PLC Core Concepts
What You'll Learn
Explain the PLC scan cycle
Understand exactly how the PLC reads inputs, executes your program, and writes outputs and why a fast conveyor sensor can fool a slow scan.
IEC 61131-3 programming languages
Ladder, Structured Text, Function Block, Sequential Function Chart, Instruction List. Know when each one is the right tool for the job.
Organize code into modular structures
Routines, Add-On Instructions, Function Blocks the patterns that keep large PLC programs readable and maintainable by the next person.
Use the right data types
BOOL, INT, DINT, REAL, STRING and avoid the overflow bugs and decimal truncation errors that quietly break real production code.
Configure timers correctly
TON, TOF, TP when each one applies and how to avoid the common seal-in and debounce mistakes that every beginner makes at least once.
Implement counters for real applications
Part counting, batch tracking, reject monitoring the CTU and CTD patterns that show up on almost every machine in the field.
Read and write Ladder Diagram
If you can't read Ladder, you can't troubleshoot real equipment. This covers it properly.
Understand PLC hardware architecture
CPU, I/O chassis, backplane, power supply how the physical hardware relates to the program you're writing inside it.
