Industrial automation has become an essential pillar of productivity and efficiency in the manufacturing sector.
Industrial automation is a key element in the modernisation of manufacturing processes and the management of industrial systems. However, the diversity of equipment and protocols in the industrial sector has long posed challenges in terms of interoperability and configuration. This is where IEC61131-3 comes in, a standard that has provided an effective solution to these problems. The IEC61131-3 standard has been implemented worldwide in an effort to standardise programming languages for industrial automation. This standard ensures that interface structures, languages and programme organisation are uniform. All the major PLC manufacturers offer IEC61131-3-oriented platforms.
In this article, we explore how a solution based on IEC61131-3 is particularly effective in simplifying the configuration of standard industrial protocols, by highlighting four key aspects: standardisation of programming languages, reduction of compatibility problems, intuitive interfaces and programming languages, and the possibility of reusing code.
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Standardisation of programming languages
One of the major benefits of IEC61131-3 is the standardisation of programming languages for industrial automation. The standard defines a set of common programming languages, including ladder language, contact diagram language, instruction list language, structured text language and graphical sequential language. This standardisation allows engineers and programmers to use a consistent set of programming tools, regardless of the manufacturer of the PLC being used. This greatly simplifies the configuration and maintenance of automated systems, as professionals do not need to learn new programming languages every time they change equipment.
Reducing compatibility problems
Manufacturers are often faced with the problem of compatibility between different equipment and protocols. Before the widespread adoption of IEC61131-3, each manufacturer had its own specifications and communication protocols, which often made it difficult to integrate equipment from different suppliers. With the use of this standard, manufacturers are required to adhere to common programming and communication standards. The IEC61131-3 standard therefore promotes interoperability and facilitates the exchange of data and information between the different equipment and systems used.
Intuitive interfaces and programming languages
IEC61131-3 also encourages the development of intuitive user interfaces and user-friendly programming languages (FBD, LD and SFC are graphical programming languages). The development tools based on this standard are designed to be accessible to engineers and technicians, even if they are not programming experts. Graphical user interfaces simplify the configuration of PLCs and allow users to clearly visualise processes in progress. In addition, structured and text-based programming languages offer greater flexibility for the creation of complex control logic.
Code reusability
Finally, one of the most important benefits of the IEC61131-3 standard is the ability to reuse code. Programs developed in accordance with this standard are modular, which means that functions and blocks of code can be easily reused in different projects. Most publishers offer libraries of pre-developed and tested standard blocks with advanced features that you can reuse. This reuse of code speeds up the configuration process and reduces potential errors, because developers can rely on tried-and-tested software components.
In conclusion, a solution based on the IEC61131-3 standard offers many advantages for simplifying the configuration of standard industrial protocols. It promotes the standardisation of programming languages, reduces compatibility problems, offers intuitive programming languages and interfaces, and enables the efficient reuse of code. Thanks to these features, this standard plays a key role in improving the efficiency and reliability of automated systems in industry.
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