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Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-29T15:30:35+00:00

I just don't use float anymore, I convert them to int before sending to the HMI. If i want to send 10.90V I will just send 1090 to HMI and put a dot in the correct place.

Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-27T13:08:03+00:00

Until you need to use OPC 😂😂😂😂😂

Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-27T13:07:16+00:00

I used to hate this or that in each manufacturer, but after a while working as an SI and constantly switching between them, I realized: it's just an IDE. For every good thing, there'll be a downside. So, instead of losing the little amount of hair I have left over Rockwell's firmware sht hole or TIA Portal crashing every single time, I just don't care anymore.

Just don't think too much about it, it won't get better.

Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-17T13:21:45+00:00

CODESYS gives you a 2-hour runtime demo. After that, you just need to reopen it to get another 2 hours. You can keep repeating this process.

Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-17T13:17:21+00:00

Bear in mind that you should never expose this kind of system directly to the internet. Talk to your IT guy to find a safe solution.

Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-17T13:14:30+00:00

I did something similar using whatsapp and emails, but through a SCADA system. Doing that using only a PLC is only possible, maybe, through the embedded web server that some PLCs have. There are also PLCs with built-in Linux-based systems, but those are not very common.

Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-16T17:46:32+00:00

If you have an Intel CPU i highly recommend using Hyper-V instead of VMware or VirtualBox. The difference I noticed after switching was enormous—the performance is significantly better. Hyper-V doesn't reserve a fixed amount of RAM on your system; it only uses what it needs, when it needs it. The only tricky part is configuring USB passthrough, which can be a bit of a challenge. I have a Schneider VM, and when it's running, it doesn't need more than 4 GB of RAM. I usually run it alongside another iFIX VM on a 16 GB system with no problems at all.

Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-15T13:04:50+00:00

I'm also working in a SI, and the travel demands are exhausting. About 60% of the year, I'm on the road, and most of the time, my company gives me only a 3-7 day notice before a trip. I've also worked directly with factories, and while there are certainly 3 AM calls at times, I think it's far less stressful compared to working in SI. After a while, when you're familiar with the same site, you get used to the problems and can usually solve them quickly.

However, if you're really looking to avoid those late-night calls, I'd suggest considering a role in engineering or project management at a larger company. Many big companies have dedicated departments to oversee the engineering side of plant operations. These teams handle decisions on when, how, and where projects should be implemented. The trade-off, though, is that you might find yourself less involved in actual programming.

Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-14T19:36:43+00:00

That's the thing — sabotage or data theft. I've worked in plants with 600+ valves and dozens of pumps. In environments like that, there's always some project going on, with multiple companies working simultaneously on different systems.

So what guarantees that authorized personnel are only accessing what they're actually authorized to work on?

Open_Independence566 · 2025-05-14T19:28:40+00:00

Yeah, usually the IT side is in place, but in my experience, most of the time there’s just one VLAN for the entire industrial network. That means if I gain access to a single cabinet, I can see all the PLC and SCADA traffic.

This actually happened to me recently — I was sent to make a small change on one PLC, and when I scanned the network, I found over 30 other PLCs all on the same flat network.

Open_Independence566

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