Did you know you can use a $5 microcontroller to start learning PLC programming?

@lemastertech

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Open PLC

Why it worked

The video addresses a common pain point for aspiring engineers and hobbyists: the high cost of industrial automation equipment. By offering a free and affordable alternative using readily available hardware and software, it provides significant value and practical learning opportunities.

Summary

This video demonstrates how to learn PLC programming using affordable microcontrollers like Arduino Nano and free software like Open PLC. It highlights the cost barrier of industrial PLCs and offers a budget-friendly alternative for learning automation and control engineering skills.

Structure

1Introduce the concept of learning PLC programming with affordable hardware.
2Explain the high cost of traditional industrial PLCs and software.
3Showcase the Arduino Nano and Open PLC software as a free alternative.
4Demonstrate the setup and programming interface.
5

Original caption

How to Program an Arduino Like a PLC! #arduino #electronics #engineering #automation #learning

More from @lemastertech

Product placement

Siemens: ACTS - it is an industrial programmable logic controller (PLC) that is programmed to control automation systems. Removing it would change what happens in the video. Arduino Nano: ACTS - it is a microcontroller board used for learning to program PLCs. Removing it would change what happens in the video. Open PLC: ACTS - it is free software used to program PLCs. Removing it would change what happens in the video. Finder Opta: ACTS - it is a PLC module that can be programmed. Removing it would change what happens in the video.

Transcript

Did you know you can use a $5 microcontroller to start learning PLC programming? I'm an industrial automation and controls engineer, which means I spend a lot of time programming on one of these PLCs or programmable logic controllers. PLCs go in industrial control cabinets and use special programming languages to control them, meant just for this industry. The reason more people don't have these skill sets is because the hardware and the software in intended for industry are gated sometimes by thousands of dollars price tags. And then the licensing for the software is very pricey. You can use an ESP32, a microcontroller, or an Arduino Nano or other comparable very affordable microcontroller to start learning how to program in these PLC languages using a cool free software called Open PLC from a company called Autonomy. Because they're industrially hardened and coming from industry giants, even the affordable line of PLCs from manufacturers like Siemens tend to rack up a few hundred dollars price tag, and then the licensing for the software. But this is an awesome free super affordable way to start learning these programming languages like ladder or structured text on a $5 microcontroller. The only thing to keep in mind if you start learning to program on a microcontroller is its own beast with DIN rail and terminal strips and things that are a bit larger in scale than microcontroller wiring is typically. But this is an awesome free super affordable way to start learning these programming languages. The PLC programming languages like ladder or structured text on a $5 microcontroller.