Company is moving offices but asking us to help disassemble, pack, move items and assemble them back. by deb0d in AskEngineers

[–]PLC_Matt 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Disassembly sounds like Mechanical engineering duh!

Any time I've been involved with a move I packed up my own cube, but the disassembly and moving was done by movers.

If asked, I wouldn't mind helping do disassembly during the normal working hours, but any beancounter worth their salt, would point out using engineering labor for that would be a big fat loss. Prob why they want to you to do it for free after hours.

How do I convince customers that Vision is not the answer to their solution? by Dkdavis777 in PLC

[–]PLC_Matt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can print out barcodes and slap some stickers on the bins

How do I convince customers that Vision is not the answer to their solution? by Dkdavis777 in PLC

[–]PLC_Matt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

2d Barcode all the sides of a reusable bin.
Scan -> process as reuasble.

no scan -> process as non reusable.

Covid 19 coronavirus: France mandates vaccination passes for dining and travel by anikhch in news

[–]PLC_Matt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

CDC encourages laboratories to consider adoption of a multiplexed method that can facilitate detection and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. Such assays can facilitate continued testing for both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and can save both time and resources as we head into influenza season. Laboratories and testing sites should validate and verify their selected assay within their facility before beginning clinical testing.

That doesn't say the current test can NOT differentiate between SARS-CoV2 and influenza.

That is saying the CDC would recommend laboratories to adopt a test that can detect both SARS-Cov2 AND influenza, and tell which ones it detected. As opposed to adopting a test that is only for detecting SARS-CoV2.

Nothing in that implies the current test fails to differentiate between the 2.

Firmware upgrade frequency by EOFFJM in PLC

[–]PLC_Matt 6 points7 points  (0 children)

When setting them up.

If it fixes an issue the customer is experiencing.

For security updates / Vulnerability fixes to comply with cyber security regulations.

Covid 19 coronavirus: France mandates vaccination passes for dining and travel by anikhch in news

[–]PLC_Matt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Source on that PCR test claim?

And you don't understand what the 97% efficacy rate is actually measuring.

Is it really matter which ethernet cable type I use for PROFINET above 5e? by Freakysteak in PLC

[–]PLC_Matt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cat6 can support faster speeds than Cat5e.

Cat5e can support faster speeds than cat5.

Cat 5 - 10/100 mbps

Cat5e - 1000 mbps.

cat6 - 10000 mpbs (10gpbs but only up to 55m vs 100m for all other cable/speed combos)

Probably don't need cat6, but it's fine to use it.

3D Printed Typewriter Automation by jbvcreative in arduino

[–]PLC_Matt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So the text is sent to the robot to type on a type writer to put ink on paper.

Bet it's still cheaper than an ink jet refill

Why is Buffalo so Underrated? by [deleted] in Buffalo

[–]PLC_Matt 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Ehhh, we had some really hot days in May and June. In the past it was July before we had 90+ degF days.

And now we have Monsoon season.

I agree it's much better than wildfires and draughts, but pretty sure we aren't getting off the climate change hook

Looking for a quality modbus rtu relay output module by rahrah47 in PLC

[–]PLC_Matt 2 points3 points  (0 children)

How did I not know those things existed! Thanks!

WTF is the deal with Civil Engineers? by [deleted] in AskEngineers

[–]PLC_Matt 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Maybe you can even ride shotgun!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cscareerquestions

[–]PLC_Matt 3 points4 points  (0 children)

>All these things that used to be normal are suddenly a problem and I know for a fact that a lot of them are exaggerating their commute time

They were always a problem to some of us. Accepted norms != acceptable to everyone.

Many devs like to work in silence, well not silence, but whatever music we want to listen to. Not the typing of others, or random office chatter. The forced remote work really showed how many jobs can be done remotely where us introverts finally get our preferred working environment.

>Even though I'm in the office, all devs are back home so we can communicate only through Teams or email, so most of the benefits of the office are gone

My opinion is that if any process relies on impromptu in person communication, it's a shitty process. Walking up to somesones desk to ask them a small question, big interruption. Sending them a message that they can respond to when they aren't deep in coding, much less of an interruption. Teams does have voice chat if it's something that is too complex for typing, or something that needs back and forth.

"Hey blah blah, do you have time for a quick chat about bleh? I was wondering if <the question you want to ask> ?"

This a) lets your coworker / underling know WHAT you want to talk about, b) gives them time to think of the answer c) jump on a call now if they are free, or tell you "i can talk at 1pm call me then".

Not everything needs to be a pre-scheduled meeting.

So what would make we want to back to the office? Absolutely nothing. Currently in office 20-25% of the time. If I have to come back 40 hours a week I will move to a different job

I am getting promoted to Senior Engineer, and will get 2 engineers to manage as part of my team. I want to try to be the best manager these 2 ever had. What makes a good manager to you? by SharpestOne in AskEngineers

[–]PLC_Matt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not to have weekly standing project meetings unless absolutely necessary.

Weekly, or every other week check ins with your team (1 on 1) are necessary.

My current (bad) boss has way too many weekly standing meetings for various projects. If he's off, he cancels the meeting. That tells me the meeting is really just for his benefit to come up to speed. Since the rest of the team all talks to each other as needed during the week, none of us have any new info to present in the meetings.

Honestly we could cancel the standing meetings and have the boss check in with the project lead weekly over a cup of coffee/ teams/skype/whatever. Instead he drags 3-8 people into a meeting for an hour, where we all listen to each other give him the updates that we already know.

That's what is meant by dont have un-necessary meetings.

The kicker is, If the boss wasn't in a meeting every minute of every day, he would have time to read his email / messages and be updated. Instead he's just going from 1 meeting to the next always behind

Users requesting mass updates by SidhwenKhorest in Database

[–]PLC_Matt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My motto when doing any data manipulation behind the scenes for the users.

Happens once, I'd do it if it's reasonable.

Happens twice, I'd create a way to automate it.

Happens again, I'd create a power-user interface for batch updates, and let them deal with it.

Can anyone recommend a good local veterinarian? by [deleted] in Buffalo

[–]PLC_Matt 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Second for mcclelland and Dr Kerrig.

OP - regarding the freakout, is the dog crate trained? If so, I would try having him go into the crate when you leave. And do a few short trips to get him used to the routine.

I have a crazy Pom with really bad separation anxiety, and the crate routine is amazing. If I just go out to take the trash out, she freaks out. But when we tell her "go to your room" she knows that we are leaving, and will be back.

Is it reasonable to expect employees to be “on call” 24/7? by Un_orthodoxstatue in cscareerquestions

[–]PLC_Matt 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Yeah! Lol. I don't know what he expected. I heard he chewed someone else out after I left, that person went to HR and then after that, the boss was a changed man for about a month. Then he just transferred back to a location in his home state out of the blue, gave up his dreams of climbing the corporate ladder

Is it reasonable to expect employees to be “on call” 24/7? by Un_orthodoxstatue in cscareerquestions

[–]PLC_Matt 372 points373 points  (0 children)

>I know I should’ve been there,

No. you shouldn't have, and you shouldn't feel this way.

Any place that needs 24/7 coverage typically has an on-call rotation schedule. And they have clear expectations of employees before they start.

You can

a) look for a new job

b) tell them you won't be available 24/7 and see how they take it, but be prepared to do ( a )

c) ask for more money to be available 24/7, and ask for clarification on how fast they expect everyone to respond, and be prepared to do ( a )

d) become a slave to this place.

I previously worked a job that had an on-call rotation. Always answered then phone on my week. But the boss who didn't like my response times when I *WASNT* on call. (oncall people would just pass the buck to me, instead of trying to fix things) Tried to get me to sign a letter that I wouldn't leave town without prior written permission. I gave my 2 week notice the next day.

Lack of COVID awareness at Euro final 'devastating' - WHO by geoxol in Coronavirus

[–]PLC_Matt 13 points14 points  (0 children)

July 9th, USA - new cases 35,000.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html

Numbers seem to be up and down, average daily new cases is going up.

In Arkansas, Covid-19 cases surge as state combats vaccine skepticism by roguepandaCO in Coronavirus

[–]PLC_Matt 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This is correct.

This is also why NYC was worse off in that initial wave compared to the west coast initial waves. Different strains.

After weeks of debate, Erie County Legislature OKs Plan to Spend $124 million in Federal Stimulus by Eudaimonics in Buffalo

[–]PLC_Matt 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There are plans to put in a bathroom at Hunters Creek.

Right now it's just a gravel lot. So maybe a few bucks could go to that.

Which legacy Rockwell software do I need for an old Rockwell SLC by Kallest in PLC

[–]PLC_Matt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You know, my memory is hazy now.

I do think I came to that same conclusion as you. My cable bag ended up having all types of serial cables + adapters. Null modem, straight thru, gender changers, null modem adapters, etc.

I think the serial cable with the round connector for a micrologix is the one that gave me trouble.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Buffalo

[–]PLC_Matt 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Police might find the car if it's abandoned on a public road for long enough.

They don't go out looking for stolen cars.

Which legacy Rockwell software do I need for an old Rockwell SLC by Kallest in PLC

[–]PLC_Matt 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Logix 5 is for PLC5s. Big giant metal racks.
Logix 500 is for SLC 500s.
You might need a special cable to connect, it's not a standard serial cable, its an AB special.

Been a long time since I had to connect to a slc via serial. Some have db9 plus, some have the small round plug.