API represented Programmable Logic Controller. It is a digital computer used to control industrial machinery. All manufacturing industries, such as textile industry, food manufacturing plants, chemical industry, oil and gas industry, etc., use PLC to automate the production process. It uses the following programming languages:
- LLD (Ladder Logic Diagram)
- FBD (functional diagram)
- SFC (Sequential Function Chart)
- ST (structured text)
- IL (instruction list)
The first three are graphical languages and the last two are textual languages. If you are an engineering student pursuing an education in PLC, then this article will benefit you because here you will find the best free PLC simulation software to run on your PC.
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PLC simulation software for Windows 11/10
You can download these software on your Windows PC and practice by creating different logic diagrams. The best part of this software is that you don’t need any external PLC hardware to run the simulation.
We have the following software on this list:
- OpenPLC Editor
- i-TRiLOGI
- WPLSoft
- Creator to do more
- WTE PLC configuration tool.
1]OpenPLC Editor
OpenPLC Editor is a free software with many features. It is portable software, which means you don’t need to install it on your PC. It is downloaded in the zip file. After extracting the zip file, open the respective folder and click on the “OpenPLC Editor” shortcut file to launch the software. It will take some time to open depending on your computer’s CPU.
It offers you to write a program in one of the 5 PLC programming languages. To start a new project, click on “File > New.” Then write the name of your project and select the programming language and click on “OKAY“. Note that you must create a new empty folder on your PC each time you create a new project. All programming functions like on/off buttons, timers, counters, function blocks, numeric operators, comparative operatorsetc., are available on the right panel of the software.
Steps to draw a ladder diagram:
- To create a ladder diagram, you must first define all the variables and their types like Booleans, Integers, Reals, Arrays, Bytes, Words, etc. Click on the button “Plus” icon in the middle panel. You can also set the initial value of all selected variables.
- Right-click in the middle space, then click “To add” and select the power rail. This will add the rail to the screen.
- Follow the step above to add input contact variables, output coils, blocks (for timer, counter, etc.), comments, etc.
When you are done, click the “Start PLC simulation” on the toolbar. When you hover your cursor, you will see the names of all the tools on the toolbar. If your ladder logic has an error, it will be displayed in red in the console tab. You can click the PLC Log tab for more details about the error. After clicking on the “Start simulation“, you must click on the “Debug instance” in the lower left panel and the simulation will be launched. To perform an action like turning on the switch, right-click on it and select “force true.” To save your project, click on the “to safeguard” or press “Ctrl+S.”
2]i-TRiLOGI
i-TRiLOGI is another free software in this list through which you can practice ladder logic programming. The download process for this software is different. We have provided the link to their official website. After landing on their official site, fill in the provided form and they will send you a download link on your email id along with a password for installation. This software is completely free for educational purposes. The best part of the software is that it has a user-friendly interface and you will understand it easily.
After installing it, if you don’t get its desktop shortcut, go to “Drive C > TRiLOGI folder > TL7Edu folder.” There you will get the exe file. Click on this file to run the software.
Steps to draw a ladder diagram:
- Like OpenPLC Editor, here you also need to set the variables first. To do this, click on “I/O table” on the toolbar, select the I/O label from the drop-down menu. You can set inputs, outputs, timers, counters, relaysetc.
- After having defined the variables in the I/O table, click on “Circuit > Insert Circuit” to add a rung. If you add contacts by left click, you will get normally open (NO) contacts and vice versa. Alternatively, you can also toggle contacts by clicking the corresponding button in the toolbar.
To start a simulation, go to “Simulate > Run (reset all I/O).” You can modify the values of the circuit variables by right-clicking in the simulation table. Click on the “Pause” to stop the simulation. Go to “File > Save» or press the «Ctrl + S” to save your project.
3]WPLSoft
WPLSoft is a free PLC simulation software from Delta Electronics. If you cannot find the software on the website, write WPLSoft in the “Key words” and select the highest version, then click the “Submit” bouton.
WPLSoft is a free and complete PLC simulation software. Here you will find all ladder logic functions, such as bit logics (NO, NC, set coil, normal coil, reset coil), math operators, timers, counters, comparators, high-speed comparatorsetc If you are a professional, you can upload your project to Delta PLC using this free software.
Steps to draw a ladder diagram:
- WPLSoft has a very simple user interface. First, create a new project by pressing the “Ctrl + N” bouton.
- All logical bit operations such as NO (normally open), NC (normally closed), coil, etc. are available in the toolbar. Click on one of them to select it.
- Now set the address of your selected function and click OK.
Unlike other software, here you cannot start the simulation with one click. First, you need to click on the “Simulation” on the toolbar. You can read the names of each button by hovering your mouse cursor. After that, click on “Write to PLC” or press “Ctrl + F8.” A pop-up window will appear, click OK to compile the program. Then click on the “Ladder start monitoring» or press the «L” button. Finally click on theTo run” or press “Ctrl + F11” and select “Oui.” This will start the simulation. To change the bit value, select it and press the right click of your mouse and select the desired option. To save the project, go to “File > Save» or press the «Ctrl + S” boutons.
4]Do more Designer
Do-moreDesigner is one more free software in this list to simulate PLC ladder logic programming instructions. Like other PLC simulation software on this list, this one also comes with a user-friendly interface. You will find all programming variables on the right panel of the software, including contacts (NO, NC, output coils, rising edge, etc.), comparators, timers, counters, mathematical operators, stringsand more.
Steps to draw a ladder diagram:
- Go to “File > New Project > Offline Project” or simply press “Ctrl + N”keys. If the software asks you to select a PLC from the list, select Do-more Simulation because you do not have PLC hardware.
- Place the input and output variables on the right panel rung by the drag and drop method.
- Now double click on the placed variable and set its address. Here, X designates the entrance and C denoted the output. When you are done, press “Ctrl + S” to save your project.
Setting time in Do-more Designer timer is very easy. You will get different sections of hours, minutes, seconds and milliseconds. Therefore, you can enter the desired value easily.
To start the simulation, click on the “Accept” on the toolbar. Then click on the “Do More/Sim” on the toolbar. It will launch a simulation window. Use this window to control your PLC program.
5]WTE PLC configuration tool
WTE PLC Configuration Tool is a free PC simulation software with a simple user interface. You can use it to design simple to complex ladder diagrams. Timers, counters, comparators, memory bits, etc. are also easily accessible. After designing a PLC ladder logic diagram, you can run the simulation and view the output in the right pane. To download WTE PLC Configuration Tool, visit its official site.
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