How to Create PLC Logic with Excel
In the automation industry, we are always trying to find ways to make processes more efficient. Whether that is implementing batch control logic for a food and beverage manufacturer or designing reports to track system downtime in a pharmaceutical facility, efficiency is key. However, that is not just limited to the solutions in the field. In fact, we are actually able to simplify and automate the process of writing PLC code in certain cases.
In this blog you will learn how to mass produce Rockwell PLC ladder logic code, using Microsoft Excel. This is useful for generating repetitive logic, like I/O mapping and alarms but can be applied to any code that is repetitive in nature. In our example below we are going to generate an I/O buffer routine for our analog inputs. We will be starting with our I/O list and a custom AOI that ACE developed to allow us to scale and simulate input signals when we have the PLC on the bench. Let’s take a look at how this can be accomplished.