Looking to get started learning Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and HMI application development, but don’t want to spend a fortune on PLC hardware and software?
You can build a powerful Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation training environment on a single PC for as little as $20/month.
For PLC programming use the free Standard Edition of Connected Components Workbench and use the built-in Micro800 Simulator. No license needed, and no PLC hardware required. You can program in Ladder Diagram (LD), Function Block Diagram (FBD), and Structured Text (ST).
For HMI development use the free desktop version of FactoryTalk Optix Studio. No runtime license needed, and no additional hardware needed. You can develop powerful, modern HMI applications and test them in the built-in emulator. The Optix emulator connects to the Micro800 Simulator to interface directly with your PLC logic.
https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/software/factorytalk/optix.html
For an extra level of learning, you can use Factory I/O as a digital twin that your simulated Micro800 PLC can control and interact with. Factory I/O’s Allen-Bradley Edition is only $20/month (yearly subscription also available) and directly interfaces with the Micro800 simulator in CCW. You can develop PLC applications that will control the various pre-built scenes in Factory I/O to help you practice PLC programming.