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Automation and Control Engineering

  • 27-04-2007 10:21am
    #1
    decdoc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 58 ✭✭


    Hi all,

    I'm looking to get some advice on careers in automation and control in Ireland. I've an electronic engineering degree (graduated in 2004), and I've a good grounding in all the classical linear control techniques. I'm really keen in getting into control, automation, or robotics, but I'm not sure where to start looking or what sort of opportunities there are in this area in Ireland.

    I've been looking at jobs currently available for automation engineers on irishjobs.ie and they all seem to be very focused on plc programming, which I've no experience in at all. I'm comfortable programming in C, and scripting m-files for matlab, and I've some scripting in perl and php experience aswell, and from looking into plc's, I don't think I'd have any problems picking it up quickly, but will this hold me back from getting my foot in the door.

    Has anyone any advice on how I should proceed?


Comments

  • #2
    dave2pvd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,511 ✭✭✭dave2pvd


    TBH, I'd say that automation and PLCs are a wee bit synonymous. Sure, C in its various forms will run control systems, but you do need to know some ladder language.

    How about looking into it a bit? Try searching: Mistubishi+PLC. Fill in the boxes and they'll send you a demo software CD.

    Also: Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Omron,.... lotsa places to do some PLC research.

    Take it a step further and reaserch motion control platforms. I.e servo controllers/amps. Lots of good stuff in that area.


  • #3
    DublinDilbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,401 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    Hi there,

    My major in my final year was control systems also, but we also did a fair bit of PLCs too... i've mainly worked in embedded control systems ( programming in C) since then ( aprox 7 years now ).

    Based on your back-ground, I would say you probably would be best off targetting something in the embedded control line, where you can use your "C" and matlab experience.... http://www.odenberg.com/ design alot of their own controllers, and its mostly embedded "C".

    There's quite a few PLC jobs in ireland, but they can be a bit boring after a while... it might be worth seeing if you could do a course in PLCs, it shouldn't take too long to pick up what you need to know...

    Iif you can program C a bit of ladder language won't be a problem... Although the last i heard there's a tendancy to move away from ladder language more towards state based languages ( SFC i think is the name of one of them )..


  • #4
    decdoc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 58 ✭✭decdoc


    Hi lads, thanks for the information and advise

    I've been having a good look around on the net, and from the notes and tutorials I've found, I don't think I should have to much of a problem teaching myself ladder logic, but I was wondering is there much or any difference between the implementations on different manufacturer's platforms?
    DublinDilbert wrote:
    Based on your back-ground, I would say you probably would be best off targetting something in the embedded control line, where you can use your "C" and matlab experience.... http://www.odenberg.com/ design alot of their own controllers, and its mostly embedded "C".

    Embedded control sounds really interesting, I might take a month or two to give myself some time to get up to speed with plc's, and have a look into embedded system and see what I can find out about state based languages , before I start sending on my cv, as that is the sort of work I'd be really interested in doing.
    DublinDilbert wrote:
    There's quite a few PLC jobs in ireland, but they can be a bit boring after a while... it might be worth seeing if you could do a course in PLCs, it shouldn't take too long to pick up what you need to know...

    Form what I've seen in searching for jobs, I though that a PLC job would be my only way to get my foot in the door, and start gaining some experience. I know DIT run an evening course which starts in September, so if I haven't found a job by then I'll probably do that.

    Also, I've got access to an analog input/output card, so I was going to try and design some controllers for a few different problems, document it, and then if I get some interviews I would be something interesting to show the interviewers.


  • #5
    dave2pvd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,511 ✭✭✭dave2pvd


    I can recommend DIT's PLC course! It determined the course of my career for the last 10yrs.

    Ladder language is a bit like football - it's fundamentally simple from a distance. But the finer points take some serious studying, especially as you move from one platform to another. Function blocks can be very involved. Then there are hybrids of ladder language. All good fun.

    Disappointing to hear that PLC jobs in Ireland can get boring. I have been a bit spoiled, as I work with a company that builds custom automation machines. Every day is different. You almost need to be a mech eng to solve so many of the problems (thanks again DIT). I would hate to have ended up in a company that does process control....fluids moving thru pipes....conveyor systems....

    Good luck!


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