PLC box thing??

[ktguk]

anyone had or know anything about these plc training aids (link below), like are they any good for a head start in learning abit of plc programming e.g. get your foot in the door to a factory spark job

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/plc-trainer-and-cables__W0QQ_armrsZ1QQ_fsubZ15616022

 

[steptoe]

Id be interested to know as well,

done a bit of plc work (very little),

 

[Blue Fox]

Hello,

The actual plc's and rigs seem quite good for some basic learning and could easily be added to to create more complex systems as you gained more knowledge but they don't seem to include the software for actually doing the programming with and this is VERY VERY expensive for seimens and AB if I remember correctly so that would be a bit of a stumbling block. A company called Rockwell used to run courses for the AB stuff, you could do a level 1 and level 2 course I think, so may be more worthwhile doing one of these (if they still do them/exist). Not sure about the Seimens courses but they must do them. Stay away from Seimens step 5 though as is now obsolete and although quite a few places do still have it it is being phased out. I've done a lot of PLC programming on AB SLC500 and PLC 5 and Seimens Step 7, a little of Seimens step 5 and more recently a new system that is a combination of ladder logic and C+ called codysis so if you do get any of the kits and need any help then feel free to ask and if I can help I will. If I can find any of my old training manuals I'll happily lend them to people if thats any help as well.

 

[revjames]

I have done a bit with PLCs mainly AB. Used a DOS based programme to interrogate the PLC called 'Taylor' there is also a more user friendly one called Proworx. I think you can get trial versions or demos free to download. Proworx allows you to mess about with ladder logic etc.

 

[oldtimespark]

Where I work most of the PLC are Siemens S5 /S7 some Allen Bradley and Mitsubishi The question is which trainer to buy ?

I would look for a course in your local collage .I did the Siemens ACES 15 course at a my local collage in Newport. Have a look at the demo on this site and see what you think

 

[revjames]

many different models and protocols. In my last job (aluminium industry) they only had Allen Bradleys some of them very old some quite recent. I have also worked in the plastics industry where every machine seemed to have a different PLC in it! Basically when working as a maintenance guy, its not that important to be able to write ladder logic, its more important to realise how the actual processes work and be able to look for input/ output in the relevant places. Its extremelly rare for the PLCs themselves to fail nearly always a fault in the I/O peripherals - switches, sensors etc.

 

[ProDave]

For a good overview of PLC's see here http://www.plcs.net/contents.shtml

As for a PLC for experimenting, you sometimes find some cheapish ones for sale on ebay, sometimes with the software.

If you just want to try your hand at it, some of the smaller ones like the Siemens Logo have cheap or even free software.

 

[Lurch]

If you just want to try your hand at it, some of the smaller ones like the Siemens Logo have cheap or even free software.

I've not looked into training for PLC's so don;t know how they compare but a few times I've wanted a couple of simple logic controllers and have set about designing a circuit and then part way through it ends up being easier to head for eBay and look what's going on there that will do the job. More often than not the Logo kit has ticked all the boxes, although I've never actually used one yet. I tend to do all my learning on new equipment on actual equipment, sourced\scavenged\bought or other with the proper software etc... so you get the actual on site experience, and you can have a better play I think.

 

[Tooold]

When a company I worked for used a lot of plc's we were offered free training by suppliers, just a four day course but would have been enough for a good start.

You could try a supplier and piggy back on one of thier free courses.