6/2/2023 0 Comments Raspberry pi vs arduinoWhile these products are often grouped together when talking about DIY electronics and alternatives to PLCs, they are quite different from each other. But can either of them really replace a PLC? Can Raspberry Pi or Arduino Replace a PLC? With Raspberry Pi single-board computer running just under $40 and Arduino coming in at around $20, these can give inventors the financial freedom they need to experiment. This is what makes consumer products like Raspberry Pi and Arduino attractive to many. Moreover, PLCs need a high level of technical skill just to get started. A PLC can cost several hundred or even thousands of dollars to purchase. However, one of the biggest barriers for most freelance inventors and makers is the prohibitive cost. With a little imagination, it is easy to see how many applications a PLC could make possible. This can make using a PLC difficult for new users. Also, a programming language, just like with any other language, can have different ways to say the same thing. The exact programming language used to control a PLC can be harder to nail down as there are variations between manufacturers. When you set the heating system to 70°, the PLC is what tells the system to shut off when the temperature rises or turn on when it drops. A simple example of how a PLC works in an everyday product is its role in controlling temperature in a home’s digitized heating and cooling system. PLCs commonly work on “ladder logic,” which allows them to be programmed in such a way that if a specific event occurs, then that will trigger a response. However, PLCs are not exclusively for industrial plants, and they can be found in different forms in many industries and common products including washing machines, HVAC systems, stoplights, and elevators. That computer will have an application installed that can program the PLC. When used in an industrial setting, the PLC is housed inside a control panel and connected via Ethernet or USB to a laptop or desktop computer. PLCs can automate everything from one single process all the way up to a whole production line. Instead, it only has the parts necessary to perform specific functions for industrial automation purposes. What are PLCs Exactly?Īs a beginning definition, a PLC is a kind of simplified computer that does not have a screen, keyboard, or many of the other components that would be part of a typical PC. Industrial PLCs and their consumer product counterparts are key to helping makers of all levels of expertise bring their ideas and inventions to life. Not only have more affordable alternatives to traditional PLCs like Raspberry Pi and Arduino become available, there has been a rise of maker communities for novices and also a growing demand for experts in the robotic process automation market. That, however has changed as the maker movement, an offshoot of the DIY trend, has gained traction. Until recently, these digital mainstays were almost exclusively in the domain of people working directly in the service and manufacturing industries. Programmable logic controllers are one of the wizards behind the curtain of industrial automation.
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