12v solar systems. The Click doesn't offer a 12 volt version.

 

[drbitboy]

I was searching for the best simulator programs for learning how to code PLCs.

Opinions are like noses; here is a look at my nose, YMMV:

IMNSHO, if that is all you are looking for now, you can't beat RSLogix Micro Starter Lite. Smooth look-and-feel, ladder only, emulator free also. It's a bit daunting to get started, but videos abound on youtube e.g. here. It's file- not tag-based, but that is an implementation detail that doesn't matter on a small project. No PID but that is trivial to code from scratch. If you get to the hardware stage, you can often find a MicroLogix 1100 on eBay for under 100-200USD.

Coding is the easy part; I/O and networking are much larger and more varied topics (check out the distribution of subjects for this forum). How exactly will it control the pump? Or maybe you are already familiar with that domain?

CCW has a free version with a emulator but it's like Fisher-Price. Okay otherwise; has multiple languages if ladder is not in your future; the first PID instruction is broken but usable, as is the second one written to replace it.

Siemens TIA has a trial version, but no simulator (I think?), and anyway it suffers from the "We are not intimidated by complexity, try to keep up" syndrome common a few time zones east of +0000.

A lot of the less common brands have free software with simulators, but they are generally at a "Hey, it works: ship it!" level of quality.