Posts tagged "PLC"
21 articles across the Voltrus blog.
This collection brings together every PLC article published on the Voltrus blog. "Siemens S7-1200 vs S7-1500: Which PLC for Your Project", "TeamViewer Alternative for PLC Remote Access: Why OT Teams Are Switching", "Secure Remote Access to PLC Networks: A Practical Guide for Integrators" — each one is a practical, hands-on guide written for engineers and system integrators. Whether you are choosing between protocols, troubleshooting a connection, or planning an integration, these articles cover the concepts, the trade-offs, and the step-by-step details you need.
Siemens S7-1200 vs S7-1500: Which PLC for Your Project
Siemens S7-1200 vs S7-1500 compared. Performance, memory, I/O count, motion, safety, PROFINET, price, and which Siemens PLC fits small machines vs large process lines.
Read articleTeamViewer Alternative for PLC Remote Access: Why OT Teams Are Switching
TeamViewer puts an always-on graphical backdoor on the OT network. A WireGuard mesh gives the engineer a route to the PLC subnet only — outbound-only, self-hosted, no third-party relay.
Read articleSecure Remote Access to PLC Networks: A Practical Guide for Integrators
Threat model, architecture, ACL design, and a deployment checklist for reaching PLC subnets over a self-hosted WireGuard mesh without exposing the OT network.
Read articleRemote PLC Commissioning: Reach Any Site Without a Plane Ticket
Tunnel into the PLC subnet and run TIA Portal, GX Works, or SoMachine against the local PLC IP at full speed — no screen-share lag, no $5K travel bill per site visit.
Read articleSiemens S7 Rack and Slot Addressing: How PLC Routing Works
S7 connections need the right rack and slot (S7-1200/1500: rack 0 slot 0; S7-300: rack 0 slot 2). Get it wrong and you get a connection-refused — here is why and how to fix it.
Read articlePLC vs Microcontroller: When to Use Each in Industrial Projects
A PLC is rugged, deterministic, and supported for a decade. An Arduino is cheap and flexible. Why hobbyist microcontroller builds fail on the factory floor — and when each wins.
Read articleVoltrus PLC v1.0 — The First Native macOS PLC IDE Ships Today
Voltrus PLC v1.0 is available now: IEC 61131-3 Structured Text editor, built-in softPLC runtime, AI-assisted programming, and multi-driver I/O (Modbus, OPC-UA, S7, EtherNet/IP, MQTT).
Read articleEtherNet/IP and CIP Protocol Explained (2026): Complete Guide
EtherNet/IP and CIP protocol explained. Understand explicit vs implicit messaging, CIP data types, Allen-Bradley tag addressing, and how EtherNet/IP compares to Modbus TCP and OPC UA.
Read articleCODESYS Alternative for macOS (2026): Native PLC IDE Without Windows
CODESYS doesn't run on macOS. The best CODESYS alternative for Mac is native, costs under $30, and includes a full softPLC runtime. Compare features, pricing, and workflow.
Read articlePLC Programming Languages: The 5 IEC 61131-3 Languages Explained
The 5 IEC 61131-3 PLC programming languages explained: Structured Text, Ladder Diagram, Function Block Diagram, Sequential Function Chart, and Instruction List.
Read articleIEC 61131-3 Structured Text: A Practical Guide for Modern PLC Programming
Learn IEC 61131-3 Structured Text (ST) — the modern way to program PLCs. Syntax, data types, function blocks, timers, counters, and real examples.
Read articlePLC Programming on Mac (2026): Write, Run, and Test Without Windows
Write and run PLC programs on your MacBook — no Windows VM, no CODESYS, no TIA Portal. IEC 61131-3 Structured Text editor with built-in softPLC runtime. Native Apple Silicon.
Read articlePLC Simulator for macOS: Write, Compile, and Test Without Hardware (2026)
PLC simulator for macOS. Write IEC 61131-3 Structured Text, compile, and run on a built-in softPLC runtime — no hardware needed. Breakpoints, watch tables, and real I/O drivers.
Read articleWhat Is a SoftPLC? Run PLC Programs on Your Mac Without Hardware
A SoftPLC lets you write, compile, and run IEC 61131-3 programs entirely in software on your Mac — no PLC hardware needed. Learn how softPLCs work and what they can do.
Read articleStructured Text vs Ladder Logic: Which PLC Language Should You Learn?
Structured Text vs Ladder Logic — honest comparison for 2026. ST is better for complex logic, math, and modern workflows. LD is better for maintenance and troubleshooting simple circuits.
Read articleTwinCAT Alternative: PLC Development Without Beckhoff Lock-In (2026)
TwinCAT locks you into Beckhoff hardware and Windows. Compare alternatives: Voltrus PLC (macOS native, IEC 61131-3 ST, multi-vendor I/O), CODESYS, and OpenPLC.
Read articleS7 Communication Protocol Guide: Memory Areas, Addressing, and Data Types
How the Siemens S7 protocol accesses PLC memory. Data blocks, inputs, outputs, markers, timers, counters. Rack/slot addressing and data type mapping.
Read articleConnecting Siemens PLCs Without TIA Portal: A Practical Guide
You don't need TIA Portal to monitor Siemens S7 PLCs. How to connect S7-1200 and S7-1500 directly from your SCADA using the S7 protocol.
Read articleDo You Need to Know PLC Programming to Use SCADA?
No, you don't need ladder logic to set up SCADA monitoring. Here's why SCADA and PLC programming are separate skills — and what you actually need to know.
Read articleEtherNet/IP Explorer for macOS: Connect to Allen-Bradley PLCs Without RSLinx
Browse tags, read and write controller data on Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix PLCs over EtherNet/IP. Native macOS app — no RSLinx, no FactoryTalk, no Windows.
Read articleConnect to Siemens S7-1200/1500 from macOS Without TIA Portal
Read and write Siemens S7 PLC data blocks from macOS. No TIA Portal, no Parallels, no Windows. Native S7 communication tool for Mac.
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