Also an ME. As others have said, an understanding of what you're controlling is at least as important as how the signals are processed. Factories/machinery see plenty of MEs as controls guys; in the chemical/process world they see a lot of Chemical Engineers as controls guys for the same reason.
Warning: I know degrees work differently in different countries and even at different universities. This post has a massive US based slant. Not sure how this applies elsewhere.
Strictly speaking, most ME or EE degrees are the wrong education for someone who wants a degree in how to be a controls engineers. Its all theory. Most EE degrees would teach you how to design a PLC, not use one. Most ME degrees would teach you how to design a machine, not control it. At least at my university, the more practical knowledge was housed in the "technology" degrees (Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, etc). If an ME wanted to take a course in CAD or anything practical, it was an MET class. MET or EET would be much more likely to actually have a class where you do labs on PLCs and drives.
I'm not knocking a solid understanding of theory. If you can calculate why XYZ is happening, then you can solve a lot more problems then you can with only practical knowledge. But don't look at an engineering degree as something that will have much coursework that's directly applicable to a specific job, especially one like controls that pulls at least as much from trades as it does from engineering.
The "best" controls guys I've worked with have all had engineering degrees. The most effective controls guys I've worked with all learned from the school of hard knocks, and usually started out in the trades.
Treellama suggested an internship where you can get hands on experience. This is probably the best way to get started: be in a situation where an employer will pay you for getting the hands on practical training.
If you can't do that, then I'd recommend getting some hardware for yourself, as you said. Siemens equipment is very common in Europe. Get yourself an S7-1200 and Step 7 Basic (not free, unfortunately). Siemens has a mini-curriculum they make available for colleges, you can run through it yourself (see link below). Used hardware is an option; Siemens also has discounted starter kits you can buy if you talk to a distributor.
http://w3.siemens.com/mcms/sce/en/advanced_training/training_material/Pages/default.aspx
I'd also recommend taking some general programming classes in college. Doesn't matter whether it's C, C#, C++, Basic, Fortran, Pascal, Java, Python, whatever. The more languages you know (or are at least familiar with), the easier it is to pick up new languages/platforms. It also gives you flexibility, and doesn't tie you down to one skill set. As others have said, PLCs are only a small part of what a controls engineer does.
There's nothing wrong with being an expert at one thing, but controls guys typically need to be generalists. Being good at everything is often more valued than being great at one thing.
Warning: I know degrees work differently in different countries and even at different universities. This post has a massive US based slant. Not sure how this applies elsewhere.
Strictly speaking, most ME or EE degrees are the wrong education for someone who wants a degree in how to be a controls engineers. Its all theory. Most EE degrees would teach you how to design a PLC, not use one. Most ME degrees would teach you how to design a machine, not control it. At least at my university, the more practical knowledge was housed in the "technology" degrees (Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, etc). If an ME wanted to take a course in CAD or anything practical, it was an MET class. MET or EET would be much more likely to actually have a class where you do labs on PLCs and drives.
I'm not knocking a solid understanding of theory. If you can calculate why XYZ is happening, then you can solve a lot more problems then you can with only practical knowledge. But don't look at an engineering degree as something that will have much coursework that's directly applicable to a specific job, especially one like controls that pulls at least as much from trades as it does from engineering.
The "best" controls guys I've worked with have all had engineering degrees. The most effective controls guys I've worked with all learned from the school of hard knocks, and usually started out in the trades.
Treellama suggested an internship where you can get hands on experience. This is probably the best way to get started: be in a situation where an employer will pay you for getting the hands on practical training.
If you can't do that, then I'd recommend getting some hardware for yourself, as you said. Siemens equipment is very common in Europe. Get yourself an S7-1200 and Step 7 Basic (not free, unfortunately). Siemens has a mini-curriculum they make available for colleges, you can run through it yourself (see link below). Used hardware is an option; Siemens also has discounted starter kits you can buy if you talk to a distributor.
http://w3.siemens.com/mcms/sce/en/advanced_training/training_material/Pages/default.aspx
I'd also recommend taking some general programming classes in college. Doesn't matter whether it's C, C#, C++, Basic, Fortran, Pascal, Java, Python, whatever. The more languages you know (or are at least familiar with), the easier it is to pick up new languages/platforms. It also gives you flexibility, and doesn't tie you down to one skill set. As others have said, PLCs are only a small part of what a controls engineer does.
There's nothing wrong with being an expert at one thing, but controls guys typically need to be generalists. Being good at everything is often more valued than being great at one thing.
After we had a customer demand we use an HMI on a project he was done. I did all the controls after that.
