INST 108 Practical Digital Automation Fundamentals

8 CR

This course will focus on the practical applications of circuits and science that combine to form basic digital motor control systems, human machine interfaces (HMIs), and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Through hands on construction and experimentation, students will gain the skills needed to wire, configure, and use electromechanical relays to control electric motors and other discrete (on/off) control elements for real processes. Students will also learn how to wire, configure, and use variable-frequency motor controls to use with three-phase AC motors as final control elements. After covering digital and motor controls, this course will then proceed to PLCs and HMIs. While covering PLCs and HMIs, students will program and configure PLCs to perform discrete control functions including combinational logic, counters, and timers. Additionally, students will learn how to program data-handling functions in PLCs including comparison, arithmetic, and data transfer instructions. Students will also learn to connect and program HMI panels to PLCs. The course culminates with a group project constructing a fully automated system using both a PLC & HMI. Students will learn generic troubleshooting techniques & procedures and tricks of the trade from analog to digital as well.
Prerequisite(s): INST 103 with a D or higher
Completion Of or Concurrent Enrollment In: Completion of INST 107 with a D or higher or concurrent enrollment in INST 107