TryPLC Blog — PLC programming, robotics and industrial protocols
In-depth technical guides on IEC 61131-3 Structured Text, PLC hardware, industrial communication protocols, motion control and automation careers — written by practising automation engineers. 40 articles.
HMI Programming Guide: Screens, Alarms, and Tag Mapping That Operators Actually Trust
A practical, vendor-neutral HMI programming guide covering screen hierarchy, ISA-101 layout, alarm management, and tag mapping between the PLC and the operator panel.
Best Online Training for PLC, Robotics, Industrial Communication, and Motion Control in 2026
A 2026 ranked guide to the best online platforms for learning PLC programming, industrial robotics, communication protocols, and motion control — written by practicing automation engineers.
PLC Safety Programming: SIL-Rated Logic & Safety Function Blocks in Structured Text
Design SIL-rated safety logic in Structured Text — covering dual-channel monitoring, safe shutdown sequences, diagnostic coverage, and IEC 62061 / IEC 61508 compliance patterns.
PLC Network Communication: Modbus TCP & EtherNet/IP in Structured Text
Connect PLCs to sensors, drives, and SCADA systems over industrial Ethernet — with production-grade Modbus TCP and EtherNet/IP implementations in Structured Text.
PLC Program Organization Units: Structuring Code That Scales — IEC 61131-3 Best Practices
Stop writing monolithic PLC programs. Learn the IEC 61131-3 POU architecture — when to use PROGRAM vs FUNCTION vs FUNCTION_BLOCK, and how to structure projects that scale from 10 I/O to 10,000.
PLC Error Handling & Exception Management: Building Fault-Tolerant Structured Text
PLCs don't have try/catch — so how do you handle errors? Build fault-tolerant automation with defensive coding patterns, hierarchical fault propagation, and graceful degradation strategies.
PLC Data Logging & Historian Integration: CSV, Ring Buffers & Time-Series in Structured Text
Build production-grade data logging directly in your PLC — ring buffers, timestamped CSV records, event-triggered snapshots, and historian integration patterns in Structured Text.
PLC Object-Oriented Programming: Methods, Interfaces & Inheritance in Structured Text
Modern PLCs support OOP — and it changes everything. Learn how methods, interfaces, inheritance, and polymorphism let you build automation libraries that scale across machines and projects.
PLC Power-Up Initialization & Startup Sequences: Safe Boot Logic in Structured Text
What happens in the first 5 seconds after power-up determines whether your machine starts safely or damages itself. Build bulletproof PLC initialization sequences with proven Structured Text patterns.
PLC Cybersecurity & IEC 62443: Protecting Industrial Networks in the Connected Age
Your PLC is now on the network — and attackers know it. Learn IEC 62443 defense-in-depth, zone segmentation, access control patterns, and how to write Structured Text that resists tampering.
PLC Troubleshooting & Debugging: Systematic Techniques for Structured Text
Stop randomly changing code and hoping it works. Learn the systematic debugging techniques that experienced PLC programmers use — from watch tables and force tables to state machine tracing and online monitoring.
PLC Energy Management: Power Monitoring, Load Shedding & Demand Control in Structured Text
Electricity is your factory's second-largest cost. Build PLC-based energy management with power monitoring, intelligent load shedding, demand prediction, and ISO 50001 KPI tracking in Structured Text.
PLC Packaging Machine Programming: Cam Sequencing, Reject Systems & OEE in Structured Text
High-speed packaging demands precise timing, reliable product tracking, and zero-tolerance reject systems. Build production-grade packaging machine logic with cam sequencing, tracking arrays, and real-time OEE in Structured Text.
Understanding EDS & XML Device Files: Configuring PLCs and Field Devices
Every time you add a drive, sensor, or I/O module to your PLC network, you need a device file. Learn what EDS, GSD, GSDML, and IODD files are, how to read them, and how they configure your fieldbus devices.
PLC Serial Communication: RS232, RS485, Modbus RTU/TCP & Communication Layers Explained
Understand PLC serial communication from the physical wire up — RS232 vs RS485, TX/RX data flow, Modbus RTU vs TCP framing, and the 7-layer OSI model mapped to industrial protocols.
PLC PROFINET IO Configuration: GSDML Files, IO Devices & Structured Text Data Exchange
Configure PROFINET IO devices from scratch — understand GSDML files, slot/subslot mapping, IO data exchange, and diagnostic handling in Structured Text.
ISA-88 Batch Control & Recipe Management in Structured Text: Complete Implementation Guide
Build a complete ISA-88 batch control system — from recipe parameter tables and procedural state machines to unit allocation and phase logic in Structured Text.
PLC Water Treatment & SCADA Integration: Complete Structured Text Programming Guide
Build a water treatment control system from intake to distribution — with pump sequencing, chemical dosing PID loops, filter backwash logic, and SCADA integration in Structured Text.
PLC Conveyor Sorting System: Complete Structured Text Tutorial with Sensor Logic & Diverter Control
Program a multi-lane conveyor sorting system from scratch — with photoelectric sensor logic, product tracking arrays, pneumatic diverter timing, and reject bin management in Structured Text.
PLC HVAC & Building Automation: Complete Structured Text Programming Guide
Build a complete HVAC building automation system — with AHU damper control, VAV zone logic, chiller plant sequencing, occupancy-based scheduling, and energy optimization in Structured Text.
PLC CIP (Clean-in-Place) Systems for Food & Beverage: Structured Text Programming Guide
Implement a complete CIP clean-in-place system — with multi-step wash sequences, chemical concentration control, temperature/flow validation, and regulatory compliance logging in Structured Text.
PLC Motion Control & Servo Programming: PLCopen Function Blocks in Structured Text
From enabling a servo axis to synchronized multi-axis camming — the complete guide to PLCopen motion control function blocks implemented in IEC 61131-3 Structured Text.
PLC HMI Screen Design Best Practices: Building Operator Interfaces That Actually Work
Design HMI screens that reduce operator errors and speed up response times — with ISA-101 principles, color psychology, and the Structured Text data structures behind every great display.
PLC Analog Signal Scaling: Converting Raw Values to Engineering Units
Convert raw analog signals (0–27648, 4–20mA, 0–10V) to real-world engineering units with reusable Structured Text scaling functions.
PLC-to-SCADA Communication: OPC UA, Modbus & Industrial Protocols in Structured Text
Master PLC-to-SCADA communication with practical Structured Text patterns for OPC UA, Modbus TCP/RTU, PROFINET, and EtherNet/IP — including handshake logic and buffer management.
PLC Recipe Management & Batch Control: Implementing ISA-88 in Structured Text
Build production-grade recipe and batch control systems following the ISA-88 standard — with full Structured Text implementations for phase logic, recipe storage, and equipment modules.
PLC String Handling in Structured Text: Parsing, Formatting & Communication
Learn to manipulate strings in Structured Text — from basic concatenation to barcode parsing, HMI message formatting, and serial protocol handling.
PLC PID Control Loop Tuning: Implementation & Examples in Structured Text
Implement and tune PID controllers in Structured Text — from basic proportional control to full PID with anti-windup, used in temperature, pressure, and flow regulation.
10 PLC Programming Best Practices for Industrial Automation
Write better PLC code with these 10 industry-proven best practices for Structured Text programming in industrial automation.
PLC State Machine Design Patterns in Structured Text
Design robust, maintainable PLC programs using state machine patterns in Structured Text — the professional approach to sequential control.
PLC Alarm Management in Structured Text: Design Patterns & Best Practices
Build professional alarm management systems in Structured Text with priority handling, acknowledgment logic, first-out detection, and ISA-18.2 aligned design patterns.
PLC Motor Control with VFDs: Speed, Torque & Diagnostics in Structured Text
Master VFD control from your PLC — speed references, accel/decel ramps, torque limits, fault recovery, and real production sequencing patterns in Structured Text.
PLC Array Programming in Structured Text: FOR Loops, Sorting & Recipes
Master array handling in Structured Text — from basic FOR loops to recipe management and circular buffers used in real industrial applications.
PLC Counter Programming: CTU, CTD & CTUD Examples in Structured Text
Learn how to use CTU, CTD, and CTUD counters in Structured Text with practical industrial examples — from part counting to batch control.
PLC Data Types Explained: INT, REAL, BOOL & Type Conversion in Structured Text
Understand every IEC 61131-3 data type, when to use each one, and how to safely convert between them in Structured Text programs.
CODESYS vs TIA Portal: Structured Text Differences Every Engineer Should Know
Moving between CODESYS and TIA Portal? Learn the key Structured Text syntax differences to avoid common pitfalls.
How to Create Function Blocks in Structured Text: A Practical Tutorial
Function Blocks are the key to reusable, modular PLC code. Learn to create and use them effectively in Structured Text.
Ladder Logic vs. Structured Text: When to Use Each PLC Language
Should you use Ladder Logic or Structured Text? This comparison helps you choose the right IEC 61131-3 language for your project.
PLC Timer Programming: TON, TOF, and TP Timer Examples in Structured Text
Timers are essential in every PLC program. Learn how TON, TOF, and TP timers work with practical Structured Text examples.
Structured Text for Beginners: A Complete Guide to PLC Programming
Start your PLC programming journey with this beginner-friendly guide to Structured Text — the most versatile IEC 61131-3 language.