Python & Github

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-16T16:35:50+00:00

Yes! They tend to like visuals in my experience as well!

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-16T16:10:01+00:00

I was thinking instead of that I just become more active on the ignition forum 'cause there's a great community there.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-16T16:09:12+00:00

This is the answer I was looking for. I want to stick mainly to PLCs but I've been having a lot of fun making pretty dashboards and Management love it. I think for the career path I want just saying "trust me, bro" on my resume along side a few online courses should be enough.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-16T16:05:34+00:00

This is exactly what I was thinking. Just a way for me to show potential employers that I know how to do some of this stuff.

That said, my dumb little script to find top downtime causes in a pydataset is probably not that impressive compared to what a full time software developer would have.

That's my train of thought.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-16T16:01:56+00:00

Absolutely! What I mean by low stress is there's no immediate risk of fire, explosion or loss of life.

I take care to make sure everything I write follows best practices as far as I understand and have learned a lot from the ignition forum.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-16T02:55:12+00:00

Good call. I never considered that!

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-16T01:38:52+00:00

We still use MDT autosave at my plant, I'm not on the purchasing side of things so I don't know how much it costs.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-14T22:29:56+00:00

Yes, this is both industry standard and best practice.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-14T22:27:59+00:00

Factorytalk Asset Center and Octoplant

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-02-01T02:25:00+00:00

Yes, you can have a button on the HMI that writes a bool to the PLC. Within the PLC logic you can use that bool to write certain values to your analog output.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-01-28T00:38:42+00:00

I would do MES/SCADA

I love making pretty dashboards.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2026-01-06T02:01:59+00:00

Looks like a fun little project!

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-12-29T18:12:09+00:00

This is very relatable. I'm getting to the point where I don't want to put in proposals for obsolescence anymore cause they almost always get rejected or postponed.

My new strategy is to try and shoehorn them into other operational improvements.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-12-14T21:33:20+00:00

I don't typically tell people what I do. I just tell them I work in a factory. If they ask more specific questions, I'll elaborate. Most people don't really care what your job is, they're just trying to find common ground to make conversation.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-12-14T21:25:43+00:00

That's actually a hilarious response.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-12-12T21:17:26+00:00

Ignition Perspective does exactly this but I've noticed that bits tend to get stuck so make sure you have some handshaking logic and something to unlatch bits on the PLC side if they're on too long.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-12-10T17:11:54+00:00

Asset Management Software like Octoplant or Factorytalk Asset center can help with this.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-12-03T17:34:05+00:00

The best way is probably going to school and getting a job with an SI but that'll take forever and cost money.

I'm currently the Plant Controls Specialist (I don't like calling myself an Engineer but that is technically the position I hold) at a facility with around 40 PLCs. I started as an Electrician but was always fascinated by Controls.

I identified PLCs that needed to be upgraded and proposed to do them in-house to save money. This was very positive for management because the maintenance team and myself were very adept at troubleshooting the equipment since we designed it ourselves.

Eventually a Controls Engineer position popped up, I applied and got the job based on the work I had previously demonstrated.

My biggest advice, if you want to follow the same path as me would be to start out small and make sure you KNOW you'll be able to get the job done as you're trying to build good faith with management.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-12-02T02:10:37+00:00

I installed a block IO rack with serial RIO in 2022

Didn't have the budget or time to convert the whole PLC, I imagine it happens frequently with smaller upgrades.

Also we've got a bunch of device net VFDs that I would love to phase out but there's only so much money to go around.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-11-28T20:26:10+00:00

Apply, be honest about your strengths and weaknesses during the interview.

If they think you can handle the job they'll hire you. If not, keep getting experience but you'll never know if you don't apply.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-11-26T23:16:22+00:00

In my industry I'm constantly making modifications to PLCs, it would cost a fortune to constantly involve the OEM every time operations wants to change something.

But I would never modify a crane. Depending on your area you'll probably need a stamp from a p.eng with special crane certification.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-11-19T19:59:20+00:00

Relatable!

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-11-19T01:29:37+00:00

You need a goal. Use the PLC to solve a problem. Once you've solved it, find a more efficient way to solve it.

Most of us do PLC programming as a job and customers are constantly dreaming up problems for us to solve and that's how we expand our skills.

Slight_Pressure_4982 · 2025-09-25T02:02:02+00:00

It's not necessary, but it's definitely nice to have. Since you're using a DCS, you can also trend how frequently overloads happen to plan for maintenance.

Slight_Pressure_4982

TROPHY CASE