My 1st PLC program?

[jksteele]

Hi Everyone,
I recently purchased a DL05 PLC and the DirectSoft5 software to program it.   Ladder logic programming is new to me but I've managed to write a simple program to look for inputs and turn on outputs.  Just playing with it at this point.  I've had no success to incorporate timers to control the sequence.   We have not actually wired up the PLC to the hardware yet (other than input switches and powering the PLC). I have just been looking at the lights in the PLC.  Our electrician will hook up the outputs soon. I figure I could get a start on the program ahead of time.
The system will have two input switches to start the process wired into X0 and X1 and
will have three solenoids wired into Y0, Y1, and Y2 such that when the process starts,
Y0 will go on for 2 seconds, then off for 1 second.
Followed by Y1 on for 2 seconds and then off for 1 second.  
Finally Y2 will activate for 2 seconds and then stop.
Can anyone give me suggestions on how to get the timers to control the sequence?  Perhaps a program that is similar that I can download and modify and learn from?  The times are just guesses as I will have to tune it once the assembly is completed.
Thanks,
Jim
p.s. later I'll have to figure out the logic of the two start buttons so that they both have to be released before the sequence will start again for safety reasons.  I don't want someone holding down one of the buttons with tape or somethiing and using one button to start the process.

[b_carlton]

You've broken this down fairly well but let's try a little farther. At this point (and I know this sounds weird) ignore the outputs.

1. Process starts - start timer 1 (2 seconds)
2. Timer 1 done - start timer 2 (1 second)
3. Timer 2 done - start timer 3 (2 seconds)
4. Timer 3 done - start timer 4 (1 second)
5. Timer 4 done - start timer 5 (2 seconds)
6. Timer 5 done - stop process

Now we identify the outputs:

Step 1 - Y0 on
Step 3 - Y1 on
Step 5 - Y2 on

Now about timers and their presets:

They can have a constant preset - identified by a 'K' - this can only be modified by changing and redownlaoding the program. But you can be assured that it will ALWAYS be the value given.

Or the timer can have a variable preset which is stored in a 'V' memory location. This is easier to change while running. You may want to use this while testing but then set as 'K' values when you have absolutely correct values.

[jksteele]

Thanks Carlton, using the v registers to change the values of the timers on the fly will deninately make it easier to tune in the timing of the program.  Once I get the correct numbers, change back to the K's to make them perminant.  Right now the program appears to run the 1st timer OK but the others are not linked correctly and sust count forever with out reseting or  turning out the outputs.  In need to work on the program logic some more to get things right -- jim

[b_carlton]

To get more specific help you can show others what you have done. You can go to 'File - Export - Program'. This lets you send a text version of your program out to a TXT file. Then you can cut from that file and paste it into a posting either here or on the AutomationDirect site (where I see you have also posted). People can see what you have done and give suggestions, perhaps in the form of a similar text posting. You could then cut and paste into a TXT file then, from DirectSoft use the 'File - Import' function to bring the posting into a new program.

[DSTAUF]

I'm also working on my first program. I did get the DVD trainer from InterConnecting Automation and it was very helpful in learning the basics.

[Vernon Leeper]

Hey all first time for me here at this forum.
 I too just finished an actual working program for a vacuum former at work. I used a DV-1000 for the opperator interface, DL05-AR PLC, real simple? No not really, I had a hard time figuring out the DV-1000 to get it right but, it works and I think it will do for this application. I did 2 programs, first it was the relay logic, then I went with the RLLplus, that was really cool and a whole lot less lines to program. I have had the pleasure to attend a class at AutomationDirect given by Mr. Bell, I sugest that if anyone can, they should attend both of His classes, it is worth the money. I am currantley working on another program that will include a rotary flow transcucer, this will be interestng. So look for me posting annoying queston on this matter.........what have I gotten myself into?
Vern.

[72hdflh]

I agree, Doug Bell puts on an extremely good class. The DV1000 is an interesting little piece of hardware, I have never completely figured it out. I used a couple of them and was able to make it do what I absolutely needed it to do, I would have liked it to do more but I didn't have the time to get it going and just never got back to it. Now with the C-more micro I will probably never use another one.

[Vernon Leeper]

I think for the next project that I will use a C-more panle. I down loaded the demo software to check it out and to see how the smulations work, I found that it wll be much easer to do this then to program a hundred lines of code like you have to with the DV-1000. Besides, I think the 1000 is already a thing in the past for ADC, they still can help you out with it but, as far as anything else goes with the unit not sure how much if any support will be given. So yeah, a C-more is in the works along with the next prject.