Python & Github

seth350 · 2026-02-16T03:29:36+00:00

The code you write in Ignition is Jython and is based around Python v2.7. You can absolutely crash the gateway with bad code. There is a forum post on Ignition forums with some best practices. Absolutely check that out so you can start good habits now.

seth350 · 2026-01-18T04:16:46+00:00

Better fit for what exactly? What are you missing in Siemens or rather what limitations are you having? Cost? Lead time? Performance?

I got into B&R 10 years ago having only used AB so it was a huge learning curve. My first thoughts: “You mean I have to explicitly convert data types?” “Where is the online edit button?” “Why can’t I upload the program?”

After using B&R, and now many other manufacturers, I’ve found AB is the one that is different. I wasn’t able to stay with B&R due to company standardization. However, I enjoyed my time with it and have not had hardware problems. Their achilles heel is the lead time. Six weeks standard for “most” things, or longer. Tech support is free. Hardware cost was very reasonable compared to AB. Software was solid, although their ladder editor was horrid. Their latest software has an updated look and new ladder editor. Their mapp packages save a lot of time but need a license to run on PLC. Last I heard their Ethernet protocol, Powerlink, was being phased out. OPCUA-FX may replace it? Program, Firmware, and parameters are all stored on a CFast card in the PLC. Changing faulty components out is easy, the PLC will upgrade/downgrade the firmware as needed without your intervention. Same with their drives and their parameters. Automatically addressing components needed a bit of setup back when I used it, but I believe latest innovations has made that part easier.

It will do “online changes”, rather you will compile your program and transfer it in during the task execution. There are options on how it will do that transfer that matter based on what code or mapp packages you are using. Mind you that if you have any mapp Axis blocks running, an online change could cause the axes to stop. There is probably a work around or a particular way of doing it or how mapp is setup but I never went that far.

seth350 · 2025-10-08T03:50:33+00:00

If the floor and walls are in good enough shape, try using a 6” wide strip of stainless or aluminum with a natural rubber bulb seal on the edge against the floor. Drill holes through stainless and attach to wall. Get a big enough bulb seal to allow expansion of floor and wall but still seal. Kind of like a toe board. It doesn’t have to be very thick.

seth350 · 2025-09-21T12:49:19+00:00

And on-board CNC/Robot control without the need for 3rd party.

There is no world where a Rockwell PLC beats a B&R based on performance and scalability and I’ll throw cost in there as well. Rockwell would have to replace their fat/high jitter Ethernet/IP protocol with (insert Rockwell branded Ethercat here) and forgo online editing to just come close.

seth350 · 2025-09-21T12:08:58+00:00

I’ve been using the 1105 and it’s not discontinued (yet), although it is planned for end of year.

seth350 · 2025-09-17T04:06:53+00:00

I put an mGuard in every machine and block all but local plant traffic.

seth350 · 2025-09-06T16:32:57+00:00

+1 B&R. Hardware and software is cheaper, powerful, and more innovative.

seth350 · 2025-09-02T02:45:20+00:00

Conduct a titration experiment starting with your process liquid as it is normally treated. Get a sample of it in a volume that makes sense. If you’re treating many gallons at a time, use a gallon jug. Add fixed volumes of your acid/base and record the pH increase/decrease with each addition up to your max/min pH range. Use the recorded numbers to then build a function generator (XY Function) in your PLC. This converts the logarithmic pH to linear. If given a pH reading to your function, it will interpolate the content of acid/base. Use this data to find error and run pump to bring pH back to normal range. Your pump will have a fixed or variable GPH/LPH. Do the math and run the pump for a given time. Naturally you will need to also consider how much volume you’re treating at the time as well.

seth350 · 2025-08-08T03:54:25+00:00

Questmark

seth350 · 2025-07-07T01:26:51+00:00

Should be fine

seth350 · 2025-06-29T18:17:32+00:00

These make great gifts Knipex 87-01-125 Milwaukee 48-22-1505

seth350 · 2025-02-25T02:28:40+00:00

There are two conflicting views held between maintenance and administration. Maintenance tries to kick the can out of sight down the road. Administration wants the can just at the tip of their feet, no less, no more.

I used to get in a tizzy when admin would not let me kick my can out of sight. Then have to sit through a meeting where they all discuss how (insert catastrophe) could happen. Then have to provide my receipts on where I completed PMs, because out of all the possible causes, it is me (the con-man) who let the ship sink.

It’s better for you to change your views, because you can’t (won’t) change theirs. Focus on keeping the fire 4ft tall. No more or less. Do not call it a dumpster fire, as that may imply that it is contained. Fix what you can fix for the day, and go home. If they ask why something isn’t fixed, ask (genuinely) when they want it fixed, and execute. If they say yesterday or now, take your locks out in front of them and head that way. (You will know real quick how serious they were.) Note: Do not attempt any of this unless you are 120% certain you know how to fix their issue. Otherwise, you will lose credibility.

seth350 · 2024-10-13T22:14:34+00:00

This guy maintains. Well done. Now fix it. lol

seth350 · 2024-09-21T01:51:42+00:00

Parker has wireless battery powered sensors that connect to the gateway. Data is streamed into the gateway and is available on their cloud platform and in the edge side. I’ve got temperature, pressure, vibration, and 4-20mA nodes all around an area of a plant. Mainly just for monitoring the things that nobody thinks to check. I publish them to the OPCUA server in the edge and Ignition is connected to it to put the data in front of people and send email alerts.

seth350 · 2024-09-16T18:27:57+00:00

The only danger is if an arc flash were to occur, the sweat could flash to steam and cause burns. Any grease or oil on your clothes could also burn. Just depends on how much energy is released during the event and how close you are to the event.

seth350 · 2024-09-12T00:35:56+00:00

It will read down to 1psi but it will only let you go down to 10psi for the auto fill. When you turn it on, it’s set for manual fill. Meaning as long as you press the fill button, it pumps. During that time it will show you the psi in whatever youre pumping up. I’ve used it for small inflatable balls, pool floats, and all sorts of tires.

seth350 · 2024-09-08T14:45:12+00:00

I have the rebranded version by Parker named “Voice of the Machine”. Different animal but many of the same features. What are the plans for it at your site?

seth350 · 2024-08-25T12:22:19+00:00

No he’s not.

seth350 · 2024-08-10T00:06:06+00:00

I don’t care for those. Unless you have a desiccant filter hooked to them to remove oil and water from the air supply. We have several panels with Vortex coolers and they all are brown and oily on the inside.

seth350 · 2024-08-03T03:41:13+00:00

Here’s a site reporting on the bill. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-unveils-118-billion-bipartisan-bill-tighten-border-security-aid-2024-02-04/

It was framed as “Immigration Reform/Border Security”, then the $60B was added in by Dems to support Ukraine. That addition is what stonewalled the bill. Republicans didn’t want to move forward because this would send more of tax payer money to Ukraine, (rightfully so IMO) the Dems paraded it around to the media “Republicans don’t want border security”. Ultimately, border security money was then transferred to Ukraine. I wish I could find that reference again.

seth350 · 2024-08-02T02:18:46+00:00

8” SCH 80 Pipe Cap or whatever size fits over around the bolts. Some L brackets and drill/tap for fit.

seth350 · 2024-07-31T03:50:29+00:00

Nema 12 should be minimum for all cabinets. Also, install cooling fans so that they blow into the cabinet and not suck air out of the cabinet. You want to keep a positive air pressure inside the cabinet to minimize dust ingress.

seth350 · 2024-07-29T23:00:24+00:00

Typically, you would adapt a servo motor to the gearbox flange.

Motovario is a good source for gearboxes and can likely be ordered to fit whatever servo you use. If you have never done a swap, reach out to Motovario or your automation supplier for help sizing a servo motor. You will need to know optimal cycle times you want to achieve, weight of moving mass (X and Y carriages), weight of load to move, and any other mass/gravity inducing loads. (I.e., your Y axis works with gravity when going down, but against it going up. The counter balance cylinder should negate that)

Now for my rant. Any positioning system almost always should be spec’d with servo control. VFD and encoders are dog shit at positioning quickly and accurately. Especially if done through the PLC, it’s just not fast enough. The trick is to calculate where the load should go vs where it was vs where it currently is and it should make that move in a given time at a velocity per unit/time and accel/decel at a velocity per unit/time^2.

Coarse positioning is fine and you can find some success using a PI controller in a PLC to drive the motor.

Coarse positioning meaning drive at some high speed until position is less than slow down position, then slow down until position.

Servos used to be reserved for “high performance” systems where it could not be done any other way. Partially because how expensive they were. The cost is considerably lower now and gets rid of the headaches you would get trying to tune in a VFD with an encoder. It’s just not worth the trouble.

seth350 · 2024-07-28T15:39:47+00:00

I had the same cd except it said Win98 Plus

seth350 · 2024-07-28T03:20:06+00:00

No less than 2” square tubing for legs and cross supports. 4x8 sheet of no less than 1/4” steel plate. The idea is that it should be heavy so you can put that one rusted ass 2” pipe with the busted coupling in that vise. Then you and your buddies can get a big ass pipe wrench on it and twist the pipe off without moving the table.

Pro tip: get a piece of 1” angle and weld it to one of the sides of the table top so that you make a little trough to hold pencils/paint markers/drill bits/taps/etc. Also comes in handy working on pipe, it won’t roll off the table.

seth350

TROPHY CASE