EST 250 - Programmable Logic Controllers

Credits: 5
LEC hours per week: 4
LAB hours per week: 2
Students will begin to gain an understanding of terminology, components, programming, interfacing and operation of PLC controls. Then, the course turns to more advanced skills by describing PLC orientation, operations, programming languages, and integrated architecture. It covers PLC programming, PLC memory organization, PLC programming software and PLC program analysis. This course also focuses on troubleshooting by discussing levels of troubleshooting in PLC systems, power supplies, and inputs/outputs. Skills also discussed include event sequencing, application development, program control instructions, and math ad data move instructions. Integrated architecture is convergence of control and information for plant-wide optimization and builder performance. Integrated architecture delivers plant wide optimization, machine builder performance, and sustainable production and serves as a foundation to help you improve productivity with better asset utilization and system performance, promote globalization with easy access to actionable, plant-wide information, support sustainability with extended product life cycles and better asset utilization, and cultivate innovation with increased system flexibility and technical risk mitigation.
Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or higher in EST 133.
Recommended: CS 100 or CS 110.
Course Outcomes:

Identify components that make-up a PLC system.
Demonstrate knowledge of related vocabulary used in industry for PLCs.
Demonstrate ability to write a simple PLC program, wire and run project for operation.
Show ability to program discrete, timer, counter, and sequence operations.
Troubleshoot operating machinery using a PLC and DMM.
Demonstrate understanding by converting electro-mechanical to PLC to operate the load.
Discuss workplace safety, personal protective equipment, best work practices and general safety.
Use hand and power tools safely. Show others how to use the tools correctly and safely.
Program discrete, timer, counter, and sequence operations.
Describe types of communication operation and control loops used in PLC.
Describe integrated architecture and the benefits to plant operations.

Course Topics:

Troubleshoot an ethernet/IP network
Process orientation
Process operation
PLC Programming languages
PLC Programming
Integrated architecture
SCADA
Data logging
Ethernet and wireless communications
Control Net
Device Net
Process Control