In 2007, we walked out of the hospital with a newborn baby, less than $100 in our bank account, and a radical plan to start a company. Most people told us we were crazy. They said we needed an engineering degree, a massive savings account, and high-end equipment to survive in the industrial world. They were wrong.
In this episode, Tim Wilborne shares the raw, unpolished history of TW Controls—from building panels by trouble light in a shed with no electricity to shoveling a 500-foot dirt driveway just to get a shipment out. We discuss why the "messy middle" of a career change is where the most growth happens and how a $20,000 business failure became the catalyst for everything we do today. Whether you feel stuck in a "dead-end" job or you're terrified to take the next step in your career, this is a reminder that you don't need a silver spoon to build a legacy; you just need to get started.
Finding the root cause of an erratic signal can feel like chasing a ghost, especially when your trend lines show noise that shouldn't be there. In this session, we walk through a real-world troubleshooting scenario involving a Yamaha robot simulation where the A3 axis exhibited mysterious spikes. While it initially looked like signal noise or a math error in Studio 5000, the investigation led deep into the interaction between the PLC and the Ignition SCADA system. We explore why a standard cross-reference in the PLC didn't reveal the culprit and how switching to read-only communications finally exposed a hidden bidirectional tag write.
We also discuss the common trap of "patching" problems with software filters instead of identifying the source. Whether it is a bad shield on an analog line or an accidental setting in your HMI, understanding the "why" behind the spike is what separates a technician from a parts changer. Additionally, we touch on the challenges of modern Ethernet troubleshooting, the limitations of Wireshark without port mirroring, and why the "View Diagnostics" tool in Ignition is a game-changer for identifying communication conflicts.
Helping you become a better technician so you will always be in demand
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Items used in this video:PLC Trainer https://controls.tw/yt-plc-trainers
The above links make these videos possible. Please use them!
I share why I decided to step back from the mic to focus on YouTube "how-to" videos and, more importantly, why I am contemplating a return to podcasting.
Helping you become a better technician so you will always be in demand Get the full details of this lesson at https://twcontrols.com/plc-lessons Items used in this video: PLC Trainer https://twcontrols.com/plc-trainers The above links make these videos possible. Please use them! Subscribe to our Main channel for How To's https://www.youtube.com/user/TimWilborne?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to our 2nd Channel for Quick Tips https://www.youtube.com/@TimWilborne2?sub_confirmation=1 Support these videos by becoming a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TimWilborne
Helping you become a better technician so you will always be in demand Get the full details of this lesson at https://twcontrols.com/plc-lessons Items used in this video: PLC Trainer https://twcontrols.com/plc-trainers The above links make these videos possible. Please use them! Subscribe to our Main channel for How To's https://www.youtube.com/user/TimWilborne?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to our 2nd Channel for Quick Tips https://www.youtube.com/@TimWilborne2?sub_confirmation=1 Support these videos by becoming a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TimWilborne
Subscribe to our Main channel for How To's https://www.youtube.com/user/TimWilborne?sub_confirmation=1
Subscribe to our Main channel for How To's https://www.youtube.com/user/TimWilborne?sub_confirmation=1
Subscribe to our Main channel for How To's https://www.youtube.com/user/TimWilborne?sub_confirmation=1
We share thoughts on how to portray yourself when you start a company, angry HMIs, and community.
What worked and what is on the horizon in manufacturing for 2023.
Three very different stories of how to enter a great career in manufacturing.
There is a lot of talk out there about whether trade shows are worth attending or if we have moved past the need for them.
Catch us live on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 11am EST.
We talk about the importance of internships and mentors in raising up the next generation of of engineers and technicians in manufacturing. Get the full details of this lesson at https://twcontrols.com/podcast
We discuss the difference between STEM education vs STEAM education. We need to include art in engineering plus find surprising similarities between Engineering and Liberal Arts. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEAM adds the Arts to it.
How can we get the youth into trades? We discuss ideas and what is missing from any education systems.
We talk with MB Clemens about the need for the trades, working with your hands, and the importance of integrating STEM Science Technology Engineering and Math into schools and the advantage of the Art in STEAM. Legos, Lincoln Logs, and tons of rabbit trails.
In this PLC programming challenge, we needed to program a start stop motor control with reverse operation in ladder logic, function block diagrams, and structured text. Here is my solution.
In this PLC programming challenge, we need to program a start stop motor control with reverse operation. This exercise is good for beginners, intermediate, and experienced programmers. Make sure you watch the watch the challenge till the end. There is more to this than a simple start stop reverse program. We are going to write it ladder logic, function block diagrams, and structured text.
What is the purpose of putting a password in an Allen Bradley PLC? Should we enable source protection in Rockwell Automations Studio 5000? And how can we improve security of industrial control systems? What you won't find here is how to crack an Allen Bradley password.