ME3242

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

ME3242 – AUTOMATION

(Semester 1 : AY2017/2018)

Time Allowed : 2 Hours

Matriculation Number

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS:

1. Please write your student number only. Do not write your name.

2. This assessment paper contains FOUR (4) questions and comprises TWENTY (20) printed
pages.

3. Students are required to answer ALL questions.

4. Students should write the answers in the space provided in this question booklet.

5. This is a CLOSED-BOOK ASSESSMENT with authorized materials. Students are

allowed to bring one single sheet of A4 paper of help sheet.

6. Programmable calculators are allowed for this assessment.

MARKS MAXIMUM
QUESTION
OBTAINED MARKS
Q1a 10

Q1b 15

Q2a 18

Q2b 7

Q3 25

Q4 25
TOTAL: 100
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QUESTION 1

(a)

Figure 1.1

Write down the expression for T in terms of A, B, and C for the 3/2 valve in Figure 1.1.
Given the four 3/2 valves as shown in Figure 1.2, show how you can connect the valves
together to get the Boolean expression

⨁ ⨁

[Note that ⊕ .]
(Draw your solution on Figure 1.2, and add pressure sources and exhausts as needed.
Show the Boolean expressions for T1, T2 and T3.)
(10 marks)

T1 T2 T3 T

Figure 1.2
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(b)

Figure 1.3 Figure 1.4

Consider the actuation of 2 cylinders, A and B, where each cylinder is controlled by a

4/2-way spring-return solenoid valve and 2 SPST normally open limit switches, a1 and
a2, and b1 and b2, respectively. Figure 1.3 shows the arrangement for cylinder A only.

(i) Using the Cascade method, design a ladder diagram such that when a START
button is briefly pressed, the sequence of actions shown in Figure 1.4 is
activated.
(ii) Briefly comment on your design and any practical measures that you wish to
take in your design.
(15 marks)
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QUESTION 2

(a)
B

b1 b2
A+ B+

Figure 2.1

Figure 2.2 shows the desired sequence of operation for 2 double-acting pneumatic
cylinders A and B controlled by 4/2 way spring-return solenoid valves as shown in
Figure 2.1.

(i) Fill in the sequence chart of Figure 2.2 for the rest of the elements.
(ii) Hence construct the ladder diagram and write down the Boolean expressions for
the relays and solenoids.
(iii) List down any potential practical issues, if any, with your design and suggest
solutions.
(18 marks)
I II III IV V VI VII
A
Cylinders

a1
Limit switches

a2

b1

b2

Start
Relays

A+
Solenoids

B+
Figure 2.2
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(b) Figure 2.3 shows a pneumatic circuit with 2 double-acting cylinders A and B.

(i) Label on Figure 2.3, all the components used in the circuit.
(ii) Describe the operation of the circuit when the lever-actuated valve is set to Run.
What happen when the lever is then set to Stop?
(7 marks)

Figure 2.3
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QUESTION 3

A device can be turned ON by setting 1, otherwise, turned OFF by setting 0. This is

controlled by two push buttons and with their relation described by the primitive flow
table as shown in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1 Primitive Flow Table 

Table 3.2: Merged Flow Table
Inputs    Output 
States 
00  01  11  10  Z  Inputs   
States    
1  ① 2
- 6 0 00  01  11  10 
2  3 5
② - 1 1 ① 2 - 6 0 0
3  ③ 4 - 6 1 2 3 ② 5 - 0 1
4  1 ④ 5 - 0 3,5 ③ 4 ⑤ 6 1 1
5  - 4 ⑤ 6 1 4,6 1 ④ 5 ⑥ 1 0
6  1 - 5 ⑥ 1

(a) Draw the state transition diagram for the system as described by Table 3.1 with inputs
and output .
(6 marks)

(b) Table 3.2 shows the merged flow table from the primitive flow table in Table 3.1. The
merged flow table for this process has been constructed with two relays and as
shown in Table 3.2.
Use the Huffman Method to derive the Boolean expression for the followings.
(i) The excitation function for and .
(ii) The output function for .
(14 marks)

(c) Draw the ladder diagram for the Boolean expressions in (b)
(5 marks)
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QUESTION 4

(a) Figure 4.1 shows the ladder program that involves a push button connected to the input
X1 of a PLC. The push button is been pressed as illustrated in the timing diagram in
Figure 4.2. Complete the diagram in Figure 4.2 by drawing the responses of output Y7,
timer T7 and its timer tic counts.
(8 marks)

Figure 4.1 Figure 4.2

(b) Induction motor is usually configured in a star-delta starting sequence to avoid high
starting current. Figure 4.3 shows the typical configuration with a main contactor KM1,
a delta contactor KM2 and a star contactor KM3.

Figure 4.3

A Mitsubishi Fx1s PLC is used to control this starting sequence with the activation of
contactors KM1, KM2 and KM3 connected to the outputs Y1, Y2 and Y3 respectively.
A START push button and a STOP push button are also connected to the PLC’s inputs
X1 and X2, respectively. The program (in instruction list) to control the system is
shown below.

Control Program:
LD X01 OR T2
OR M1 ANB
ANI X2 OUT Y1
OUT M1 LD M1
LD M1 AND T2
OUT T1 K 200 OUT Y2
LD M1 LD M1
AND T1 ANI T1
OUT T2 K 100 OUT Y3
LD M1 END
LDI T1

(i) Re-write the instruction list program in the form of a ladder diagram.
(ii) Briefly describe the operation of this control program.
(17 marks)
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A list of the mnemonic instructions is given below for your reference.

Mnemonic Function Mnemonic Function Mnemonic Function

LD Load ANP AND pulse ORB OR Block
LDI Load Inverse ANF AND falling pulse ANB AND Block
LDP Load pulse OR OR OUT Output
LDF Load falling pulse ORI OR Inverse END End of Program
AND AND ORP OR pulse MPS Point store
ANI And Inverse ORF OR falling pulse MRD Point read
MPP Point pop

(a)

Figure 4.2 (Repeated for you to draw the responses)

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