Journal of Positive Psychology & Wellbeing http://journalppw.

com
2023, Vol. 7, No. 1, 919 – 926 ISSN 2587-0130

CADE SIMU AS A SIMULATION AND LEARNING TOOL FOR

PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS

July Andrea Gomez Camperos1*, Haidee Yulady Jaramillo 2, Sir Alexci Suárez Castrillón3
1
Msc., Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering ,University Francisco de Paula Santander
Sectional Ocaña, Research Group on New Technologies, Sustainability and Innovation (GINSTI), Ocaña, Norte de
Santander
2
Msc., Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering ,University Francisco de Paula Santander
Sectional Ocaña, Research Group on New Technologies, Sustainability and Innovation (GINSTI), Ocaña, Norte de
Santander
3
Phd., Department of Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander
Seccional Ocaña, Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias y Tecnología (GRUCITE), Ocaña, Norte de Santander.

ABSTRACT:
This document presents the CADE SIMU software as a tool for testing control and power schemes of
electric motors manipulated from programmable logic controllers (PLC), it should be noted that the use of
software simulators type in higher education help the future engineer to stage the real behavior of a system,
In this case it is used in the subject of fundamentals of control and automation of the Mechanical
Engineering program at the Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander Ocaña as part of the methodology is
the use of simulation software as support for learning and solving cases in the area of Industrial automation,
this software allows to explore, analyze, understand, correlate and experiment in the virtual world solutions
that can later be applied to solve a real problem.

Keywords: SIMU CADE Simulator, programmable logic controllers, simulation.

INTRODUCTION Simulation-based software is an "illustrative tool"

widely used in student-centered learning
Today there is a need to improve pedagogical methodologies(Feng and Rong 2005). It is an
approaches in higher education with the use of active learning technique, which stimulates a
new technologies in teaching that gradually learner's diverse cognitive skills and
replaces the traditional lecture-based teaching understanding of a system by instantaneously
style with a more active teaching style in which staging the dynamic behavior of a real
students play a more active role in the learning system(Bauer, Heitzmann, and Fischer 2022).
process (Potkonjak et al. 2016). Active learning
provides a powerful mechanism to enhance the Simulators: These are devices, usually
depth of learning, increase retention of material, computerized, that allow the reproduction of a
and engage students with the material rather than system. Many of them recreate sensations and/or
passively listening to a lecture.(Hamada 2007). experiences that may occur in reality (Aguayo et
al. 2013). Applied to education, they are one of the
One of the challenges that Higher Education is most avant-garde tools and academic updating
pursuing, is to train autonomous students who according to the advance of technology.(Carcaño
innovate in the face of changing the changing Bringas 2021).
needs of society.(López-Collazo and Pérez-
Martínez 2020). Simulations play a vital role in training learners to
gain expertise in their profession and make

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July Andrea Gomez Camperos1*, Haidee Yulady Jaramillo2, Sir Alexci Suárez Castrillón3 920

challenging topics easy to understand. In both 2017). It uses The procedure consisting of Kühn's
cases of simulation-based learning, learners are simulation cycle in the center (Kühn 2006),
exposed to existing simulation models that are surrounded by Kolb's experiential learning
operated by the learner with small creative efforts cycle,(Kolb, Rubin, and Mcintyre 1971).
to enhance domain-specific knowledge. While we
recognize the educational value of such Figure 1 shows the experiential learning procedure
simulations, we argue that simulations are equally for carrying out industrial automation simulation
critical tools for providing learners with creative projects.
thinking skills in addition to exposing them to During the modeling phase, the student has the
science, technology, engineering, and concrete experience of building a simulation
mathematics concepts.(Kavak et al. 2020). model. This includes the specification of the
Simulation software reduces the costs associated problem and the research objective, data
with conventional hands-on laboratories due to the collection and the creation of the initial digital
equipment, space and maintenance personnel model. After achieving a satisfactory simulation
required. They also provide additional benefits, result, the results must be interpreted and
such as supporting distance learning, improving evaluated with respect to a real-world application.
lab accessibility for the disabled, and increasing Since the results are based on the simulation
safety for hazardous experimentation (Heradio et model, which is nothing more than an abstract
al. 2016). representation of the real problem, the abstract
conceptualization is trained by mentally
Simulation is a technique and a tool to investigate transferring the results achieved with the
the behavior of different types of systems by simulation to reality. Once the improvement is
analyzing their models. For example, when specified, it can be applied in reality. Active
designing an industrial system using a experimentation refers to both implementing the
programmable logic controller (PLC), we can improvement and operating with the implemented
examine what type of automation should be improvement.
implemented to suit different factory and
laboratory environments. This is where simulation The main benefit is to allow students to experience
software comes in and is an essential tool in the a simulation project. They have to collect data
process of designing automation systems. In this from a problem, build a digital simulation model,
article we used the CADE SIMU software which perform simulation experiments, evaluate the
is a program used as a pedagogical tool, which results, and finally reapply their improvements to
allows to draw electrical, electronic and electrical the problem they are working on. Students
schematics, to check the programming done in the experiment, for example, their assumptions during
PLC easily and quickly. modeling, the degree of abstraction and validation
have been appropriate.

METHODOLOGY
The methodology used was that of the
Experiential Learning Procedure for Simulation
Projects proposed by (Müller, Menn, and Seliger

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921 Journal of Positive Psychology & Wellbeing

Figure 1. the experiential learning procedure for carrying out industrial automation simulation projects.
(Müller et al. 2017)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS LOGO!Soft Comfort program:

 Software: In the automation era, industries need to be
prepared with the best devices and equipment,
CADE SIMU: is a free electrotechnical software with international quality standards. One of the
that helps to create diagrams of electrical most used solutions in this type of industries is the
commands, through which it is possible to realize Programmable Logic Controller or PLC. It is, as
any type of electrical circuit (focused on electrical its name suggests, a device capable of being
commands and also PLC and pneumatics), from programmed to perform various automation tasks
direct motor starting with the help of soft starters customized as required.
and variable frequency drives. No installation is
required, you just start with the executable file, Nowadays, there are several manufacturers of
which allows you to insert symbols found in Programmable Logic Controllers dedicated to the
libraries, draw a diagram and then perform the improvement in the design of this high demand
simulation of a given project. With an excellent equipment. One of the leading developers in the
proposal, CADE SIMU offers very useful market is SIEMENS, a specialist in the
resources through a simple, intuitive and free development of technological solutions and
interface, besides being a very light software infrastructure. For Siemens, the PLC has been one
(about 5Mb) capable of simulating electrical of its main works, and today, it offers one of the
control circuits: 1) Draw electrical command most innovative solutions: LOGO!.
diagrams from scratch; 2) Perform simulations
LOGO! Siemens is one of the most versatile
and understand an entire operation; and 3) Save,
print and collect multiple electrical solutions created by this company. It is a
diagrams(Lima Filho et al. 2017) Figure 2 shows Programmable Logic Controller of very small size
but great capacity. It stands out for its ability to
the main screen of the CADE SIMU software.
integrate with industrial standard buses. Its small
size does not limit it and it is capable of absorbing
various automation tasks.

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July Andrea Gomez Camperos1*, Haidee Yulady Jaramillo2, Sir Alexci Suárez Castrillón3 922

Figure 3 shows the main screen of the software.

Figure 2. CaDe_SIMU software main screen

Figure 3. software LOGO! Soft Comfort

 The teaching task and its articulation with The proposed methodology was used in a course
the CADE SIMU simulator for learning of Fundamentals of Control and Automation for
programmable automatons 22 students of Mechanical Engineering at the

© 2021 JPPW. All rights reserved

923 Journal of Positive Psychology & Wellbeing

University Francisco de Paula Santander Ocaña to Course of the exercise with students:
teach the topic of programmable logic controllers
using the simulation software CADE SIMU. The 22 students were divided into groups of three,
and to reinforce the subject, they were taught for
Objective: is that the students of the subject of two weeks the theoretical contents of
fundamentals of automation and control can programmable logic controllers, they were also
become familiar with the automation of industrial taught how to use the logosoft and CADE SIMU
processes through the use of simulation software software in the simulation parts based on practical
and thus can integrate several systems in the same cases. In this way, the students knew how to apply
automated system (fundamental objective of the the software and the available functionalities.
career), in addition it is important that the student
works with the most updated software on the
market to international standards. Development of the case study exercise:
case study: They proceeded to design the solution of the case
Electrolysis Process, The process consists of the study in the LOGO! Soft program, obtaining as a
treatment of surfaces, in order to make them result the block diagram shown in Figure 4.
resistant to oxidation. The system will consist of
three baths:
Simulation sequence:
- One for degreasing the parts.
START-F2-F3-F4-F2-F2-F3-F5-F2-F3-F6-
- Another one for rinsing the parts. F2(sustained)-F3-F7 START CYCLE WITH F2.
- A third one where the electrolytic bath will be  Pressing the start button (i1) starts the
applied. sequence with the motor turning down (Q1).
The crane will introduce the cage carrying the  On reaching the F2 sensor (i2) the downward
parts to be treated in each of the baths, starting rotation is restarted and the upward rotation (Q2)
with the degreasing bath, then the rinsing bath and is activated.
finally it will give them the electrolytic bath; in the  When it detects F3(i3), it restarts the turn to
latter, the crane must remain for a certain time to go up (Q2) and activates the turn to go right (Q3)
achieve uniformity on the surface of the treated until it finds sensor F4(i4) to start the turn to go
parts. down (Q1), performs the degreasing immersion
and goes up again, thus repeating the rinsing
process with sensor F5(i5).
 When reaching the sensor F6(i6) the piece
System components: goes down to the sensor F2(i2) to start the counter
- A crane. and perform the electrolytic process for the
example was used 4 seconds, finish the timer starts
- A two-way motor for the horizontal movement to rotate to go up, and when reaching F3(i3) the
of the crane. left turn is activated (Q4) to find the sensor F7(i7)
to start the cycle.
- A two-way motor for the vertical movement of
 Finally, the Cycle Start counter is activated,
the crane.
when the sensor F7(i7) is activated, and the
- Six limit switches F2, F3, F4, F5, F6 and F7. sequence starts again.

- One cycle start contact. After designing the solution in the logo soft
program, the next step was to evaluate its
performance using the CADE SIMU software, as
shown in Figure 5.

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July Andrea Gomez Camperos1*, Haidee Yulady Jaramillo2, Sir Alexci Suárez Castrillón3 924

Figure 4. block diagram of the case study solution

Figure 5. testing with the cade Simu software

Evaluation of subject results In a second approach, the results of the university

evaluation of teaching at the end of the course
The outcome of the subject has been evaluated indicate the following assessment: This activity
using two approaches. In the first approach, the has created a simulation where it replicates the
evaluation is based on the students' academic solution to a real problem in an industrial
performance approach and the application of environment as can be seen in Figure 5
knowledge is evaluated after completing the
project in its respective assignment and the
performance indicators described in Table 1 are
used.

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 925 Journal of Positive Psychology & Wellbeing

Table 1. performance indicators of the subject

Performance Indicators
Evaluation Lower Level Low Level Medium High Level Higher Level
criteria Level70%-
0-<60% 60%-<70% <80% 80%-<90% 90%-≤100%

RA3: Analyze Student: The student: The student: The student:

dynamic system
models using - Does not - Performs - Performs - Performs
computational tools perform the modeling of the modeling of the modeling of the
modeling of the proposed The student: proposed proposed system.
to simulate their
behavior and proposed system. - Performs system.
system. - Performs the
technical - Does not modeling of - Performs the simulations of the
characteristics. - Does not perform the the proposed simulations of models of the
perform the simulations of system. the models of proposed system
simulations of the models of - Performs the the proposed
the models of the proposed simulations of system in different
the proposed system specialized
the models of in the different softwares
system
in different the proposed specialized
in different specialized system softwares -Performs an
specialized software analysis of the
in different -Performs an models of the
software specialized
- Does not analysis of the proposed system
- Does not perform an software models of the
perform an analysis of the Identifying its
- Does not proposed technical
analysis of the models of the perform an system.
models of the proposed characteristics.
analysis of the
proposed system. models of the
system. proposed
system.

CONCLUSIONS productivity, an experiential learning procedure

has been developed. The simulation cycle has
The purpose of this article is to share the been harmonized with the experiential learning
experience and approach in teaching simulation cycle. The procedure has been applied to the
software-based learning. In the classes, the basic subject of fundamentals of control and
concepts of PLC hardware, PLC programming automation. The simulation cycle describes the
and PLC interfacing with models were covered. workflow of a simulation project. The experiential
Then, students were expected to gain the learning cycle shows how people learn, based on
competency to develop an industrial problem their experiences.
using simulation software such as CADE SIMU
based on the topics covered in the course.
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