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Network Cabling Types: Knowing Your CAT Cables

Network Cabling Types: Knowing Your CAT Cables

The shift to Ethernet, and subsequently, Ethernet/IP technologies has taken the automation world by storm in recent years. Gone are the days of proprietary type network protocols such as Data Highway, Data Highway Plus, DirectNET, to name a few. Networking between automation controllers and IO is now largely accomplished by leveraging Ethernet technologies and its media.

As a automation engineer…

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10 Tips to Better PLC Programs

10 Tips to Better PLC Programs

In this article I’ll reveal 10 tips to writing better PLC programs. Over the years I’ve seen plenty of badly written and structured programs so I think it’s important that we get some discussion going around this topic.

So what are the 10 tips to better PLC programs? Let’s first run down the list and then later in the article I’ll provide a detailed explanation for each and why you should…

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Studio 5000 v29 Unknown Instruction Bug

Studio 5000 v29 Unknown Instruction Bug

I am writing this article, and lending it to PLCGurus.NET members and readers so that I can share my experience with a seemingly undocumented or variation on a supposedly corrected bug by Rockwell Automation in its Studio 5000 programming software (v29).

The bug renders built-in base instructions (i.e., XIC, XIO, OTE) appearing as UNKNOWN (UNK) in the logic editor. I should mention, before I…

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PureVPN End-Of-Year Blowout!

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C# HMI vs. Commercial HMI - Which One Is Best

C# HMI vs. Commercial HMI – Which One Is Best

In this article we are going to look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of developing your own custrom C# HMI versus going with a commercial-off-the-shelf system. One of the biggest advantages of using C# to develop your HMI is the ability to directly access your controller tag data directly. That means no middle-ware or OPC Server software will be needed to bridge the connections from…

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PLC Programming Languages - Which One Is Best?

PLC Programming Languages – Which One Is Best?

In this article we’ll take an in-depth look at the most popular PLC Programming Languages used today. IEC 61131-3 is the open international standard for programmable controllers. It was first published in December 1993 by the IEC(International Electrotechnical Commission). The third part of the standard defines three graphical and two textual PLC Programming Language styles, which is the topic of…

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1K Giveaway - FREE Raspberry Pi

1K Giveaway – FREE Raspberry Pi

Hi everyone Fred here at PLCGurus.NET! I wanted to let you know that this past year has been completely awesome! Our community in this short period of time has grown exponentially. To show my gratitude for your loyal support, I’ve decided to launch what I’m calling my “1K Giveaway – FREE Raspberry Pi” to help kick-start our YouTube Channel once we reach that coveted 1000 subscriber mark.

Not only…

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PID Loop Tuning Made Easy eBook

PID Loop Tuning Made Easy eBook

This eBook titled, “PID Loop Tuning Made Easy”, is an essential companion if you are tasked with tuning PID control loops. In this eBook I will walk you through a tried and tested method for quantitative PID loop controller tuning that is extremely easy to understand and apply in the field.

Here is a excerpt from the eBook:

TERMS OF USE, WARRANTY & LIABILITY WAIVER

No Warranty This product is not…

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PLC Basics - The Definitive Guide for Logic Control

PLC Basics – The Definitive Guide for Logic Control

Targeting foundational Programmable Logic Controller (PLC Basics), this article will serve as a starting point for those individuals looking to enter into the fascinating world of PLCs, Automation and Control.

We are often discussing  more advanced topics here at PLCGurus.NET for the more seasoned programmers. This article aims to change that!

We want to create an entry point for all users. This…

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Best Laptops For PLC Programming

Best Laptops For PLC Programming

I’m often asked by students or fellow colleagues, what are the best laptops for PLC programming. I’ve been reluctant to do an article such as this due to the fact that technology changes at such a rapid rate. Couple this with the fact that just about every website on earth does product reviews on laptops (if you don’t believe do a quick Google search).

Before we get started I would like to…

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Subscribe To Our Magazine On Flipboard! View my Flipboard Magazine.

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What Is Industrial Control Systems Security?

What Is Industrial Control Systems Security?

In this article we take a closer look at what exactly Industrial Control Systems Security is and what it looks like in a modern “IIoT” and an “IT/OT” converged landscape. We all heard about the infamous Stuxnet when it was first uncovered back in 2010.

This malicious worm wreaked havoc on Iran’s nuclear program using Microsoft Windows operating systems as a catalyst to exploit vulnerabilities in…

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All PLC Wiring Symbols

Download complete library of professional AutoCAD IEC PLC Wiring Symbols on PLCGurus.NET today!

This package includes ALL the PLC Wiring Symbols you see available for individual sale here. Own all of them for almost a 50% savings off the individual block price. AutoCAD 2000 or later is required.

TERMS OF USE, WARRANTY & LIABILITY WAIVER

No Warranty This product is not warranted against any manufactured defect from date of purchase.

Guarantees No guarantees are given or implied to the product…

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N.O. Flow Switch

This is the IEC Symbol for a Normally Open (N.O.) Flow Switch. Commonly used in PLC wiring diagrams. AutoCAD 2000 or later is required.

TERMS OF USE, WARRANTY & LIABILITY WAIVER

No Warranty This product is not warranted against any manufactured defect from date of purchase.

Guarantees No guarantees are given or implied to the product efficiency, product performance and production or its…

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ControlLogix Integer To Hexadecimal String

ControlLogix Integer To Hexadecimal String

I was recently involved in a project that required me to convert a ControlLogix integer to hexadecimal string. The rationale behind a hexadecimal string representation was so it could be written as a hexadecimal fault code that correlated with the fault codes in the Rockwell user manual for the instruction(s) I was using.

The specific application involved the implementation of press safety “Metal…

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ControlLogix Integer To Hexadecimal String AOI

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Producer-Consumer Messaging eLab