Learn Ladder Logic with a Costless Version of RSLogix 500 and RSEmulator 500

1 of my about mutual questions is, “Where can I become a free download of RSLogix 500?”  For whatsoever serious development with SLC500 or MicroLogix there is no free option only there is a overnice free option if you lot only want to learn and/or programme a MicroLogix chiliad or 1100.  Programming a MicroLogix is very very similar to programming a SLC500 or in that case a PLC5 too.Â

Allen Bradley offers every bit a costless download a software parcel chosen RSLogix Micro Starter Lite which is essentially the same programming environment as RSLogix 500.  On top of that, they also offer RSLogix Emulate for complimentary and then that you don’t even need a PLC to run and test your ladder logic.  Continue reading and I’ll show yous how to get the software and set information technology up.

Getting the Software

The RSLogix Micro Starter Lite software is only available as a download at http://www.ab.com/programmablecontrol/plc/micrologix/downloads.html.  If you are starting from scratch and do non have the RSLinx software and so download the kit bundled with RSLinx Classic Low-cal.  FYI, I detect information technology a bit disruptive simply they also sell software called RSLogix Micro Starter which supports the full MicroLogix range.

If yous practise not have a MicroLogix k or 1100 to play with and then download the RSLogix Emulate 500 software.  You’ll be able to use this to simulate a existent PLC.

Notation for Windows XP users:  The bundled version of RSLinx simply installs on Windows Pro and is non supported on Windows XP Home versions.  To get around this I downloaded an older version of RSLinx Lite 2.50 from the Allen Bradley software update page http://www.rockwellautomation.com/support/webupdates/

Once you’ve downloaded the software and extracted it then install RSLogix Micro followed by the RSLinx Classic Lite software.  Next, install the RSLogix Emulate 500 software.

First Steps with RSLinx

RSLinx is the software RSLogix will use to communicate with your PLC or in our case to the emulator.

Let’s beginning by running the RSLinx software under the START > All Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLinx > RSLinx Classic shortcut.  Follow these steps to set it up:

  1. Under the Communications menu select Configure Drivers.  Â
  2. Under the Available Drivers Types select the “SLC 500 (DH485) Emulator driver” and click the Add New… button.Â
  3. You lot can requite the commuter a proper name merely I just leave it at the default of EMU500-1.Â
  4. Leave the configuration options every bit Station Number 00 and click OK.

Your commuter should now be running and look like the picture below.

Configure Drivers

Ok, that’s ready to get.  Shut the Configure Drivers dialog box and close RSLinx.  Actually RSLinx is now running in the groundwork and you’ll probably see its little icon in the organization tray.

RSLogix Micro Starter Lite

Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for--- creating some ladder logic.  Open the RSLogix Micro software with the START > All Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLogix Micro English > RSLogix Micro English language shortcut.  Create a brand new project by pulling down the File menu and selecting New.  Every project must start with a designated processor.Â

RSLogix New Project

In my case I’ve chosen the simplest MicroLogix 1000 and so clicked the OK push.  FYI, if you ever work with the purchased version of RSLogix 500 so there will exist a lot more items in this hardware listing.  A bare project now opens upwards.

RSLogix Blank Project

Let’due south make a unproblematic rung to test in our emulator.  Make sure the cursor is on the rung with the END on it and so click the New Rung icon in the instruction toolbar.

RSLogix New Rung

At present click on the “Examine if Closed” RSLogix XIC education to add it to the rung.  Double click on the question mark to a higher place it and enter I:0/0 as its input address.  Simply exit the clarification pop upward box empty by clicking OK.

Next, click on the Output Energize RSLogix OTE instruction to add it to the right side of the rung.  Double click on the question mark above information technology and enter O:0/0 as its output address.  Just exit the clarification pop upwardly box empty by clicking OK.

You should at present have something like below.

RSLogix Add Instructions

The next very important stride is to verify the project with the Edit > Verify Project bill of fare item.  This volition compile the projection and get it prepare for the emulator.

RSLogix Verify Project

Save the project as something like Test.RSS in an easy place to find like My Documents.

RSEmulator 500

The emulator lets usa exam our work past running a virtual PLC.  We’ll be able to download our plan to it and run it in a very similar fashion to a real PLC.  Get-go the emulator with the Get-go > All Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLogix Emulate 500 > RSLogix Emulate 500 shortcut.   The emulator is pictured below.  I know.  Information technology doesn’t expect similar much but it gets the job done.

RSLogix 500 Emulator

Select File > Open and open up the RSLogix projection yous created before (I named mine Examination.RSS).  In the dialog box that pops up put the Station # equally 1 and click Ok.

Emulator Configure

Believe it or not but the emulator is now set up.  Leave information technology running and go back to your project in RSLogix Micro.

Testing the Ladder Logic

In RSLogix Micro Starter select the Comms > System Comms menu detail.  The following dialog box will pop up.

RSLogix Comms

In the left hand pane, drill down and select the “01, MicroLogix g, TEST” processor.  Yours might expect a little dissimilar if you selected different hardware or gave the processor a different name.  For good measure make sure Utilise to Project is checked and and so click on Download .  When prompted to become Online click on Yeah.

If successful you’ll run into the ladder flick spinning round on the online toolbar.  To scan the ladder logic put the processor into Run manner by clicking on the arrow to the right of manner status (REMOTE Programme).

RSLogix Online Toolbar

To test the ladder logic, modify the input state past right clicking on the accost and selecting toggle fleck.

RSLogix Toggle Bit

You will see the instruction become green indicating it is true and it volition make the output instruction plough green as well indicating the output is turned on.

That’s it!  You get all that for the cost of a download.  Now suspension out the manuals and start learning nearly all the different instructions.


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