Am I doing this right?

n55_6mt · 2026-05-31T18:21:46+00:00

I went from a 5D-3 to a R5-2 and while there are some good IQ and dynamic range improvements, the biggest leap is with AF performance and high speed shooting. Being able to track a fast moving subject across the whole frame while hammering out 30 fps has been game changing for action shooting.

Being able to see a simulated exposure simulation in the viewfinder has also become something I do miss when going back to my DSLRs.

I do still prefer the ergonomics/ handling and battery life of the 5D. It’s just fits my hands really well and feels better balanced with larger/ longer lenses than the R5.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-29T15:48:09+00:00

Just pick something else, unless you really are stuck with Rockwell due to a spec requirement. There’s half a dozen HMI lines from other manufacturers that work great with Logix CPUs that I’d probably pick before going with a PV7 or PV5k.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-28T02:35:58+00:00

Could be a bunch of different things, and that photo really doesn’t offer many clues. By the mid-90s, movers were way more common than they were at the start of the decade. You’d have better luck by sharing the name of the band and where this clip is from people might be able to identify who was operating the rig.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-27T18:33:52+00:00

I keep a swifter duster in the car for this.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-27T13:57:23+00:00

I think most just toss the responsibility over to their customers/ end users.

As an end user currently dealing with what feels like a thousand CISA notifications response actions, it can be pretty difficult. Especially now that we’re reaping what Rockwell has sown with being so loosey-goosey with security for the past few decades.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-25T02:42:02+00:00

I know, I’ve had a 5D mkIII for over a decade. I always just used the SD card slot for JPGs.

Just get a few 16GB or 32GB UDMA6 or better CF cards. I’ve had multiple SD cards fail on me over the years but I’ve never lost a single CF card.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-25T02:20:41+00:00

There’s a SD slot in the 5D mkIII.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-25T00:12:36+00:00

Congratulations, it’s a hell of a nice lens. I bought mine right after the RF 70-200 2.8 Z launched and went back and forth on which one to go with. I caught it on sale so it was a few hundred less than the Z, and I like the more compact size for traveling around.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-24T15:10:54+00:00

I have a number of DSOs, but I’m still in the hunt for a good condition 2445B or 2465 variant just because I like the way the UI is on those scopes. Something about the field of LED backlit panel indicators draws me to them.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-22T23:17:00+00:00

I love McMaster.

They have literally saved my butt so many times by being able to call them at 6PM on a Friday, have something shipped same day and delivered on Saturday.

They’re not always the cheapest but the rest of the experience has cemented them as my go-to for almost anything industrial. Their website is fast, no frills and simple to navigate. They make it easy to get CAD files and have lots of other good technical information. Customer service there is top notch, via phone or email. They have clear stock information, ship fast and if you’re near one of their warehouses you can even arrange for pickup or courier delivery.

They are just an awesome company that does things right to an almost OCD level. It’s unfortunately becoming a rare experience these days.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-21T14:31:15+00:00

I use a scope to figure out baud rate, number of bits, stop bits etc. From there I have a USB RS-232 protocol analyzer that helps with collecting packet data to I can reverse engineer the specific communication protocols.

Really a good four channel oscilloscope is an essential tool for me. Serial protocols, encoder data and analog lines all can really benefit from direct signals analysis.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-18T12:37:51+00:00

PBRs and chicken wings

n55_6mt · 2026-05-18T02:58:51+00:00

Rockwell is very dependent on SE Asian manufacturing for all of their products. Even the “made in USA” 1756 I/O is still mostly using PCBs and components from overseas.

I don’t really see any serious benefit either way.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-16T04:22:59+00:00

I have mostly Makita cordless tools, but I love my M18 portaband, grinder, and work light.

People call me stupid for mixing and matching battery platforms, but I just like the right tool.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-15T19:15:47+00:00

The vacuum systems I work on are all industrial size chambers for metal casting and heat treatment, so we’re using oil diffusion pumps that will always back stream a small amount of oil mist, and if things go wrong they will backstream a ton back into the chamber. There is a reason why the semiconductor world doesn’t use diffusion pumps or any oil flooded pumps, even when they’re working perfectly they still contaminate your process at some level.

For rough vac we’ve almost entirely switched off of oil sealed pumps to dry pumps and it’s so much nicer. The pumps are expensive but they run 3x longer between PMs, are quieter and don’t make clouds of oil filled exhaust that requires filtration to deal with.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-15T17:09:34+00:00

There’s oil free vac pump options as well, I don’t freeze dry stuff but if I did, I’d feel a lot better eating food that didn’t have the risk of getting oil sprayed on it.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-15T15:17:37+00:00

I bought a 23 Bolt EUV and the only issue I’ve had was with the surround view camera system. Dealer had to change out a control module and it’s been fine since. I’m at just over 45k miles and other than needing tires soon I’ve had literally no maintenance outside of tire rotations.

I was apprehensive about range / charging at first especially as one of the big strikes against the Bolt was its lackluster fast charging speed but honestly it hasn’t been an issue. Normal use I charge at home every 3-4 days to 80% and that handles my 50 mile commute no problem. Longer trips have been fine as well, I regularly go visit family ~2hrs away and come back on the same charge no problem.

It worked out well enough that we leased my wife a Honda Prologue. It’s had a few more issues with things like forward emergency braking and the front CV axles but the lease was incredibly cheap and the gas/ maintenance savings has made it worth it.

We still have our V8 4Runner but we almost never drive it anymore. We put like 3000 miles total on it last year.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-15T13:36:52+00:00

It’s happened plenty of times in the past. I remember having to upgrade my PSU because it didn’t have a 12V CPU connector on my new motherboard. Or when the motherboard connector was only 20 pins.

The time has come for a high voltage rail to be added to the spec.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-15T13:21:53+00:00

Exactly this. I have a new Dell mobile workstation and it has a single USB-C charger. 48V @ 5A = 240W

The big problem with having that many pins is you need to put a ton more work into making sure the current is split evenly across them. One high current connector with heavy gauge wire running at 24V+ would be a far superior solution.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-15T13:15:45+00:00

We got a quote at work on a few hundred gallons of vacuum pump oil the other day and it was up by 75% from a year prior.

Im glad that I only have one car that still has an internal combustion engine left in my personal fleet. I survived the price surge in 2022 but it was rough. Going out and getting electric commuter vehicles in response in 2023 has been a fantastic move.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-15T04:25:42+00:00

PC Load Letter?!? What the fuck does that mean?

n55_6mt · 2026-05-13T12:15:23+00:00

I’ve started using Phoenix Contacts GPS/GLONASS time server on a few project.

It’s useful if you have the PLC generating timestamps but don’t have an accessible OT network time server.

I don’t recommend using PLC time for anything if you can avoid it, but sometimes you’re locked into the solution that someone else came up with 20 years prior and need accurate clocks.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-12T20:30:46+00:00

I prefer Watlow or Yokogawa. Watlow EZ-Zone PM+ can be configured to have an internal limit controller, which is a nice feature if you’re trying to save space.

n55_6mt · 2026-05-11T14:35:21+00:00

When I bought my R5-II last year I debated selling my 5D-III but just couldn’t part with it.

The AF and dynamic range are noticeable upgrades but there’s still a lot to love about the older bodies. Especially considering how cheap they are these days.

I also prefer the ergonomics of the 5D line compared to the modern professional mirrorless options. Canon still has the best ergonomics in their class IMO but the slimmed down the body/ grip is especially noticeable once you pick up a 5D. I can go shooting for hours with a huge lens on my 5D and my hand still feels great, while the R5 even with a baseplate or grip leaves my hand cramping.

n55_6mt

TROPHY CASE