Automation Engineer Career Path: From Apprentice to Senior Controls Engineer
My journey from music technology student to senior automation engineer. Learn how I built a career in PLC programming, SCADA, and control systems without a degree.
Managing Pre-Sequence Issues in PLC Control Systems
Good pre-sequence handling means operators do not have to guess why something will not start. Instead of a single “not ready” state, the system evaluates each condition independently, blocks sequences…
Using LLMs as a Distributed System: ChatGPT, Claude, Obsidian, and MCP
Choosing the “best” AI model misses the point. The real leverage comes from architecture. This post breaks down a practical distributed system using ChatGPT, Claude, Obsidian, and MCP that eliminates…
Centralising System Options With a PLC Configuration Block
A detailed look at creating a dedicated configuration block in PLC projects, covering structured UDT design, protected install dependent settings, best practices in TIA Portal and how this approach simplifies…
Why Refactoring After Testing Each System Leads to Better PLC Code
A detailed guide on testing duplicated PLC logic, identifying shared behaviour, and refactoring it into a single reusable, maintainable function block for long term project reliability.
Engage & Excel – Let’s Talk About Automation Workflow
The author discusses the critical role of Project Workflow Management in automation projects, attributing project success to a well-defined workflow. By leveraging tools like Atlassian's JIRA, the author emphasizes organizing…
Creating Simulation Environments To Help Test Programs During Development
Simulation of assets within a project can be achieved in multiple ways, especially by spending money on tailored packages from manufacturers / automation vendors. However, you can provide basic simulation…
PLC Analog Scaling
In industrial automation projects, all analog devices, including those connected via Analog Input Cards, necessitate scaling to convert raw input values into PLC-compatible values for effective processing, interlocking, alarming, and…
TIA Portal V19 – A Quick Look At New Features And Differences In Project Set Up
TIA Portal V19 brings several significant changes, such as improved CPU hardware and enhanced security settings. The addition of new features like customizable keyboard shortcuts and enhanced library management also…
PLC Basics – Latches
Latches are an important part of PLC programming, they allow you to leave something in a state of Persistence, even after the initial trigger event has passed. These come in…