{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Factory Field Notes","title":"Ep. 1 | PLC Programming Q&A: Free Simulators, Browser IDEs, and Physical PLC Trainers Reviewed","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1277,"description":"PLC programming Q&A walks through five r/PLC community questions on free simulators, browser IDEs, physical trainers, automation careers, and project complexity.\nThis first episode pulls the most discussed questions from r/PLC, PLCtalk, control.com, and automation subreddits, then answers each with the perspective a working controls engineer would give. Subscribe to follow the rest of the series.\nLearn more at Joltek:- PLC Scan Cycles, Polling, and SCADA Data: https://www.joltek.com/blog/plc-scan-cycles-polling-scada-systems-data- Connecting an Allen Bradley PLC to Ignition: https://www.joltek.com/blog/connecting-allen-bradley-plc-ignition- Modern Plant Network Requirements in Manufacturing: https://www.joltek.com/blog/modern-plant-network-requirements-manufacturing- Rockwell PLC Lifecycle Migration Guide: https://www.joltek.com/blog/rockwell-plc-lifecycle-migration-guide\nQuestion one is the RavSControls free browser based ladder logic simulator. I built a motor start and stop circuit: normally open start, normally closed stop, a coil for the motor, and a seal in branch on the motor running tag. Latching worked. The UI has a vibe coded feel familiar to anyone who has used Claude Code or Gemini, and it is useful for rung structure, contact and coil semantics, and the basic instruction set. It is not a substitute for Studio 5000, TIA Portal, or CODESYS when you need deterministic scan cycles or peripherals support, but for an introductory motor starter it is a clean free sandbox.\nQuestion two is from a 40 year old switching out of retail and transit into automation through a community college program funded in part by the Pell Grant. Age is not the limiter, time is. Working 15 hours a day with two kids leaves very little room for the math, physics, and mental models automation work assumes. The market is real though. The 2025 workforce data lists the skilled worker shortage as a top business threat for 38 percent of manufacturers, and the average controls engineer...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/bLSthDC6mLkQ3vEghIEbytYZBvBBofsfsFEpsA-BvSs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83ZDg0/MTRlOGJkNzQxN2Ex/M2NlNjg4N2EwMzI1/MmM4NS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}