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

One of my most common questions is, “Where can I get a free download of RSLogix 500?”  For whatsoever serious development with SLC500 or MicroLogix at that place is no free option only at that place is a dainty free option if you only want to learn and/or program a MicroLogix chiliad or 1100.  Programming a MicroLogix is very very similar to programming a SLC500 or in that instance a PLC5 besides.Â

Allen Bradley offers as a free download a software parcel chosen RSLogix Micro Starter Calorie-free which is essentially the aforementioned programming environment every bit RSLogix 500.  On top of that, they also offer RSLogix Emulate for free so that you don’t fifty-fifty need a PLC to run and test your ladder logic.  Keep reading and I’ll show you how to get the software and set it up.

Getting the Software

The RSLogix Micro Starter Light software is only available equally a download at http://www.ab.com/programmablecontrol/plc/micrologix/downloads.html.  If you are starting from scratch and do not have the RSLinx software and then download the kit bundled with RSLinx Classic Lite.  FYI, I notice information technology a scrap confusing just they besides sell software called RSLogix Micro Starter which supports the full MicroLogix range.

If you practise non have a MicroLogix g or 1100 to play with then download the RSLogix Emulate 500 software.  You’ll be able to use this to simulate a real PLC.

Annotation for Windows XP users:  The bundled version of RSLinx merely installs on Windows Pro and is not supported on Windows XP Habitation versions.  To get effectually this I downloaded an older version of RSLinx Calorie-free 2.50 from the Allen Bradley software update page http://www.rockwellautomation.com/back up/webupdates/

Once you’ve downloaded the software and extracted it and so install RSLogix Micro followed past the RSLinx Classic Calorie-free software.  Side by side, install the RSLogix Emulate 500 software.

First Steps with RSLinx

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

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

  1. Nether the Communications menu select Configure Drivers.  Â
  2. Nether the Bachelor Drivers Types select the “SLC 500 (DH485) Emulator driver” and click the Add New… button.Â
  3. You can give the commuter a name only I just leave information technology at the default of EMU500-1.Â
  4. Go out the configuration options as Station Number 00 and click OK.

Your driver should now exist running and await like the picture below.

Configure Drivers

Ok, that’s set to go.  Close the Configure Drivers dialog box and shut RSLinx.  Really RSLinx is now running in the background and you’ll probably see its little icon in the arrangement tray.

RSLogix Micro Starter Light

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

RSLogix New Project

In my example I’ve chosen the simplest MicroLogix g and and then clicked the OK button.  FYI, if you ever piece of work with the purchased version of RSLogix 500 then in that location volition be a lot more items in this hardware list.  A blank project at present opens up.

RSLogix Blank Project

Let’southward make a simple rung to exam in our emulator.  Make sure the cursor is on the rung with the END on it and and so click the New Rung icon in the instruction toolbar.

RSLogix New Rung

Now click on the “Examine if Closed” RSLogix XIC instruction to add it to the rung.  Double click on the question mark in a higher place it and enter I:0/0 as its input address.  Just leave the description pop up box empty by clicking OK.

Adjacent, click on the Output Energize RSLogix OTE didactics to add it to the right side of the rung.  Double click on the question marking higher up it and enter O:0/0 every bit its output address.  Just leave the description popular upwards box empty by clicking OK.

You lot should now have something like below.

RSLogix Add Instructions

The next very important footstep is to verify the project with the Edit > Verify Project menu item.  This will compile the project and get it prepare for the emulator.

RSLogix Verify Project

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

RSEmulator 500

The emulator lets us test our work by running a virtual PLC.  We’ll be able to download our program to it and run it in a very similar way to a existent PLC.  Start the emulator with the Starting time > All Programs > Rockwell Software > RSLogix Emulate 500 > RSLogix Emulate 500 shortcut.   The emulator is pictured below.  I know.  Information technology doesn’t look like much but it gets the task done.

RSLogix 500 Emulator

Select File > Open up and open the RSLogix project you created earlier (I named mine TEST.RSS).  In the dialog box that pops upwards put the Station # every bit 1 and click Ok.

Emulator Configure

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

Testing the Ladder Logic

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

RSLogix Comms

In the left paw pane, drill down and select the “01, MicroLogix g, TEST” processor.  Yours might await a little different if yous selected unlike hardware or gave the processor a different name.  For good measure make sure Apply to Project is checked and so click on Download .  When prompted to become Online click on Yes.

If successful you’ll see the ladder picture spinning round on the online toolbar.  To browse the ladder logic put the processor into Run way past clicking on the pointer to the right of mode status (REMOTE PROGRAM).

RSLogix Online Toolbar

To test the ladder logic, change the input state by right clicking on the accost and selecting toggle chip.

RSLogix Toggle Bit

You volition meet the instruction go green indicating it is truthful and it will make the output pedagogy turn green besides indicating the output is turned on.

That’south information technology!  You become all that for the toll of a download.  Now break out the manuals and start learning almost all the different instructions.


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