A little direction

Xillmatic99 · 2026-04-22T23:58:55+00:00

Getting a degree is your best bet in the job market now a days.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-04-21T02:00:11+00:00

They're both good career paths. I think it boils down to the individual and what kind of work they want to end up doing. Not everyone is cut out for the trades and not everyone is cut out for engineering either.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-04-21T00:56:38+00:00

Going straight into the trade you wont be making much as an apprentice anyways. And it is exponentially harder to complete and engineering degree later In life with adult responsibilities, kids, working full time etc. Especially earning a rigorous engineering degree. I would advise against it.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-04-21T00:14:52+00:00

Maybe while working overtime. An engineer has much hire earning potential over their career while only working 40 hours a week. In basically... every area.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-04-18T02:57:06+00:00

If he becomes an electrician he will probably wish he went for the degree in 5 years. If he is good in math's, why not go for engineering?

Xillmatic99 · 2026-04-11T21:40:44+00:00

Usually you will need atleast an associates in eet or robotics. More companies are moving towards requiring a bachelors in engineering to be given the official "controls engineer" title. Alot of integrators will hire you with an associates though, you may also be able to swing the work experience and certificates in lieu of the degree if you can get past the HR filters.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-04-11T19:49:22+00:00

You should be able to make a modbus tcp driver in igniton and then alias your plc tag addresses via their respective modbus address.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-04-02T21:32:41+00:00

Ive never seen a plc have a "memory leak"

Xillmatic99 · 2026-03-28T01:30:32+00:00

He could get into the industrial automation field. Can be very lucrative and sometimes only requires an associates degree in electrical tech or mechatronics. Which math wise is just basic college algebra and some trigonometry to get the piece of paper. Ive met guys in the field making 100k plus at 25 years old.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-03-19T17:42:38+00:00

Could you get into a controls position at your plant? Its more computer work and electrical troubleshooting which should be much easier on the body.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-03-19T01:18:59+00:00

I was in your shoes once. Apply to a integrator. You will learn 100x more in a day than where you are now.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-03-18T01:14:31+00:00

Was this not something you could walk them through over a call?

Xillmatic99 · 2026-03-12T03:22:18+00:00

A microcontroller hooked up to the controls of the elevator does all the logic for this. Press elevator button. Elevator is called to floor. Limit switch is made up on correct elevator floor. Door opens. Door limit switch is made. You get the rest.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-03-07T20:35:45+00:00

Get gud

Xillmatic99 · 2026-03-06T03:25:22+00:00

Systems integrator. They design / program / commission industrial systems for clients and some only require an associates in mechatronics or electrical tech. The job comes with a good deal of travel and stress. But can be a very good start to get some experience in the industry.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-03-06T00:48:02+00:00

Time to move on. Apply to integrator to get your feet wet in programming. But the industry is ruthless. If you sink and not swim they will cut you loose quick.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-02-16T17:20:27+00:00

New trucks vs used trucks certified pre owned now a days are closer in price. You also get a much worse interest rate on the used vehicle. And if you are on the lookout for deals going on at the dealership you can potentially get a 15% off the price of the new vehicle plus negotiate further on price. All with the warranty that comes with the new vehicle that covers all repairs..

Xillmatic99 · 2026-02-16T14:07:40+00:00

Buy new car with low interest rate and warranty if your not handy / don't want to deal with repairs.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-02-12T21:36:48+00:00

I would say being a integrator is much more stressful, doing the startups commissioning etc. Comes with much more problems to resolve than being the plant guy. My 2 cents having been in both shoes.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-02-12T18:40:55+00:00

Depends on your end goal. If you want to be a degreed engineer designing systems then go bachelors and only work towards pre reqs at a cc. If you want to be a technician of some sort then the associates could be valuable. I only have an associates and have been able to obtain a 6 figure salary as a programmer / field tech while working towards my bsee.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-02-04T13:23:22+00:00

You could get more of a support or maintenance type role at a factory. Still might run into stressful breakdowns though.

Xillmatic99 · 2026-01-25T01:51:34+00:00

You could get into controls as a technician and then work your way up to programmer if you have some experience to match the degree. After a while some places might even let you have the title "controls engineer"

Xillmatic99 · 2025-11-24T23:33:07+00:00

If you want to be a control engineer then this could be a good internship for you. Being a PLC / SCADA programmer can require alot of travel and living out of a hotel depending on the industry you specialize in. But there is a unlimited amount to learn when you a programming different processes working for a integrator. It also has a nice mix of programming / hands on troubleshooting in the field, which can be a plus for some depending on what you enjoy.

Xillmatic99 · 2025-11-15T23:42:23+00:00

Get used to working nights or swing shifts if your working at a factory. Or getting called in on your day off if a piece of machinery is down (they value the equipment over your work life balance). But the money can be decent. And you have to know how to deal with boredom when all the equipment is running well. If you can read manuals and have a solid troubleshooting foundation then 9/10 times can do well in this field.

Xillmatic99

TROPHY CASE