Free Industrial Automation Tutorials — Updated 2026

Learn PLC Programming for
Industrial Automation

Practical step-by-step guides for engineers, technicians and beginners. Ladder logic, SCADA, Siemens TIA Portal, Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 — explained with real industrial examples.

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Free in-depth guides
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Real industrial examples
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Free engineering tool
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Covers the most widely used PLC platforms

Siemens TIA Portal Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 Mitsubishi GX Works Codesys Omron Sysmac IEC 61131-3

New to PLCs? Start here

Follow this learning path from complete beginner to writing real PLC programs

Everything covered on this site

From PLC basics to advanced industrial control systems

PLC FUNDAMENTALS
What Is a PLC?
Complete beginner’s guide to Programmable Logic Controllers — hardware, history, scan cycle, and how PLCs replaced relay panels.
MOST POPULAR
Ladder Logic Tutorial
7 complete ladder logic examples — motor control, timers, conveyors, counters, Siemens and Allen-Bradley formats with symbol guide.
TIMERS
PLC Timer – TON, TOF, RTO, TP
All 4 IEC 61131-3 timer types explained with timing diagrams and 7 real industrial ladder logic examples.
COUNTERS
PLC Counter – CTU, CTD, CTUD
Count products, track batches, monitor machine cycles. All 3 counter types with 7 real examples and Siemens/Rockwell formats.
IO SIGNALS
PLC Inputs & Outputs
DI, DO, AI, AO explained with field devices, 4-20mA signal guide, wiring types and analog scaling examples.
SYSTEMS
PLC vs DCS vs SCADA
Full comparison with architecture diagrams, real plant examples, and a clear decision guide for choosing the right system.

Free Engineering Tools

Tools used by real automation engineers

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PLC IO List Excel Template

Professional Excel template for documenting every signal in your PLC project. DI, DO, AI, AO columns ready. Used by automation engineers on real industrial projects.

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Latest guides

In-depth articles published in May 2026 — with Siemens and Allen-Bradley examples

CSG
Control System Guide
controlsystemguide.com

About this site

Control System Guide is a practical learning platform for automation engineers, technicians and students. Every guide is written by a working automation engineer with real project experience — not academic theory.

All content covers both Siemens TIA Portal and Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 — the two most widely used PLC platforms in global industry — so you learn what employers actually use.

Read the Complete PLC Programming Guide →

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Everything is free. No signup required. Start with the basics and build up to real industrial projects.

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