Hi all, how is your industry embracing the 4.0 change? Ours with plc5 and virtualization xd
I'm looking to move to UK and have around 5 years experience in the industrial automation domain.
My experience is predominantly with AB PLC's. Which are the areas in UK I should consider for moving?
Also, what is a reasonable salary expectation in UK for this salary range?
Thanks.
I start Monday as a controls engineer at a company and someone who worked there said that there’s a good training regimen but the hiring manager told me otherwise that you just learn as you go. I’m a fresh graduate with Computer Engineering degree and I’ve had little to none experience with this field. Any tips/advice for my first weeks to get going and not feel ignorant at the job?
Looking for different takes on this. Only on custom machines? Everything? Some manufacturers say they can’t provide it due to safety, but others hand it over without issue.
Hey guys, I posted an article a few weeks ago on how to use Node-RED as a free protocol converter. This time around, I wanted to tackle OPC-UA, as it's so commonly encountered by folks like us working in industrial automation. Check it out here -
https://flowforge.com/blog/2023/07/how-to-deploy-a-basic-opc-ua-server-in-node-red/
I am doing this as part of a series of articles, since, let's be blunt, building an OPC-UA Server isn't a small task. But it's totally do-able, especially with the tools available in Node-RED. While doing research to make this article, I found that while there's a lot of interest in OPC-UA for Node-RED, actual detailed documentation is lacking. So my goal with this article was to lower the barrier of entry and provide a kick-starter for anyone that wants to build their own custom OPC-UA server :). Let me know what you think!
I have a primary job working for an integrator. The projects are huge and can last years, and even though its fulfilling to work on these projects, sometimes I just want to have "fun" as an automation professional and do smaller, quicker to complete jobs. I was wondering if any of you have successfully started your own PLC side hustle in addition to your regular duties, and what advice you could give me.
Curious about this. I’ve dabbled with the thought of starting my own controls/system integration company. The question I always come to is: how do i find potential clients? Most would be manufacturing facilities, but i’ll be outbid/outdone by the established controls companies if i’m trying to work with major manufacturers right away. That made me think that I’d try to connect with smaller companies, but small companies that need controls work aren’t so easy to find. How do people get started off in this industry as a small business?
If i decided to do this, I would absolutely be willing to do any legwork necessary. I’m just not sure where I’d even start.
Hello I've got an application coming up that I could use some guidance/assistance on. I'm being tasked with a very large machine refurbishment/upgrade project. This project involves refurbishing and upgrading 85 machines. These machines will have identical control systems involving a PLC, some VFDs, stepper, and HMI. The machines will all reside on an OT network and all talk back to a data acquisition system tied into our ERP system. All machines are housed within one facility.
What I need some assistance with is the best way to deal with IP address assignment across the 85 machines. My difficulty is that I'm in the med device industry so these machines require fairly extension validations. Meaning any software change/update/etc needs to be revalidated. A validation can be used on duplicate pieces of equipment, simplifying the process. But if I need to have different IPs in the program per machine, I need to have different pieces of software per machine, therefore requiring a whole separate validation per machine.
I have experience using industrial VPNs in machines (Tosibox specifically) when machines are not in my facility, but I don't have experience if I can have the data acquisition system look into the VPN network to get it's data.
This project is most likely going to involve Productivity series PLCs due to the systems simplicity but requirement of Ethernet/IP and Maple Systems HMIs due to other uses throughout plant.
I'm just looking for some different options and opinions, whether something can be done software side for dynamic IP assignment, i.e. macros of some sort. Or potentially do I just keep the machines entirely off OT network and put cheap ethernet devices in the machine as a relay between the machines and data acquisition system. Or potentially something network side that can be done. Any assistance or ways you guys have accomplished this would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if I missed any important information.
Have any of you found a good way to document large and complex systems?
I am currently dealing with several handfuls each of Visio documents, excel spreadsheets, word documents, email chains, AWS reports, Active Directory screenshots, OneNote packages, GitHub repos, and various other stuff, including handwritten notes...
I want to make something like a network topology map that shows all of the devices, applications, and their connections, but have it be interactive, where I can click on something, let's say a service running in AWS and see who all is responsible for its various features and what some of its key configurable settings are and hows its incoming and outgoing connections are setup. I've tried using Visio, but it is pretty limited and looks like even if I go through the pain of connecting it to other stuff like excel and scripting it won't meet expectations.
TLDR - what do you use to document large complex systems? This is a multi level SCADA that covers hundreds of sites, connects to a handful of business applications, and is integrated with several custom software packages.
Any reason why this is happening
What is the difference really? One is servo drive, one is a powerflex 527 motion drive. What are the main drive differences other than shape, and size? I’ve replaced a dozen of each. But never figured out their differences
I have trouble once in awhile, seems like others have too, of finding manuals and specs from Rockwell
Only reason I ask is a lot of the time if I know what I’m looking for that a simple google search is almost easier.. they also have a technical doc center which is mainly links-
I am trying to add firmware to a plus 7 series b panel view and seem to be getting the same result code of 2147024894. When I click update firmware it accepts the files but once it says to remove the flash it gives me the error.
I have ventilation unit systemair VTR300 (https://shop.systemair.com/upload/assets/54512_VTR_300_INSTALLATION_AND_SERVICE_208348_CE_EN-GB__A005_.PDF)
It has modbus protocol for control/telemetry data.
I got RS485 to Ethernet adapter to connect it to my network (https://www.waveshare.com/rs485-to-eth-b.htm).
I can see adapter from the network, I can connect to admin page and change settings.
I have connected RS485 to VTR300, but I cannot get a single reading from VTR unit.
I have some experience in electronics and computer networking, so not totally noob. Unfortunately this is to big to solve it by myself. Mostly as I cannot debug it in steps and I have no idea where is fault and how to set it up correctly.
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Can someone help me out? Please?
This is my current setup: https://i.ibb.co/1qQ2Mzz/converter.png
any idea what am I missing and what is my next step?
I work for an OEM that is doing R&D on a product line for use in Pharma. We've had a number of consultants tell us how most Pharma facilities are moving towards DeltaV, but we've been pigeonholed into a PLC based control system for the equipment we are developing due to cost, size, and response time constraints.
The PLC application, and the HMI application using the PLC vendor's HMI solution, is complete. In isolation the equipment performs beautifully.
Now I'm working on building out some components in DeltaV to facilitate integrations with related equipment. A customer who is using DeltaV for plant wide DCS can easily inhibit, stop, and start operation with some simple hooks I've created for common permissives and interlocks. IE don't let the machine start if supply is not ok, stop the machine if waste collection system goes offline, start the machine when upstream machine begins delivering product, etc. I have a GEM which provides a cursory look at the machine's status, and can allow an operator to advance through the main operating sequence.
However, I think I'm starting to hit some walls where DeltaV seems to lack some flexibility in the datatypes it supports, and how it interacts with those datatypes. In particular, limitations on what an array may contain, and a somewhat opaque syntax for accessing properties in objects through aliasing or concatenating paths are making development increasingly difficult as I try to develop lower level functionality.
I'm trying to figure out at which point the juice is no longer worth the squeeze, so I have a few questions for those of you who work in DeltaV facilities:
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Do DeltaV facilities (especially in Pharma) have any opposition to OEMs providing equipment that includes an Allen Bradley or Siemens controller and HMI if that control system can be integrated with DeltaV and meets all other regulatory requirements?
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Are OEMs usually expected to deliver their equipment with an additional OIT that includes a DeltaV-based HMI if they use another vendor's solution for primary control?
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Do you typically expect to be able to drill down into an equipment module and set individual valve states or monitor sensors of middling importance through your main DeltaV control interface?
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If the expectation in facilities adopting DeltaV is that it will be used for everything from supervisory to machine level control, and that all equipment will make use of pk controllers, are there reasonable exceptions when the native DeltaV IO solutions fall short?
Having some trouble finding any information regarding axis control hydraulic working off an inclinometer. Anyone available to point me in the right direction? Essentially I need a system that can plumb a pile driving mast in the vertical - obviously an inclinometer is in the picture but everyone is looking at me like I'm an alien. Unit drives many piles daily.
I've been told that ControlFLASH Plus can be used to find serial numbers of all the devices attached to the system but when I run a product inventory and registration audit, it only gives me the 1756 series devices. Anyone know how to do this or know of any other quick ways to get a list of serial numbers? For context, I need the serial numbers of an already built out panel for warranty purposes.
Does anyone know if there’s any possible way to upload files from a USB drive into the FactoryTalk View Studio Machine Edition. Unless I am doing something wrong here as I am very much new to this. Thanks
Hi I need some help troubleshooting our flex Picker. It has 3 suction cups on it and will go down and vacuum suck the product after it passes the camera. The third one keeps flinging the product off after picking it up to place in the box. I've already checked the air hose lines and cleaned out any debris or dust inside the cups but it's still flinging them off. Any tips?