I am a software engineer, spend most of my time working on web application backends (C# and Go mostly), but was always interested in embedded systems (which I have some experience with) and industrial automation but I never took a step and stayed in my comfort zone...
Anyway, how hard is it for a software engineer to transition to industrial automation field (plc programming) since I have no formal education in electrical engineering?
Hi Anes, I honestly don't know how hard the transition would be since everyone is slightly different. I came from Electronics/Electricity technical Naval training, and sorta worked my way in industrial automation after I left the Navy. I can tell you everything I know is self-taught, so I would think someone with backend experience would learn PLC programming pretty quick, since you already have a good background. Industrial Automation is different depending on the company and PLC brand used, but system design is pretty standard across the board. Back then where DRY was not the standard. Nowadays you have almost full blown OOP practices within Siemens and Allen Bradley and most other big manufacturers software packages "IDEs".
Electric engineering is not strictly necessary but it is useful especially when dealing with the IO field devices, and other things like calibrations, pid tuning etc, but as you find out more about your job these are thing that are easy to learn.
Realpars looks ok, but honestly Siemens has pretty good information online and free for most of their stuff. Allen Bradley is another story. In the end I would say if you have the cash for it get you a S7-1200 plc, and install TIA Portal on a VM if you can get your hands on I think it has a 14 day trial if I am not mistaken but don't quote me on that lol. Then you can program and play around with that at your own pace maybe even do a small project around the house with it.
Great, thanks, that basically confirms what I was thinking.
If not s7-1200, don't know if s7 300 would also be an option (don't know if tia portal works with those) ?
Thanks for the book I did see it in the comments and as for Realpars, I agree that there are probably free resources out there, but I would be willing to pay for a structured approach (like Realpars offers) since I have no idea where to start...
300s are a bit more expensive but yeah that model works with both simatic manager which is the old software, and tia.
Also forgot to mention not sure where you based out of, but Allen Bradley has a larger market share in the US, I personally like Siemens more I've used both throughout my career. Just something to think about when searching for a job.
You might be able to find used ones for a good price, new 300s are around $1200+, the S7-1200 are a couple hundred bucks and is basically a modular brick only problem with the new S7 models is that you need Tia. I think the ethernet ones are a little more expensive but still nowhere near a full 300s price. The 1500 and 400 are the backplane type, larger and a heck of lot more expensive.
In the beginning I would just try to find a trial version of step7, and plcsim install on a VM and make sure to take a snapshot to revert back, save your programs on a shared folder :) on the host machine. You can do quite a lot in the programming side. And codesys also is free with a simulator, the iec programming is close to siemens so a lot can be carried over if you choose codesys.
Anyways good luck in your endevour! Sorry for the overload of information lol.
Beckhoff PLC are codesys based and fully compliant etc.
It is programmed in MS Visual Studio and supports writing in c#. Much easier for someone from a CompSci background to get into modern controls. Natively supports vision now too. Tis the future...
(...writing this after battling with Twincat all day...)
You guys still available for support regarding Automation? I have just started working as automation engineer in an oil and gas refinery. Have some questions.
Thanks for the quick response.
So our DCS system is having a couple of alarms which I don't know how to solve.
This is the description: "CONTROLLER 108 DIAGNOSTIC". Do you probably know what needs to be done in order to remove this alarm from the list? Everything in the system if fine, shows healthy but even though I have this alarm.
This isn't a support channel, this is just a post about automation as a career, I'd recommend you go to plctalk.net/qanda/ when you sign up on plctalk make sure you are a bit more descriptive with your questions, equipment model, etc. Good luck!
Hey there, you can try doing a search on google here's the name of the book and author "Automating Manufacturing Systems with PLCs" (Hugh Jack). Should be plenty of hits. Cheers!
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Hi,
I am a software engineer, spend most of my time working on web application backends (C# and Go mostly), but was always interested in embedded systems (which I have some experience with) and industrial automation but I never took a step and stayed in my comfort zone...
Anyway, how hard is it for a software engineer to transition to industrial automation field (plc programming) since I have no formal education in electrical engineering?
I was looking at this learn.realpars.com/browse site and it seems like a good place to start.
Hi Anes, I honestly don't know how hard the transition would be since everyone is slightly different. I came from Electronics/Electricity technical Naval training, and sorta worked my way in industrial automation after I left the Navy. I can tell you everything I know is self-taught, so I would think someone with backend experience would learn PLC programming pretty quick, since you already have a good background. Industrial Automation is different depending on the company and PLC brand used, but system design is pretty standard across the board. Back then where DRY was not the standard. Nowadays you have almost full blown OOP practices within Siemens and Allen Bradley and most other big manufacturers software packages "IDEs".
Electric engineering is not strictly necessary but it is useful especially when dealing with the IO field devices, and other things like calibrations, pid tuning etc, but as you find out more about your job these are thing that are easy to learn.
Free resources:
Realpars looks ok, but honestly Siemens has pretty good information online and free for most of their stuff. Allen Bradley is another story. In the end I would say if you have the cash for it get you a S7-1200 plc, and install TIA Portal on a VM if you can get your hands on I think it has a 14 day trial if I am not mistaken but don't quote me on that lol. Then you can program and play around with that at your own pace maybe even do a small project around the house with it.
Great, thanks, that basically confirms what I was thinking.
If not s7-1200, don't know if s7 300 would also be an option (don't know if tia portal works with those) ?
Thanks for the book I did see it in the comments and as for Realpars, I agree that there are probably free resources out there, but I would be willing to pay for a structured approach (like Realpars offers) since I have no idea where to start...
300s are a bit more expensive but yeah that model works with both simatic manager which is the old software, and tia.
Also forgot to mention not sure where you based out of, but Allen Bradley has a larger market share in the US, I personally like Siemens more I've used both throughout my career. Just something to think about when searching for a job.
I'm from Europe so Siemens is a lot better choice probably. I was under impression that 300s were cheaper ones, didn't do my research obviously XD
You might be able to find used ones for a good price, new 300s are around $1200+, the S7-1200 are a couple hundred bucks and is basically a modular brick only problem with the new S7 models is that you need Tia. I think the ethernet ones are a little more expensive but still nowhere near a full 300s price. The 1500 and 400 are the backplane type, larger and a heck of lot more expensive.
In the beginning I would just try to find a trial version of step7, and plcsim install on a VM and make sure to take a snapshot to revert back, save your programs on a shared folder :) on the host machine. You can do quite a lot in the programming side. And codesys also is free with a simulator, the iec programming is close to siemens so a lot can be carried over if you choose codesys.
Anyways good luck in your endevour! Sorry for the overload of information lol.
Oh, no need to apologize, I crave for information XD Thanks
Beckhoff PLC are codesys based and fully compliant etc.
It is programmed in MS Visual Studio and supports writing in c#. Much easier for someone from a CompSci background to get into modern controls. Natively supports vision now too. Tis the future...
(...writing this after battling with Twincat all day...)
Hi,
You guys still available for support regarding Automation? I have just started working as automation engineer in an oil and gas refinery. Have some questions.
Thanks.
Regards,
Sewratan Shekhar...
Hey there shoot your questions I'll try to answer what I can.
Hi Fernando,
Thanks for the quick response.
So our DCS system is having a couple of alarms which I don't know how to solve.
This is the description: "CONTROLLER 108 DIAGNOSTIC". Do you probably know what needs to be done in order to remove this alarm from the list? Everything in the system if fine, shows healthy but even though I have this alarm.
Looking forward to hearing back from you soon.
Much appreciated.
Thanks.
Regards,
Sewratan Shekhar...
This isn't a support channel, this is just a post about automation as a career, I'd recommend you go to plctalk.net/qanda/ when you sign up on plctalk make sure you are a bit more descriptive with your questions, equipment model, etc. Good luck!
Once you post your question there send me the link and if I know something I'll add my comments there.
Hi Fernando,
I am software automation engineer interested in learning industrial automation.
The plcbook link you shared is not accessible at this time, if you have the updated link, can you please share?
Thanks
Hey there, you can try doing a search on google here's the name of the book and author "Automating Manufacturing Systems with PLCs" (Hugh Jack). Should be plenty of hits. Cheers!