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PLC Anatomy

A control system, taken apart

Model detail Detailed Simplified (faster)

Reduce motion Hover labels Slow turntable

Representative design · not a validated system

Separation Assembled

Signal flow

Signal flows

Legend

Representative design · not a validated system

Preparing the model…

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HMI-101 · operator screen

The same screen as on the cabinet door and the panel PC. ISA-101 style: grey when normal, colour only when something needs attention.

Controls

Mouse and touch

Rotate drag, or one-finger drag
Zoom scroll wheel, or pinch
Pan right-drag or Shift-drag, or two-finger drag
Select click or tap a part
Clear click or tap empty space

The four stops

Assembled the plant as built
Levels the Purdue levels lift apart
Systems each level separates into its systems
Components every system spreads into its parts

Keyboard

←→↑↓: Rotate (with the 3D view focused)
Shift + arrows: Pan
+ −: Zoom
N: Next component (Shift for previous)
Enter: Open the highlighted component
1–4: Go to a stop
E: Next stop (Shift for previous)
[ ]: Less / more separation
I C: Isolate / show connected parts
R: Reset view
S: Signal flows on / off
T: Guided tour: follow one measurement
F: Fault mode: break something and watch the plant respond
P: Probe: read live values under the pointer
V: Engineering views: P&ID, logic, loops, I/O list
L: Logic view
G: GMP lens
D: Dive inside a module (double-click the cabinet too)
/: Search components
Esc: Step back a level