Ladder Logic and Ladder

Simulation
Nimsiri Abhayasinghe

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History of Ladder Diagrams
Ladder diagrams began with electrical
control circuits
PLCs replaced electrical control circuits
Ladder logic is still used in PLCs

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 Ladder Diagrams

Power rail

Ground
rail

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Basic Symbols Used in Ladder
Diagrams
Contacts and Switches

Normally Open Normally Closed

Contacts

Push Button Switches

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Basic Symbols Used in Ladder
Diagrams
Output Coils

Coils

Indicators

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Ladder Logic

AND

OR

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Examples
1. Output should go on when the input
push button is pressed, and will go off
when push button is released.

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Examples
2. When the ON push button switch is pressed,
output (say light) should go on, and should not turn
off though the ON switch is released. Output will go
off when the OFF button is pressed.

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Examples
3. Draw the ladder diagram
to drive the cylinder back
and forth continuously.
4. Now modify your ladder
diagram to start the
movement when
START push button
switch is pressed and to
stop the motion when
the STOP push button
switch is pressed.
Hint: you can use memory bits

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Exercise 1

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Timers
On-Delay Timer

PT Preset Time

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Timers
Off-Delay Timer

PT Preset Time

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Counters
Up Counter

At edges of count - up clock

input counter counts up from zero.
If Current value Preset value
Counter bit 1

PV Preset Value
R Reset
CU Count-up input

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Counters
Down Counter

At edges of count - down clock

input counter counts down from PV.
When Current value 0
Counter bit 1

PV Preset Value
LD Load
CD Count-down input

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Example
5. A lamp should go on 5 seconds after
turning an input on.
6. Turn an output on after 5 objects pass a
sensor.
7. Turn an output on when a switch is
turned on and the output will have to go
off after 5 s while the switch remains on.

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Exercise 2
Figure show a schematic of a paint mixer. When the Start button is
pushed, if the bucket is kept on the bucket holder, it should move
inside and shake the bucket for 10 s inside the chamber and then move
out and stop. Place sensors appropriately.

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Simulation Software
Festo FluidSIM
LOGO!Soft Comfort

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