Hello everyone, recently many friends have left messages asking, what are the best methods to quickly learn PLC programming? This is a very good question. As the saying goes, “To do a good job, one must first sharpen their tools; sharpening the knife does not delay the work of chopping wood.” A good learning method can indeed help you achieve twice the result with half the effort in a short time. Today’s sharing is very important, and if you master the tricks within, you can avoid 10 years of detours in electrical PLC programming.
In the process of learning PLC, there are actually two methods:
First, let’s look at the method that most people use: learning the basic knowledge and instructions from books first, and only after mastering them do they start projects. Reflect on whether you are using this method to learn. Today, I want to point out that this learning method has its drawbacks:
1. There is a lot of knowledge in books, and some authors write thick and complex books to showcase their depth and breadth of knowledge. In fact, there is a lot of theoretical knowledge that is not needed, and it takes a long time to learn all the knowledge and programming instructions. This often leads many friends to give up before finishing the book.
2. If you are diligent enough to finish all the knowledge, when you encounter actual engineering projects, you will find that you still cannot complete the projects. (Tears here) When faced with actual programming, you may feel lost and panicked, unable to construct a real programming thought process, which means it is still ineffective.
So what should we do at this point? When in difficulty, change; when you change, you will find a way; when you find a way, it will last. Let’s adopt a smarter method. Learning has its steps, and the correct learning method can be divided into three steps. Mastering the following learning method will help you avoid many detours.
Step 1: First, learn the core basic knowledge and instructions. The word core is very important; it has run through my 10-year career. This means learning the instructions that are frequently used first, which is the meaning of core instructions. You should thoroughly understand and master these core instructions. For non-core instructions that are not frequently used, I will later teach you how to look up programming manuals to learn selectively.
Step 2: Learn the framework of programming thinking. This is my specialty. When you receive a project, what should you do first? Many people rush to start programming, which is often the wrong start. Usually, friends who start programming right away encounter complex projects and find it increasingly difficult, often forgetting what they wrote. If you use framework thinking, you will find that the first step in handling a project is to clarify the entire project’s thought process, and the more detailed and accurate the project is organized, the better:
How to construct programming thinking? How to translate thoughts into PLC language? By applying framework thinking in programming, you can quickly find your thoughts during programming, and the programs you write will flow smoothly, making it easier to debug and modify later. I have detailed explanations about the framework thinking programming method in the article below; everyone must check it out, as it is of great value:
The Core Secrets of PLC Programming: Directly Apply This Method to Quickly Become an Expert
Step 3: Learn real case programs. In my ten years of PLC programming, I have summarized all PLC case models, totaling six types:
Type 1: Process control programs. For example, PLC controls the up and down, left and right movements of a robotic arm in a specific sequence.
Type 2: PLC control of stepper servo motor positioning programs. I have summarized models for this type, and learning it is very simple.
Type 3: PLC control of temperature, pressure, flow, and other analog programs. This involves the use of AD/DA modules and transmitters, as well as calculations and conversions. I have carefully summarized them into a whole, making it simple and easy to operate.
Type 4: MODBUS communication and 485 communication programs. For example, PLC controls the frequency of a frequency converter, which can be adjusted through MODBUS communication. Many industrial modules use MODBUS communication, so this content is very important. However, these contents have fixed formats, and I have provided comprehensive explanations of the communication formats and knowledge, so everyone can easily handle it by directly applying the fixed format.
Type 5: PID control, i.e., precise PLC control. Some friends see PID and think, wow, this is too difficult! In fact, as long as you master the correct learning method, it is really not difficult at all.
Type 6: Comprehensive type. This combines the five types mentioned above. What is a complex project? A complex project is one that integrates the five seemingly simple programs.
If everyone wants to systematically learn PLC, you can quickly master it in less than a month. For details, please refer to my article:
The Core Secrets of PLC Programming: Directly Apply This Method to Quickly Become an Expert
Everyone must check it out. By mastering the correct learning methods, framework thinking programming methods, and the six types of PLC program models I summarized, you will be able to tackle 90% of the projects in the market with ease.
Finally, I wish all friends striving in the field of electrical automation PLC success soon.
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