how and what program do i need to do the programming the arduino mega board with Ladder diagram. i whant to programe with blocks with switshes and outputs and timers and stuff. please send tips of a program that i can download that is working. i have test the Waltech Ladder Maker. but i dont get that to work with the arduino board.
send also link to underha@online.no
best regard Svein R.
Is this for some course? If not use C++
Why do you need that? If it is for young kids, why not use something like Lego Mindstorm or Fishertechnik?
If it's for you get yourself a nice book and start learning C. There really is no substitute for actual coding.
Guys - he's talking about Ladder Logic, used mainly in industrial control systems:
That said, OP - just google a bit on "Ladder Logic Arduino" and "PLC Arduino" - you should find some information; there have been a few implementations of this kind of system. It might be enough to learn with, but I wouldn't trust a critical industrial operation with any of them just yet (that, and the Arduino by default isn't designed for the voltages of regular PLC modules).
Hmm,
i whant to programe with blocks with switshes and outputs and timers and stuff.
After reading that, in my mind I had a picture of a software where you would drag a box with a picture of a button, a box with a picture of a motor, connect them with a line and then when you pushed the button, the motor would turn (provided you hooked the stuff up correctly).
yes industry programming. in ladder. and yes as you say drag bloks with the pictures of switch and outputs. can you send me a tips of a program. a limk to a website.
Hello underha,
I know exactly what you are trying. I am also looking for same thing.
A ladder logic software (programmer) that would load the needed C+ code into Arduino Mega 2560 boards is what I am looking for also.
It is not about "showing who is best and know coding", it is about making life easier to be able to apply nice / low cost hardware like arduino microcontrollers in industrial/ automation applications.
I have done some programming myself in ladder back in the -90 when I was working in that field and the ladder logic is the easiest way of thinking "logic" when it comes to simple inputs from switches and outputs to relays for automation in industrial fields.
Using just C+ for such applications, would not work. You cannot keep track of what you have done in just using C+ if you have a industrial plant with, lets say 100 pcs of different switches and relays on the I/O's
You C+ programmes can try it. All Siemens Simatic industrial PLC's as well as other brands are not using C+ for such applications.
Myself I have tried to google and find suitable, easy setup, easy to use ladder logic software / programming software for loading to arduino mega 2560 board, and here are a few of what I found: soapbox, waltech ladder maker, these are both free but I have not yet been able to install and use them.
Me too are open for suggestions of the best on market for ladder programming, I am even prepared to pay for a software if it works fine.
fintek:
Using just C+ for such applications, would not work. You cannot keep track of what you have done in just using C+ if you have a industrial plant with, lets say 100 pcs of different switches and relays on the I/O's
You C+ programmes can try it. All Siemens Simatic industrial PLC's as well as other brands are not using C+ for such applications.
First of all it is C++, not C+. And would you care to expand on why I can't keep up with all those things? If I coded them to happen then I most certainly keep up with the states of any number of things. That's actually fairly trivial.
Moreover, I'm willing to bet that most of the programs you use to write ladder are actually themselves written in C. So if it can't be done with C, it can't be done in ladder either.
I'd try to get the waltech ladder maker working. I think that's your best chance.
http://soapboxautomation.com/support-2/soapbox-snap-tutorial/soapbox-snap-arduino-tutorial/
Try this.
It is pretty cool. you will have to do some work getting it all set up but so far it seems to be a pretty functional environment.
IMHO ladder logic sacrifices some of the great flexibility inherent in the arduino for simplicity of basic programming.
I am not yet sure if this programming environment supports additional libraries...
for example ultrasonic proximity libraries....
also because of the required pre installation of sketches on the arduino, this comes with some memory overhead....
5 months ago I was thinking the same thing. The main difference between a arduino and a industrial controller is the code can not be checked or edited live on the arduino. (they do have a arduino emulator so that's a plus)
I was told to learn C++ to improve my programming in ladder logic and in the beginning I hated C++. Now im looking at ladder logic and all I see is the huge amount of memory and resources im wasting.
If you do decide to learn C++ you already understand process flow and a whole bunch of other things that will make programming easy. Serial.print will always be a frustrating way to troubleshoot but you will get use to it.
I have never seen a graphical programming system that was suitable for any practical task, even very simple ones.
They're not even good for teaching aids, because they teach people how to do it wrong, and they're so limited, that to get satisfying results, you always end up writing real code.
Imo, every minute you waste on graphical programming is one you could have spent learning about C, which brings you closer to doing something useful.
Seems like a lot of emotions here...WOW!!
I've done both over the past 25+ years, C(++), Borland, OS2 Citrix to AB & TI handheld programming terminals to full blown AB ControLogix Systems of over 100 PLCs with aprox. 15,000 I/O points and in the end over thousands of lines of code. (If that wasn't real code, it may be time to expand horizons...)
Now, it is inevitable that some will reply and say "I can do that in C++ and make it faster, better, stronger , etc", and it is absolutely true, maybe. But the cost to implement in hardware alone and time to market will eat your lunch.
PLCs are designed to work in harsh industrial environments that would typically cripple PCs internal components. So in the end, the answer is use what works for your application.
So not to belabor this point as one can only assume that this professional environment is here to help others live an learn....
Give the Waltech guys a shot. (Soapbox is really quirky and crashes pretty consistently).
Word of caution however - Keep in mind that after you dump it to the Arduino, the code gets converted so in the end you will still need a basic understanding of C(++), Python, etc. to make online edits.
Good luck whichever route you take....
I agree with mdeutch63. I know a lot of people who code in C++ look down on ladder logic with out even knowing what it is or how its used. It sounds like lazy coding and I guess it is.
if I went to a programmer and told them in 6 hours production plans to run to a different storage tank using a pipe they are now building can you program
all the safeties including a designated anti mix path via a valve matrix(15 valves)
write 2 pids for pump speed control and tank temperature
add all the tank sensors for level controls pressure controls to the new path.
add a graphics path to the screen plus all the displayed levels, pressures, flow rate and temperature's
add extra programming for the cip (clean up) so we can clean the new line which means messaging across processors
have it ready to test in 5 hours as we will have to test and cip everything before we start the transfer.
and as a kicker don't upload the code just add it online with out crashing the processor
which program would you prefer to use the simple kiddys version where you drag and drop blocks of code or C++
I have been using both LD-MICRO, Waltech Ladder Maker, and SoapBox LD-Micro is nice very straight forward, but a bit clunky, WalTech So far has been a great program, SoapBox I just cannot keep it from crashing... There are a great many of us in Building Automation, Industrial Automation and Energy Systems with Electrical & PLC programming backgrounds, true "coders" may look down on how we electrical guys program... but we are the programmers that are creating things and making machines work every day in systems that have to be quickly flexible in harsh environments, that being said, I am learning this type of programming which is similar in our world (industrial, electrical) to sequential function text. I however like the simplicity and speed of ladder logic as it a logic language we use everyday and crosses over quickly from hardware (relay logic) to software (ladder Logic).
Not that one is better than the other, just different.
can u help me to learn about this and to use this prog
15khairy_gamal:
can u help me to learn about this and to use this prog
Are you asking the person that posted 4 years ago? What makes you think they are reading it now?
Shpaget:
Why do you need that? If it is for young kids, why not use something like Lego Mindstorm or Fishertechnik?
If it's for you get yourself a nice book and start learning C. There really is no substitute for actual coding.
What book would you recommend?
Leoaven:
What book would you recommend?
You do realize you're responding to a 6 years old post, right?