Advancing PLC Career Skills with RSLogix 5000 Software

Learning to program the most powerful PLCs is an incredibly interesting and profitable skill to have, but it does come with challenges. The platforms can be complex and expensive, and the training software can be difficult to find. If you can learn the basics of an Allen Bradley PLC, you will gain valuable transferable skills that are highly sought after which can be applied to other platforms. 

Luckily, our PLC Technician Program uses simulation software that mimics the Allen Bradley PLC, allowing students to gain essential programming skills. 

An Overview of the Allen Bradley PLC

Allen Bradley is a leading manufacturer of PLCs and are used frequently in factories across North America. They design, develop, and install their own line of PLCs, with the most commonly known platforms being MicroLogix, CompactLogix and ControlLogix. There are several software packages that can be used to program an Allen Bradley PLC, including RSLogix 5, 500, 5000, Studio 5000, Connected Components Workbench.

All tools allow for a technician to use different languages within the software including ladder logic, structured text, sequential function charts and function blocks.  But if the software is too expensive, or you’re having difficulty learning on your own, what are your options?

The Software We Use 

The PLCLogix 5000 software that’s used in our PLC Technician II training program mimics the software that you’d find in the Allen Bradley ControlLogix controller and the Studio 5000/Rockwell RSLogix 5000 software. The simulation software consists of 250 pre-built lab projects and helps you  develop your programming skills, writing, testing skills. You can also learn how to de-bug PLC programs and the software allows you to practice programming skills by converting your computer into a fully functioning PLC.

You can gain hands-on experience with PLCs with 3D simulated environments, which prepare you for real-world applications. You can also practice creating your own ladder logic programs using tag-based memory. When a PLC is programmed incorrectly, it can create unsafe conditions and unnecessary complications that could have been avoided. Using simulation software is the best way to get comfortable with programming PLCs and keeping your skills fresh. 

Understanding the Simulation Software

Let’s talk about how to use this software. The PLCLogix 5000 simulator software includes an incredibly intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) that is of very high caliber. It includes a graphic control organizer and point-and-click method of configuring various I/O while also featuring sophisticated data handling. This software also provides maximum flexibility through its structure. The interface displays the ladder logic, controller organizer, I/O chassis and range of control panels. As mentioned before, it also includes pre-built lab projects and it contains interactive 3D animations that simulate a range of manufacturing and service applications. 

When you first start the software, you can open up one of our 250 prebuilt lab projects. You can also create your own project by entering a unique name in the prompt provided, choosing where you would like to save the file. Once you’ve decided on your project, you’ll click “OK,” which will take you to a blank ladder logic project. There, you can begin adding rungs and populating the ladder logic program with the given instructions. Since this software emulates the Studio 5000/RSLogix 5000, you can create ladder diagrams using tag-based addressing and by utilizing any of our ten interactive environments available. The interactive environments we offer include, but are not limited to,” Batch Processing,” “Moving Car Wash,” “Elevator,” and “Traffic Lights.” We refer to these environments as 3D Worlds since they’re animated models of real-world applications where you would use PLC programming. 

PLC Logix 5000 also includes a extensive instruction set of over 70 commands. The Instruction set consists of the following groups of commands: Bit Instructions, Timers & Counter Instructions, Program Controls. Advanced Math, Data handling, Array/Shift, Sequencer and Communication Instructions.

Use Simulation Software to Gain Experience 

The PLCLogix simulation software offered by George Brown College is a great way to get started with some of the most popular PLC programs. If you want to advance your PLC programming skills, but you’re finding it difficult to learn on your own, finding a program that guides you through the process might be the best option. Learning through simulation software prepares you for real-world applications and offers skills that wouldn’t be possible to gain without expert help. 

Would you like to know more about our PLC programs and how you can kick off or continue your career with PLCs,? Please contact us! You can speak to a Program Consultant toll-free at 1 888-553-5333 or email us at [email protected].