Glossary · PLC and control programming
Offline programming
Also known as: Offline engineering, OLP
German: Offline-Programmierung
In automation and robotics, offline programming is the creation and testing of control or robot programs on a computer without a connection to the running controller or machine, often supported by simulation.
- PLC programming
In one sentence
Offline programming creates and tests PLC or robot programs on a computer without connecting to the running machine.
Example
A robot integrator writes and simulates welding paths offline, then loads them into the robot controller and only corrects a few points on site.
How it applies
- Engineering: Most PLC code is written offline in the engineering tool and downloaded later. In robotics, offline programming usually means generating robot paths from CAD data in a simulation environment. Both reduce the time spent at the machine.
- Testing: Simulation and virtual controllers allow functional tests before hardware exists. The simulation is a model: it can hide timing, mechanical and sensor effects, so on-site tests remain necessary.
- Change management: Offline versions and the version in the controller can diverge. Before downloading, compare them, so that changes made online on site are not overwritten.
- Documentation: Record which version was loaded when, and which simulation or test results it rests on. For robots, document the calibration and the reference frames the offline program assumes.
Offline programming vs. online change
Offline programming changes a copy of the program on a computer. An Online change modifies the program in the running controller. Most projects combine both, with offline work as the default.