Virtual 3D controllable machine models for implementation of automations laboratories

Nowadays engineer students, typically of automation, need to prove their PLC logic programs against diverse automatic systems, this gives the student a competitive approach to the working world. For a student to prove their knowledge, a fully equipped laboratory oriented for this course is needed. For the purpose of automation only, it is required at least a PLC for control, a PC for communication and of course that something to control. Evidently not all the universities can afford this fully equipped laboratory. For this problematic situation we propose an innovative solution: Virtual Machine Models, which substitute completely the entire components of the previously mentioned laboratory, for one or many virtual not expensive cells or stations. These Virtual Models behave identically to a real mechanical model, but with several advantages. These machines are in 3D, so the user can explore them entirely, they are inexpensive, easy to reproduce, unbreakable, light weighted and can run in any computer. They also are adaptable to be used not only in automation but in other engineering areas.