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Industrial Automation / PLCs
Posted on 6/11/16 at 7:56 pm
Posted on 6/11/16 at 7:56 pm
Ive been doing maintenance on an industrial Automation system and would like to learn more about the systems
What would be a good route? Are there any online training courses or certifications?
What would be a good route? Are there any online training courses or certifications?
Posted on 6/11/16 at 8:11 pm to ike221
Check out plcs.net. They have some good books that can get you going.
Best way is to buy something like an automation direct click(free software) and a couple of lights and switches. Try building different things and making them work. Ebay is your friend.
Once you get the basics down its just a matter of seeing different approaches in logic that other people have done and figuring things out on your own.
Ive been doing plc and scada work for over 10 years. I prefer doing scada. My biggest complaint about plcs is that something I can do in 3 lines of code in software takes 100's of rungs in ladder logic. Problem is that visual representation in ladder is good for the technicians that are troubleshooting.
Ignition by inductive automation is a good scada software that has an unlimited 2 hour trial, so if you want to play with a scada software, it is a good choice.
Best way is to buy something like an automation direct click(free software) and a couple of lights and switches. Try building different things and making them work. Ebay is your friend.
Once you get the basics down its just a matter of seeing different approaches in logic that other people have done and figuring things out on your own.
Ive been doing plc and scada work for over 10 years. I prefer doing scada. My biggest complaint about plcs is that something I can do in 3 lines of code in software takes 100's of rungs in ladder logic. Problem is that visual representation in ladder is good for the technicians that are troubleshooting.
Ignition by inductive automation is a good scada software that has an unlimited 2 hour trial, so if you want to play with a scada software, it is a good choice.
Posted on 6/12/16 at 7:03 am to ike221
I've sent some of my guys to the travelling training courses (NTT, etc) and was not impressed.
The only worthwhile formal classes that I've seen are the ones put on by the manufacturers or by system integrators. Of course, both are usually product specific.
The online stuff available directly from the OEMs is OK but it is expensive. If you work for a facility with a maintenance contract, most vendors offer reduced cost training to contract holders.
What systems are you working on? I've been in the business 21 years and don't mind answering questions on products I'm familiar with.
The only worthwhile formal classes that I've seen are the ones put on by the manufacturers or by system integrators. Of course, both are usually product specific.
The online stuff available directly from the OEMs is OK but it is expensive. If you work for a facility with a maintenance contract, most vendors offer reduced cost training to contract holders.
What systems are you working on? I've been in the business 21 years and don't mind answering questions on products I'm familiar with.
Posted on 6/12/16 at 6:39 pm to ike221
quote:
Are there any online training courses or certifications?
Training is almost always hardware specific and there are few certifications that mean anything. I've been in the business since 1989 and it's come a long way.
What system are you working on? I can check back periodically if you have questions, I don't mind answering questions. Honestly, most people either have a knack for it or they don't. If you don't, you can still learn a lot and be a good tech, it just takes a bit more of a grind to get there.
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