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2647

Automation Laboratory Development With Design Implementation Scheme And Simulation Software

Cheng Y. Lin, Gary R. Crossman Department of Engineering Technology Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia

Abstract

This paper describes the development of the Automation Control Lab in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program of the Engineering Technology Department at Old Dominion University. The reorganization goal of the development is to help students design, test, and implement their automation designs effectively. Three processes are adopted to achieve this goal: (1) floor-plan design and inventory control of the components, (2) using Automation Studio to dynamically check each design, and (3) using industrial Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) controllers to download PLC programs.

1. Introduction

The course of Automation and Controls offered in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program of the Department of Engineering Technology at Old Dominion University has the objective of teaching students:

(1) Pneumatic components and pneumatic circuit designs. (2) Feedbacks from electrical sensors and related ladder diagrams. (3) Introduction to Programmable Logical Controllers (PLC) and PLC1,2 programs. (4) Integration of pneumatic, electrical, and/or hydraulic components with PLC programs.

To let students have hands-on applications in this course, a two-hour/week lab is also offered to train the students to integrate mechanical, pneumatic, and electrical components with ladder diagrams or PLC programs. The lab basically includes three main sessions: (1) four weeks of pneumatic applications, (2) four weeks of pneumatic components, electrical sensors, and ladder diagrams, and (3) five weeks of PLC programming using IDEC3 and TRiLOGI4 PLCs. In addition, the simulation software of Automation Studio5 is used in each project so that students can check their designs before implementing their projects. Depending on the number of students enrolled in each lab, several small groups are formed so that they can work together for each assignment. In this paper, the following steps are adopted and proposed to effectively manage the lab: Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2004, American Society for Engineering Education

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Lin, C., & Lin, C. (2004, June), Automation Laboratory Development With A Design Implementation Scheme And Simulation Software Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--13625