“Low-Code Development for PLCs: A Graphical Programming Interface for Quick Mastery in 3 Days!”
For those in industrial control, are you still struggling with PLC programming? Writing more code than you have hair, and debugging more frequently than a delivery driver? Today, we won’t talk about code; instead, let’s discuss how to master PLCs with “foolproof operations”!
▶ Hard Lessons Learned
Last week, I went to a car parts factory to troubleshoot, and it was both funny and frustrating—an experienced operator was scratching his head in front of the control cabinet: “I’ve modified this code three times, why is the motor still acting up?” Upon closer inspection, I found that the contacts and coils in the ladder diagram were tangled like a ball of yarn! The result? Six hours of downtime and a loss of 200,000! If only we had used graphical programming…
▶ A Paradigm Shift
Who says programming must involve typing code? Even my daughter is using Scratch to create animations! The PLC world has also introduced an “industrial version of LEGO”:
1️⃣ Ladder Diagram: Circuit diagrams instantly become building blocks, even old electricians can assemble them with their eyes closed.
2️⃣ Function Blocks: PID control can be directly dragged as modules, with parameters adjusted like setting the brightness on a phone.
3️⃣ Flowcharts: Production processes are visualized like a connect-the-dots game, making device logic understandable for beginners.
▶ A Beginner’s Guide (A Must-Read for the Clumsy)
Select a Template: Robotic arm? Conveyor belt? Just apply a ready-made solution.
Drag Components: Icons for motors and sensors can be directly dragged onto the canvas.
Connect Wires: A few mouse strokes automatically generate signal flows.
Set Parameters: Inputting numbers is easier than ordering takeout.
No need to write a single line of code; the system automatically generates ST language—it’s like using a photo editing app!
▶ Practical Comparison (The Savings Are Real Money)
The food factory I visited last week was even more impressive—the operator used the graphical interface to adjust the packaging machine parameters faster than our engineers! The factory manager exclaimed: “If we had used this earlier, the downtime savings from last year would have been enough to buy a Tesla!”
❗ Pitfall Warning
Don’t think that graphical programming equals unprofessional! An engineer at a certain factory tried to show off with complex logic, resulting in the equipment performing a mechanical dance…
Beware of the “copy-paste mentality”! A certain project directly applied a template without adapting to the working conditions, turning the conveyor belt into a “throwing goods maniac”.
√ Golden Rule: Simulate before going live! Have you heard of Siemens TIA Portal’s virtual PLC feature?
Is your factory still:
☑️ Making engineers work late to modify code?
☑️ New employees afraid to touch the PLC after six months?
☑️ Every technical upgrade feels like opening a blind box?
At the end of the article, there’s a benefit: If likes exceed 100, I’ll send a “Graphical Programming Pitfall Manual” via private message! It includes a comparison table of graphical instructions for Mitsubishi/Siemens/domestic PLCs, teaching you step-by-step how to upgrade production lines with “drag and drop”!
Ending with a golden quote: When PLC programming becomes “building blocks”, engineers can finally lose a few strands of hair!