Mastering SLC & MLX Applications using Factory I/O
Learn how to create programs that control several of the built-in Factory I/O applications (aka "scenes") using your very own programmable controller, programming software, and either the 30 Day Trial of Factory I/O, or the student can purchase a license separately. In the course you will learn:
| ✓ How to Setup & Use Factory I/O (FIO) | ✓ How to connect Factory I/O to your PLC |
| ✓ How to solve several Factory I/O "Scenes" | x PLC, PLC Software, & Factory I/O NOT Included |
| Open Course Data Sheet (PDF) |
Note: enrolling three or more people? Contact us here to learn about our group enrollment program.
At a Glance
- Format
- Online, self-paced
- Lessons
- 29 online lessons and exercises
- Access
- Lifetime, no expiration
- Certificate
- Yes, with PDHs
- Starting Price
- $49
- Content Last Reviewed
- March 17, 2026
On This Page
What You’ll Learn:
By the End of This Course, You’ll Be Able To:
- ✓ Set up and use Factory I/O
- ✓ Solve the From A to B scene
- ✓ Solve the From A to B, Set & Reset scene
- ✓ Solve the Filling Tank scene
- ✓ Solve the Queue of Items scene
- ✓ Solve the Buffer Station scene
- ✓ Solve the Converge Station scene
- ✓ And more! (see the lesson list)
What You Receive With Your Purchase:
- ✓ Immediate online course access
- ✓ Online instructor support
- ✓ PLC start files for all lessons
- ✓ Detailed step-by-step lessons
- ✓ Works with the 30-day software trial
- ! Factory I/O software sold separately
- ✓ No course expiration date
- ✓ Retake lessons as needed
- ✓ Start files supporting SLC-500 & MicroLogix
- ✓ Practical programming solutions
- ✓ Completion certificate with PDHs
- ! PLC hardware & software is NOT included
Proudly Serving Thousands of Individuals and Companies
Mastering SLC-500 & MicroLogix Applications using Factory I/O Online Course
Become a master at solving programmable controller applications without having to buy thousands of dollars of motors, conveyors, sensors, and control panels.
Those who want to become proficient programming control systems often find themselves trying to simulate complex operations with lights, buttons, and switches, as most can’t afford to build or purchase physical test systems that cost thousands of dollars.
But with our Mastering Applications course and a trial or paid license of Factory I/O (sold separately), students can use their existing SLC-5/05 or MicroLogix 1100 or 1400 controller and RSLogix 500 or Micro programming software (neither included with the course) to learn how to solve several fully simulated factory applications.
Factory I/O is a unique software tool that simulates over twenty factory applications, allowing students of our Mastering Applications using Factory I/O course to forgo purchasing physical motors, conveyors, sensors, and operator panels, and instead use the simulated applications found in Factory I/O.
Students do this by using their own SLC-5/05 or MicroLogix 1100 or 1400 controller and RSLogix 500 or Micro programming software (purchased separately, not included with the online course) with either the free 30-day trial version or a licensed copy of Factory I/O (sold separately).
Note: If you purchase a Factory I/O license from The Automation School, it comes bundled with a Mastering Applications using Factory I/O course at no additional charge!
And because we value our students’ time, each programming lesson also comes with a “Tag Start File” so they can jump right into the programming lessons and avoid the time it takes to add tags to the programmable controller project.
Course Topics
Below is a summary of the topics covered in this course. For a complete list of topics, see the course lesson list.
- Setting up and using Factory I/O
- Solving the From A to B scene
- Solving the From A to B, Set & Reset scene
- Solving the Filling Tank scene
- Solving the Queue of Items scene
- Solving the Buffer Station scene
- Solving the Converge Station scene
- Solving the Sorting by Height scene
- Solving the Pick and Place scene
- And more! (see the lesson list)
Who Should Take This Course
Anyone who has an SLC-500 or MicroLogix 1100 or 1400 PLC and a copy of RSLogix 500 or Micro, and who’d like to learn how to write programs to solve applications, or practice their application-solving skills, while also learning to use Factory I/O.
Who This Course Is NOT For
- Complete beginners who don’t know what a PLC is, or how ladder logic works — start with our foundational PLC Basics course first, then come back to this one
- Anyone without access to an SLC-5/05 or MicroLogix 1100 or 1400 controller and RSLogix 500 or RSLogix Micro programming software — none of these are included with the course
- Anyone looking to use Factory I/O with a controller other than the SLC-500 or MicroLogix (e.g. ControlLogix, CompactLogix, Micro800, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Omron)
- Anyone who expects Factory I/O to be included — it’s sold separately, and while a free 30-day trial is available, the trial period starts when you install it and cannot be reset
- Anyone without a Windows 10 or 11 PC to run Factory I/O
Meet Your Instructor
Shawn Tierney
Industrial Automation Instructor
Founder of The Automation School, The Automation Blog, and host of The Automation Podcast and Show
Hi, I'm Shawn Tierney, and I've spent more than 35 years helping electricians, technicians, engineers, and programmers learn how to setup, program, and troubleshoot industrial automation products and systems.
During my first 25 years I attended over fifty weeks of Rockwell Automation training, and earned several certifications, including becoming a Rockwell Automation Certified Controls & Information Specialist.
And since 2015 I've focused full-time on creating practical online and in-person training courses to help people like you build and maintain real-world PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.
Throughout my career I've trained thousands of automation professionals in manufacturing, OEM, and system integration environments. Every course I create is based on practical field experience, emphasizing techniques you can immediately apply on the plant floor.
My goal is simple: help you become more confident, more productive, and more valuable as an automation professional.
- 35+ Years in Industrial Automation
- Rockwell Automation Certified Controls & Information Specialist
- Instructor to Thousands of Automation Professionals
- Creator of The Automation School
- Author of The Automation Blog
- Host of The Automation Podcast and Show
Learn more about Shawn at The Automation Blog.
Course and Bundle Pricing
| Feature | Mastering SLC-500 & MicroLogix Applications using Factory I/O | A-B Ultra Bundle Best Value: 50% Off! |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49 | $899 |
| Instant & lifetime access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lesson Q&A support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Completion certificate with PDHs | ✓ | ✓ |
| 17-course A-B bundle | — | ✓ |
| Factory I/O software included | — | — |
| SLC-5/05, MicroLogix & RSLogix included | — | — |
| Enroll | Buy Online Course | Buy 17-Course Bundle |
Note: a free 30-day Factory I/O trial is available from FactoryIO.com, but the trial software cannot be reset.
Free Sample Lesson
In this lesson you’ll learn how to get Factory I/O, as well as how to open and navigate a scene.
Note: If the sample lesson video above does not load, your place of business may be blocking our video host, Vimeo.com. To verify this, try viewing the video on your cell phone or home PC, or ask your IT department to unblock educational videos hosted on Vimeo.com. You can also preview two additional sample lessons: Lesson 1.02: Trial & License Options and Lesson 2.00: Download, Open & Use.
Lesson Snapshots
Student Reviews
All students who complete the course are invited to leave a review, and you can see all the existing student reviews on the Reviews tab above.
Course Requirements
Requirements to follow along and/or complete any optional exercises
Students who wish to complete any optional exercises, or just follow along with the instructor as he teaches, will need the following:
- An internet connection to take this online course
- A Windows 10 or 11 PC to run either the 30-day trial or a paid license of Factory I/O
- A programmable controller or simulator, along with a copy of the programming software (RSLogix 500 or RSLogix Micro)
- Note: the Factory I/O 30-day trial period starts when you install the trial software and cannot be reset
- Note: this online course does not include a PLC or PAC, nor does it come with PLC or PAC programming software
Course Pre-sales Questions
Have a question about this course? Send it to the instructor below.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Is this course beginner friendly? Do I need previous PLC experience?
This course is designed for students who already have an SLC-500 or MicroLogix 1100 or 1400 controller and a copy of RSLogix 500 or RSLogix Micro, and who want to learn how to write programs that solve applications, or practice their application-solving skills.
If you’re new to programmable controllers and ladder logic, I recommend starting with my PLC Basics course first, then coming back to this one.
Who is this course designed for?
I designed this course for anyone who wants to become proficient at programming control systems, but doesn’t want to spend thousands of dollars building or buying a physical test system with motors, conveyors, sensors, and operator panels.
Instead, you’ll use your own SLC-5/05 or MicroLogix 1100 or 1400 controller and RSLogix 500 or Micro to solve fully simulated factory applications in Factory I/O.
How long does it take to complete?
The video lessons total more than four hours of instruction. However, that does not include any additional time you choose to spend completing the hands-on exercises.
And since all of my courses include lifetime access, you can return and review any lesson as often as you like.
Is instructor support included?
Yes.
Every enrollment includes lesson Q&A support, so you can post lesson-related questions and get answers from the instructor (see Lesson 1.10).
The course also explains how to join a live student Q&A session via Microsoft Teams (Lesson 1.11) and the one-on-one mentoring options available (Lesson 1.12).
Is the course self-paced?
Yes.
The course is completely self-paced, and because it has no expiration date, you can revisit and retake any lesson as many times as necessary.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes.
When you complete the course, you’ll receive a Completion Certificate from The Automation School that lists the Professional Development Hours (PDHs) you’ve earned.
Hardware and Software Questions
Is Factory I/O included with the course?
No.
Factory I/O is sold separately. A free 30-day trial is available from FactoryIO.com, and I cover the trial and license options in Lesson 1.02, which is available as a free preview before purchasing the course.
Can I complete the course using the Factory I/O 30-day trial?
Yes.
The course works with the free 30-day trial of Factory I/O. Just keep in mind that the trial period starts when you install the trial software and cannot be reset.
Do I need my own PLC and programming software?
Yes.
This course is built around using your own SLC-5/05 or MicroLogix 1100 or 1400 controller along with RSLogix 500 or RSLogix Micro programming software. Neither the controller nor the software is included with the course.
What do I need to run Factory I/O?
You’ll need a Windows 10 or 11 PC to run either the 30-day trial or a paid license of Factory I/O.
Course Content Questions
Which Factory I/O scenes are covered?
After setting up Factory I/O, the course works through the following scenes:
- From A to B
- From A to B, Set & Reset
- Filling Tank
- Queue of Items
- Buffer Station
- Converge Station
- Sort by Height
For the complete list, see the course lesson list.
Does the course show how to connect Factory I/O to my PLC?
Yes.
The course covers how to connect Factory I/O to your PLC, including a lesson that connects the first scene to a MicroLogix 1100 (Lesson 2.05).
Will I have to create all the tags myself?
No.
Each programming lesson comes with a “Tag Start File” so you can jump right into programming without spending time adding tags to the controller project. All start files are also collected in Appendix A.
Are solutions to the exercises included?
Yes.
Each scene includes an overview lesson, a hands-on exercise, and a solution lesson where I walk through a practical programming solution.
License Agreement and Permitted Use of Our Online Courses
This section covers the license agreement and permitted use of our online courses and course bundles, which also includes any course materials, code snippets, downloads, and provided software — taken together, referred to collectively as a “course.”
The purchase of a single copy of a course grants a single individual the right to use the course for personal instruction and reference only. Purchasing a course for yourself (or for another) does not grant anyone the right to distribute or share that work beyond the single individual who registers to take the course.
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This means the course and course materials may not be shared with friends, relatives, co-workers, students, or anyone else, as each sale is for an individual license to access, view, and take the lessons, quizzes, and exercises, and to download any course materials, documents, code, files, and software included with the course.
This per-person licensing helps ensure that the instructor — who created the course and exclusively holds its copyright — can cover the cost of creating it, keeping it available to new and existing customers, and answering ongoing student questions, while receiving fair compensation for a course licensed on a per-person basis.
It is unlawful to share this copyrighted course and course material even if you do not charge or profit from doing so — including for non-profit and governmental organizations — since this proprietary educational work is designed as a chargeable training resource, not one made freely available to the public.
Any unauthorized sharing of the course or course materials would reduce the potential for additional sales and licensing, directly impacting the instructor’s ability to cover costs, keep the course available, and support customers who purchased it lawfully.
If you have questions about the above, please contact us using the “Contact” link in the site menu.
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