Essential for industrial control beginners! Master the five "3" in the field of automation
Are you looking to delve into the field of electrical automation but finding it challenging to get started with the intricate equipment and terminology? In fact, any complex system is composed of several core modules. Below, we'll break down the five "3s" in the automation field to help you quickly establish a framework and grasp the core of the knowledge!
Three protocols: For communication between different devices, a unified communication protocol must be followed
￭Modbus: the most universal and simplest "common language" in the industrial field, supporting serial ports (RS485) and Ethernet, and supported by almost all industrial control devices
￭PROFIBUS: A "German" standard led by Siemens, widely used in process industries and medium to large-scale automated production lines, featuring fast speed and high reliability.
￭CC-Link: The "Japanese" standard led by Mitsubishi, which has a high market share in Japan and Asia, and is especially preferred in Mitsubishi's automation systems.
Three serial ports: the classic "wired communication bridge"
￭RS232: A "veteran" in point-to-point communication, with a short transmission distance (typically <15 meters), it is commonly used for early connections between computers and PLCs, as well as touchscreens.
￭RS485: The "workhorse" of one-master-multiple-slaves communication, with strong anti-interference capability and long transmission distance (up to 1200 meters), it serves as the foundation for fieldbuses such as Modbus.
￭RS422: An "enhanced version" of full-duplex communication, similar to RS485 but supporting simultaneous transmission and reception, used in scenarios requiring high-speed bidirectional communication.
Three motors: Different types of motors correspond to different application scenarios and precisions
￭Three-phase induction motor: the "workhorse" of industry, with a simple yet sturdy structure, suitable for applications such as fans, pumps, and conveyor belts where speed regulation is not critical.
￭Servo motor: The "athlete" of high-precision motion, capable of precise position, speed, and torque control, used in robots, CNC machine tools, etc.
￭Stepper motor: an "accurate walker" with open-loop control, which controls the angle through pulse signals and has low cost, commonly used in 3D printers and small automation equipment.
Three controls: core hardware for achieving automated control
￭PLC (Programmable Logic Controller): The "brain" of the system, responsible for logical operations and sequence control, and serving as the overall commander of automation projects.
￭Inverter: The "speed regulator" of a motor, which controls the speed of a three-phase motor by changing the frequency, achieving energy saving and meeting process requirements.
￭Driver: The "power amplifier" of a precision motor, specifically designed to control the torque, speed, and position of servo motors and stepper motors.
Three sensors: organs of the system for perceiving the external world
￭Photoelectric sensor: a "vision" for non-contact detection, used for detecting the presence or absence of objects, counting, positioning, etc., with fast response speed.
￭Temperature sensors: "Tactile" sensors that perceive heat and cold, such as PT100 and thermocouples, are crucial for process control (such as heating and cooling).
￭Encoder: A "ruler" and "stopwatch" for measuring position and speed, typically installed at the rear end of a motor, providing precise feedback for servo and motion control.