Besides the PLC the major working component of this project was the Vacuum Cup Assembly which was controlled by the PLC program. After the start button was pushed the Vacuum Cup Assembly raised to travel height, left the Home Proximity switch and traveled along a rail system to the sheet metal pickup area. The Vacuum Cup Assembly then descended to the sheet metal to be picked up. The Vacuum cups were actuated and the Vacuum Cup Assembly then raised into travel position again. The Vacuum Cup Assembly traveled along the rail again to the delivery area near the Lazer cutting machine. The Vacuum Cup Assembly descended to the delivery area and the Vacuum Cups released the sheet metal into the delivery area. The Vacuum Cup Assembly then returned to the home position to await the next travel cycle.
I use this PLC because it has universal inputs for sourcing and sinking and relay outputs so that almost any combination of inputs and outputs are usable.
The Vacuum Cup Assembly used compressed air to create a vacuum at the suction cups. Relays switched in Air Solenoids to control the compressed air when directed by the PLC program.
Proximity switches were used at every location where a direction change occurred for the Vacuum Cup Assembly.
This photo shows the reverse side of the operator control panel.