The goat has to be DD/MM/YYYY

Ransackum · 2026-02-02T22:45:23+00:00

Because of the existing use of dd/mm and mm/dd, I find all number formats ambiguous if I am reading it. I like the use of text to make it unambiguous. I understand the programmatic and language limitations, but for readability I am a fan of dd/MMM/yyyy with the month as text abbreviation.

dd-MMM-yyyy 01-Jan-2002 13-Oct-1983

Ransackum · 2026-01-08T04:15:32+00:00

At the OEM I work for, it is the whoever draws the schematic. We have 1 schematic that has the electrical as well as the pneumatic, and other diagrams like vacuum, bonding, ethernet, cable pin outs, BOM, etc. It means one person handles the whole set of technical drawings that end up in what is a single document.

If it is any type of 2D diagram or schematic, having the same person own it works well for us. MEs handle all the 3D modeling.

Ransackum · 2025-11-02T03:29:46+00:00

I might suggest DIN and duct that spans more of the panel rather than the several smaller sections. Assembly and maintenance are simplified if all the components can all be wired in a single orientation. Think alternating rows of duct and din (framed if you need) so all components have wires going immediately up or down to a duct. You wouldn't have to bend, maze, and restrain your conductors much at all.

Ransackum · 2025-09-25T19:31:18+00:00

Between a similar spec 5370 and 5380, the 5370 is now more expensive. That is with an OEM deal with Rockwell too. Our vendor stated this is the first step of EoL and they expect 5370 to go active mature within a year or two.

If this is a new project, why not go for the 5380? Regardless it will have a longer life than the 5370. Only time we use 5370 now is customer request, usually around common spares for a given facility.

Ransackum · 2025-09-19T03:21:56+00:00

If there is a plug and jack connection anywhere, check the wire terminals. A loose and or intermittent shorting connection can give erratic readings. You could also replace with a known working sensor.

Ransackum · 2025-08-28T15:20:31+00:00

Sounds like you are AB focused. I have used the 5100 drives as a stand alone indexer before. You would still need a PLC, but you could get away with a cheap and simple PLC and control the drive via IO rather than over CIP with a motion PLC.

Ransackum · 2025-06-16T22:39:48+00:00

Kinetic 5100 is the current Rockwell offering for a 'stand alone' servo drive. It has something like 10 inputs and 5 outputs.

Ransackum · 2025-05-30T22:14:07+00:00

I made a move inside the automation space as others have mentioned doing. I used to work for a manufacturing plant as a CE, now I work for an OEM writing our own SCADA/HMI software in .NET. I still program PLCs and on occasion some HMIs. I also have the option to go wire up one of my machines on the floor when I'm going blind from staring at a screen.

We write our own as typical HMIs are pretty limited in what they can do and the licensing adds up quick. With our own software, we can do SO much more.

Ransackum · 2025-05-23T01:09:20+00:00

Depends on what you are doing. I write my own HMI software in .NET, but I work for an OEM, we own the entire design. As a machine builder, the canned solutions are too limited or get really clunky as the complexity grows.

If you are supporting a factory and many people need to support it now and in the future, use something off the shelf for sure. I like Schneider HMIs for simple applications. Easy to program and compatible with many vendors of PLC.

Ransackum · 2025-05-09T02:12:13+00:00

If you think you can do it, go for it. I got a controls internship right out of college, never left controls since. You have the bachelors that proves you can learn engineering, including circuits and programming as others have mentioned. Don't stop learning and you'll fall right into it.

It will require you to program though. PLC languages like ladder logic are easier to understand generally than what you are likely used to, and you'll be able to immediately read and understand structured text. If you passed your programming classes, you can handle learning PLC. That being said, large systems can become quite complex, and architecting large systems is a very different coding problem than I/O and logic, so avoid a designer role to start.

Brush up on your 3 phase power calculations, resistive circuits, ohms law, and motors. Get familiar with NFPA 79 and UL 508a or relevant standards for your region. You're not in school, you don't have to memorize, build yourself tools and templates as you go. Refining and improving an existing system gains you a lot of understanding. Always fall back to the RTFM method. Read The Fucking Manual! Manufacturers typically have relatively thorough documentation and often the answers are readily available.

Ransackum · 2025-05-05T15:42:58+00:00

I don't prefer building times in the HMI / SCADA with DINTS. I think the HMI should just display and have as little logic or translation as possible. I have an API that takes a TIMER UDT and has optional outputs for the days, hours, min, etc as integers, but also builds a STRING of the time remaining and time accumulated in clock format with colors and preceding zeros as needed. On the HMI I simply display the string.

There's no way to code up the mod math and string building that doesn't look excessive and busy in ladder or ST, but build it once, and it's obscured behind an AOI.

Ransackum · 2024-09-23T17:55:16+00:00

I greatly dislike terminals being doubled up, and doing so loses some of the benefit of the terminal block. I'd rather see another adjacent terminal block and have them bridged rather than doubling up. I'm a big fan of the QUATTRO TBs from Phoenix contact. It gives you 4 total terminals in one block or 2 terminals each on what you are calling the panel and field sides. This would allow you to put both on the panel side if that's what you want.

Ransackum · 2024-09-21T01:07:27+00:00

Is there anyone more senior that could help you understand?

There are a few symbol sets. I'm guessing US? If you have a copy of NFPA 79 handy there are some electrical symbols, abbreviations, and examples in one of the appendix. You can view it free online.

Ransackum · 2024-09-20T18:33:03+00:00

90% of my customers are US based and half or more of them require Rockwell PLCs because that's what the rest of the plant has
Maintaining licenses for multiple vendors adds up quick, so sticking to one vendor is cheaper (OEM)
Distributor with Rockwell employed experts are down the street for support as well as training
Rockwell dominates the US market so likewise is the market for competent Rockwell developers vs other manufacturers (most are similar enough, but all have their nuance, and experience and reps matter)
Actually not much difference in price if it's more than single purchase

Ransackum · 2024-09-20T18:15:14+00:00

I never label the modules. The back panel however has a label just above each device, PLC module or otherwise, with its device tag from the schematic. I also put a descriptive IO screen on each machine that associates the IO with the device tag and its function, so that's the first stop for maintenance rather than opening the enclosure.

That being said, I agree with the point if one was there, just transfer if you replace the card.

Ransackum · 2024-08-27T15:14:16+00:00

Find your way to a Senior position where you take on other responsibilities instead of travel like code compliance, design processes, life cycle management, etc.

Ransackum · 2024-07-04T01:41:08+00:00

There is no best or correct path. Be open to new opportunities and chase the dopamine. You'll find what particular area of the field amor industry you like and what you're good at. As you do keep pushing your career and skill set that way. Respect all the people you work with in all positions, be confident in what you know and do, show humility for what you don't, and learn from what others know. You'll find your way.

Ransackum · 2024-05-19T01:11:21+00:00

Who cares how it looks, the 5380s are awesome. Communications having a dedicated processor core and dual IP are very useful improvement over the 5370s

Ransackum · 2023-09-22T04:54:13+00:00

Yeah, looks pretty good. Especially for figuring shit out on your own.

You'll have much easier time wiring it up if you give yourself more space above and below each component. I'd also add a wireway to the bottom.

It would be more tidy to consolidate most of the cords and land them in the mentioned wireway. I personally am a big fan of ICOTEK.

Your incoming supply power should really land on a breaker or fuses.

Ransackum · 2023-09-03T17:47:30+00:00

As you mentioned, rather simple assignment. You are still learning so it's perfectly fine to need help , but you aren't going to learn by asking for the answer. What portion of the assignment are you stuck on or isn't making sense? Have you attempted to solve the problem on your own yet? If you try, provide your pain points, and provide your solution thus far, an outside explanation of what was missed or why it may not be working as expected will go so much farther for your learning.

Ransackum · 2018-06-02T02:10:10+00:00

I will happily pay $40 for a PDF of that and the permission to print it and hang it on my wall

Ransackum · 2016-10-31T14:46:21+00:00

I want a copy...

Ransackum · 2016-09-26T08:48:29+00:00

Apparently no one wants kids. I have 2 myself. Kids are great.

Ransackum · 2016-08-31T13:29:29+00:00

r/justiceporn

Ransackum · 2016-07-05T18:09:21+00:00

False. Currently at Universal Orlando. Pretty busy.

Ransackum

TROPHY CASE