ShaRK
Member
EBFD6,
I believe you already have one of the more difficult credentials under your belt--electronics. Not just electrian stuff mind you, but a solid understanding of Ohm's Law, Kirchoff's Law, and how dozens of various components and circuits operate.
I came out of the 80's & 90's military world having worked and taught "automated test equipment" (for avionics) down to the component level, but had never seen or heard of a PLC. After getting my foot in the bio-pharm door, my expertise with electronics (and a good mechanical background) enabled me to quickly solve a number of chronic electromechanical problems as well as begin learning how PLC's worked and were programmed. In some ways PLC's were a step backwards because I was accustomed to equipment that operated in nano and microseconds versus milliseconds found in most PLC's. Even so, PLC's are an industry standard in the automation world and very much worthy of learning and even mastering (although by time you master one thing, something else comes along and you start all over again).
If you have some time and money, I would encourage you to take one of Ron Beaufort's PLC classes. In one week you could go from your present level of understanding to a level that in some cases exceeds what some engineers out there think they know (I'm not knocking engineers either). In any group of professionals, there are boys and there are men. When I worked in avionics, only 30-40% of the techs REALLY knew their 'trons; the rest were parts changers or quick fixers. I think that holds true in many professional circles, including engineering. My point in all this is that with your background and training from Ron, you would have some serious credentials in your hip pocket. Ron provides the best instruction-to-time/money ratio out there. He will feed you as much as you can eat, so to say.
The real problem is your current employment situation. You have to decide how important learning PLCs is and what are you willing to do about it. Perhaps if you could strike a deal with your present employer that if you graduate from Ron's course, they will let you begin supporting PLCs. Perhaps you could strike a similar deal with a local integrator.
Do they have a laptop, software and a license? Taking the course won't do you a whole lot of good if you don't start applying the skills soon afterward.
Based on what you said, you're a top dog (comfortable) but without any apparent upward mobility opportunity. Tough decision in my book.
Keep us posted.
ShaRK
I believe you already have one of the more difficult credentials under your belt--electronics. Not just electrian stuff mind you, but a solid understanding of Ohm's Law, Kirchoff's Law, and how dozens of various components and circuits operate.
I came out of the 80's & 90's military world having worked and taught "automated test equipment" (for avionics) down to the component level, but had never seen or heard of a PLC. After getting my foot in the bio-pharm door, my expertise with electronics (and a good mechanical background) enabled me to quickly solve a number of chronic electromechanical problems as well as begin learning how PLC's worked and were programmed. In some ways PLC's were a step backwards because I was accustomed to equipment that operated in nano and microseconds versus milliseconds found in most PLC's. Even so, PLC's are an industry standard in the automation world and very much worthy of learning and even mastering (although by time you master one thing, something else comes along and you start all over again).
If you have some time and money, I would encourage you to take one of Ron Beaufort's PLC classes. In one week you could go from your present level of understanding to a level that in some cases exceeds what some engineers out there think they know (I'm not knocking engineers either). In any group of professionals, there are boys and there are men. When I worked in avionics, only 30-40% of the techs REALLY knew their 'trons; the rest were parts changers or quick fixers. I think that holds true in many professional circles, including engineering. My point in all this is that with your background and training from Ron, you would have some serious credentials in your hip pocket. Ron provides the best instruction-to-time/money ratio out there. He will feed you as much as you can eat, so to say.
The real problem is your current employment situation. You have to decide how important learning PLCs is and what are you willing to do about it. Perhaps if you could strike a deal with your present employer that if you graduate from Ron's course, they will let you begin supporting PLCs. Perhaps you could strike a similar deal with a local integrator.
Do they have a laptop, software and a license? Taking the course won't do you a whole lot of good if you don't start applying the skills soon afterward.
Based on what you said, you're a top dog (comfortable) but without any apparent upward mobility opportunity. Tough decision in my book.
Keep us posted.
ShaRK