Programming of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
General Topic |
|---|
| A programmable logic controller (PLC) is a digital computer typically used for the automation of electromechanical processes. Thus they are designed for meeting real time requirements since multiple input and output variables must be evaluated and altered within a bounded time frame. |
Company |
|---|
| In 1998 I worked for four months for “Mannesmann Demag Plastics Machinery” (today: Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH) in Wiehe (Thuringia). The company develops and produces plastic injection molding machines for the German and international markets. |
Task |
|---|
| My task was to remove the “Year 2000 bug” by updating the affected parts of the machine control software. The company prepared a draft solution that had to be adapted and included into the different software versions for the programmable logic controllers used by the company. The PLC software was written in an assembler like programming language and structured by following a control loop architecture. |
Gained Experience |
|---|
| I have learned how to program PLCs with assembler and to respect their limited memory and time resources. Additionally I got to know some remote development and debugging tools as well as graphical user interfaces for PLC controlled machines. |