PLC SIMULATION
Factory I/O for PLC Training: Setup, Editions and a First Project
What Factory I/O is, what each edition connects to and costs after the free trial, how to link it to TIA Portal and PLCSIM, and the first scenes to program.
With Factory I/O PLC simulation, your PLC program drives a 3D factory, so your ladder logic moves boxes you can see. Factory I/O is made by Real Games, has a 30-day free trial of the full Ultimate edition, then is paid, and connects to Siemens S7-PLCSIM, Allen-Bradley controllers and anything that speaks Modbus TCP or OPC.
Prices and editions below were checked on 26 September 2026 on factoryio.com.
In this lesson by Technical Mindshare, Factory I/O is installed and connected to TIA Portal for an S7-1200. It is one of the lessons in the first module of our free Siemens TIA Portal with Factory I/O course, where the practice task is to open the From A to B scene, select the S7-PLCSIM driver, map the two sensors and the conveyor, and prove the link with a watch table.
Why use Factory I/O PLC simulation for training
A PLC simulator on its own shows you bits turning on and off in a watch table. That proves the logic runs, but not that it would run a machine. Factory I/O gives the program something to control: a conveyor that carries a box past a sensor, a tank that fills, a pick-and-place arm that drops a part if your timing is wrong. You find sequencing mistakes, missing interlocks and race conditions the way you would on a real machine, without the risk of damaging anything or hurting anyone.
It is also a small-scale introduction to virtual commissioning: testing real PLC code against a model before a machine exists.
Editions and what they cost
Factory I/O's editions page lists seven editions. Each includes the I/O drivers for particular technologies, and the Ultimate edition includes all of them plus PLC wiring and an SDK for custom drivers.
The 30-day free trial includes the full Ultimate edition, so you can try every driver before buying. If you are learning with Siemens, plan your study so that the Factory I/O trial and the TIA Portal trial overlap; TIA Portal Free Trial and Licences Explained covers the Siemens side. If you only need a built-in simulator to learn the basics, the Starter edition is the cheapest paid option.
Connecting Factory I/O to TIA Portal and PLCSIM
According to Factory I/O's S7-PLCSIM driver documentation, the driver supports S7-PLCSIM V5 and V13 to V21, and PLCSIM Advanced 3.0 to 8.0, covering S7-300, S7-1200 and S7-1500 CPUs. For PLCSIM V13 to V21, you must start from the TIA Portal template project Factory I/O provides for your version, and you must not delete the existing Network 1 in OB1, or the connection will fail. If you are on the newest release, TIA Portal V21: what's new covers what changed.
By default, the driver writes sensor states to input memory and reads actuator states from output memory starting at address 0, with separate analog channels. Map each scene item to the address you want, then connect. Force an input from TIA Portal and watch the scene, or place a box on a sensor and watch the watch table. If one side changes and the other does not, the problem is in the mapping or the driver, not your logic.
Your first scene: From A to B
From A to B is the usual first scene: a conveyor, a sensor at A and a sensor at B.
- Map sensor A to I0.0, sensor B to I0.1 and the conveyor to Q0.0.
- Write a rung that starts the conveyor when a box is at A and stops it at B, using a seal-in contact.
- Rewrite it with set on A and reset on B, and compare the behaviour.
- Add Start and Stop buttons so an operator controls it.
- Place a second box and check the logic retriggers correctly.
This mirrors the practice task in the course's second module. The start/stop seal-in circuit is explained rung by rung if the first version gives you trouble.
When it will not connect
Most connection problems have a handful of causes:
- The CPU is in STOP. The simulated PLC must be running before the driver can exchange data.
- The template project was not used, or Network 1 of OB1 was deleted, for PLCSIM V13 to V21.
- The wrong CPU or PLCSIM version is selected in the driver configuration.
- Addresses do not match. The scene maps a sensor to one address and your program reads another.
- Two rungs write the same output, so the conveyor flickers or never starts. That is a logic problem the scene has exposed, which is exactly what it is for.
Scenes to work through next
After From A to B, the free course progresses through sorting stations by height, colour and weight; a separating station; a filling tank with timers and a queue with counters; a conveyor sequence; an assembler and pick and place; a converge station, an elevator and an automated warehouse; and an analog tank level loop with PLCSIM Advanced. Each adds one idea, and together they cover most of what a junior controls engineer writes in a first year. For a single larger project, TIA Portal: Build a Machine builds one line station by station from a specification and I/O list.
Other PLCs and software PLCs
The Allen-Bradley edition connects over Ethernet to ControlLogix, CompactLogix, Micro800, MicroLogix 1100 and 1400, SLC 5 and SoftLogix. The Modbus & OPC edition acts as a Modbus TCP server or client and an OPC DA or UA client, which is how software PLCs and less common brands connect. The free OpenPLC course includes a module of Factory I/O projects. For other free simulators, see Free PLC Simulators Compared.
Limits worth knowing
- It is a trainer, not a plant model. Scenes behave plausibly, but it is not a physics-accurate model of your machine.
- Wiring is out of the loop unless you use the Ultimate edition's PLC wiring option with supported I/O boards. Learn panel wiring separately.
- The licence runs out. Plan your study to finish inside the trial, or budget for an edition.
Learn Factory I/O free
Siemens TIA Portal with Factory I/O is free in full across nine modules, from connecting PLCSIM to an analog tank level loop. It assumes basic TIA Portal ladder; start with Siemens TIA Portal if you are new. A free account saves your progress.
The optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion for a beginner course is a small one-off fee, US$8.99, with a code anyone can check at edwartens.com/verification. It is not a vendor certification or an accredited qualification, and Factory I/O's own licences are bought separately from Real Games.
Take the free course
FreePLC programming · Beginner · Free
Siemens TIA Portal with Factory I/O: Virtual Commissioning Projects
FreePLC programming · Intermediate · Free
TIA Portal: Build a Machine
FreePLC programming · Beginner · Free
OpenPLC: IEC 61131-3 on Arduino, ESP32 and Raspberry Pi
FreePLC programming · Beginner · Free
Siemens TIA Portal
Questions
Is Factory I/O free?
Factory I/O has a 30-day free trial that includes the full Ultimate edition. After that it is paid, from €40 a year for the Starter, MHJ and Automgen editions, as listed on factoryio.com on 26 September 2026.
Does Factory I/O work with Siemens PLCSIM?
Yes. Its S7-PLCSIM driver supports S7-PLCSIM V5 and V13 to V21 and PLCSIM Advanced 3.0 to 8.0, according to its documentation. For PLCSIM V13 to V21 you start from Factory I/O's TIA Portal template project.
Can I use Factory I/O with Allen-Bradley or other PLCs?
Yes. The Allen-Bradley edition connects to Logix, Micro800, MicroLogix 1100 and 1400, SLC 5 and SoftLogix controllers, and the Modbus & OPC edition connects to anything that speaks Modbus TCP or OPC.
Do I need a real PLC to use Factory I/O?
No. A simulated CPU such as S7-PLCSIM is enough, and the Starter edition has its own built-in PLC simulator. A real PLC can be connected over Ethernet if you have one.
Can I learn Factory I/O for free?
The EDWartens course Siemens TIA Portal with Factory I/O is free in full and is designed to fit inside the trial periods. Only the optional certificate is paid.
Sources
- Factory I/O: home page and free trial
- Factory I/O: editions and prices
- Factory I/O documentation: Siemens S7-PLCSIM driver
Written by the EDWartens engineering team for general education. Product names are trademarks of their owners; mentioning them does not imply endorsement. Prices and terms of other providers were checked on the date shown and can change.
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