Introduction to SIMATIC STEP 7-300

                In the past, control tasks were solved with individual isolated Programmable Logic Controls (PLCs) controlling a machine or process. Today in order for companies to remain competitive, it is not enough to automate only individual processing stations or machines in isolation. The demand for more flexibility with higher productivity can then be fulfilled when the individual machines are integrated in the entire system.      

Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) provides a common software environment that integrates all components, in spite of the diversification of applied technology, into one uniform system. This brings together everything you need to program, configure, operate, handle data, communicate, and maintain your control solutions.                       

Step 7 SIMATIC Manager, running on Siemens PGs or PCs, provides an integrated set of tools for all system components that allows easy creation, testing, start-up, operation and maintenance of your control solutions. While you are configuring and programming, the Siemens software puts all of your data in a central database to which all of the tools have access.                                                                                              

The SIMATIC Manager is a graphic user-interface for online/offline editing of S7

objects (projects, user program files, blocks, hardware stations and tools).

With the SIMATIC Manager you can: 

• Manage projects and libraries
• Activate STEP 7 tools
• Access the PLC online
• Edit memory cards

Combining Hardware and Software

             Using the STEP 7 software, you can create your S7 program within a project. The S7 programmable controller consists of a power supply unit, a CPU, and input and output modules (I/O modules). The programmable logic controller (PLC) monitors and controls your machine with the S7 program. The I/O modules are addressed in the S7 program via the addresses.