Automation, in general, is application-oriented. This means that every product we use is already manufactured; our role is simply to use it and perform secondary development. Therefore, technically speaking, it's not particularly complex. However, given the vast variety of industrial products and the lack of a unified standard across manufacturers, experience is crucial. But the fundamental principles remain the same; once you master the relevant knowledge, everything becomes easy. Here are 11 essential skills for electrical engineers—learning these will lead to a raise!
circuit
Circuits are difficult, really difficult, but that's relative to hardware developers. Since industrial control is application-oriented, and we use it in products, there's no need to study it that deeply. The most important thing is to know Ohm's Law and calculate power, current, resistance, etc. As for the more esoteric knowledge, there's no need to delve into it, mainly because you won't use it.
electrician
This is quite important. In the workplace, you'll need wire stripping and wiring tools, multimeters, test pens, etc. You could buy an electrical engineering book to read first, but electrical work relies heavily on hands-on skills, and safety is paramount.
51 microcontroller
This is something you should learn. Why? Because PLCs, which are widely used in industrial control, are actually products developed using microcontrollers. Mastering microcontrollers will help you understand the underlying hardware. The 51 microcontroller was chosen because there's a lot of documentation available, which is beneficial for learning. Since the goal is to understand the underlying mechanisms, it's best to learn assembly language. Of course, if you don't plan to do embedded development in the future, a thorough understanding of the 51's working principles is sufficient.
CAD or Elan drawing software
These are absolutely essential skills, without a doubt: circuit design and electrical diagram interpretation. These two areas are interconnected; being able to draw electrical diagrams guarantees the ability to understand them, and the more electrical diagrams you read, the more you can design them. This is an area that requires learning through practical project experience.
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
This is something you need to learn well. Many courses teach Mitsubishi, and some Siemens. You'll definitely need to know these two after you start working. You can research other brands on your own later. If you need to study while working, you can find Jicheng, which has practical equipment and online courses, so you can learn without taking time off work. The main advantage is the affordable price; you can learn without having to leave your job.
Inverters and servos
It's also necessary to understand this well, because many projects involve more than just a PLC to support the operation of these programs. Often, servo drives, PLCs, frequency converters, stepper motors, and other devices are connected together. You don't need to delve too deeply into it, but you should understand their working principles to operate them better.
touchscreen
PLCs have programs, but their human-machine interface is relatively poor, so they are usually paired with a host computer. If it's inside a cabinet, a touch screen is usually used. I suggest learning Weintek first, because it's relatively inexpensive and used by many manufacturers, which will make it easier to find a job later. This is also a general concept, but some screens are more complex, so you can learn as you go. Online learning is only a few hundred yuan now.
Configuration software
In many places, computers are being used to replace touchscreens because computers have more functions and larger hard drive capacities. It's recommended to learn two software programs first: one domestic and one imported. There are many domestic options, such as KingSCADA, MCGS, and ForceControl, while Siemens WinCC is a popular imported choice.
Computer knowledge
The project requires an industrial PC, and the boss gave you one. At least you can install the operating system and software, and if the computer has problems, you can at least find simple troubleshooting methods. But what if the industrial PC breaks down during use?
Robot electrical debugging
Nowadays, robots are replacing humans. Because robots are more integrated products, robot programming is much simpler and faster to learn than PLC programming. However, it is difficult and time-consuming to learn on your own. It would be best if you could hire someone to guide you on a project. If you don't have such resources, it is recommended to learn the relevant industrial robot technology at a professional training institution.
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