使用PLC的自动化制造系统2.1

2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.1简介

Control engineering has evolved over time. In the past humans were the main method for controlling a system. More recently electricity has been used for control and early electrical control was based on relays. These relays allow power to be switched on and off without a mechanical switch. It is common to use relays to make simple logical control decisions. The development of low cost computer has brought the most recent revolution, the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The advent of the PLC began in the 1970s, and has become the most common choice for manufacturing controls.

PLCs have been gaining popularity on the factory floor and will probably remain predominant for some time to come. Most of this is because of the advantages they offer.

• Cost effective for controlling complex systems.
• Flexible and can be reapplied to control other systems quickly and easily.
• Computational abilities allow more sophisticated control.
• Trouble shooting aids make programming easier and reduce downtime.
• Reliable components make these likely to operate for years before failure.

     控制工程与时俱进。在过去，人力是实现施控系统的主要方法。最近电力已用于控制，早期电气控制是基于继电器的。这些继电器可以不借助于机械开关而使电源切断或接通。这是使用继电器实现简单的逻辑控制的通常用法的结果。低成本电脑的发展带来了最新的革命——可编程逻辑控制器（ PLC ）。PLC的出现开始于20世纪70年代，已成为制造控制最常见的选择。

    PLC在越来越多的工厂车间里流行，并可能继续在今后一段时间内占主导地位。这其中大部分原因是因为他们所提供的优势。

    •控制复杂系统成本显著。

    •灵活，可快捷方便地再应用到其他控制系统。

    •计算能力允许更精密的控制。

    •故障排除手段使编程更容易，减少停机时间。

    •可靠的部件，使这些部件在失效前可能运行几年。