The Automation School

What’s New In School: Unified HMI Pre-order Sale!

As part of Insights In Automation's March Mega Sale, this week we released our upcoming Unified Basic and Unified Comfort Panel Course into pre-order status at 70% off the final price! And for a limited time you can also get an additional 24% off by using our March Mega Sale...

What’s New In School: New PLC Application Simulator!

As part of Insights In Automation's March Mega Sale, this week The Automation School released version 1.0 of their very own PLC Application Simulator! This new Windows PC application is being released at no charge to all students who enroll in any version of our PLC or PAC courses at...

Our 24 Day “March Mega Sale” Is LIVE!

Sale: Get 24% Off eBooks, Digital Videos, and Online Courses with coupon code March24! March is here, and Insights In Automation's 24 Days of Savings is now LIVE with the launch of our March Mega Sale™! Using the coupon code March24 to save 24% on eBooks and Digital Video Collections here...

What’s New At The Automation School

In this video I share what's new and happening at The Automation School, including some questions submitted by new customers. For all the links mentioned, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video.  Show Notes for What's New In School, Episode 07-18-22: Link to Shawn's new Siemens S7 PLC Course: Siemens...

What’s New At The Automation School

In this video I bring students up to speed on the remodeling my studio, including the reason for the additional of products on the product wall, as well as the process I used to pick out the plastic panels for the modular training system I'm using. For all the links...

Ask Me Anything about the PLC-5

After getting my electronics degree over thirty years ago, I landed my first job in the industrial automation industry as an Inside Technical Specialist. That job was basically a technical support position with some sales functions mixed-in. At the time I had no idea that what a PLC was,  but...

PLC Training: What is the Best PLC to Learn With?

During my years in the field one of the most common questions I was asked by Electricians and Engineers alike was where they could go to get affordable training on Programmable Logic Controllers? As our long-time readers know, that question was the impetuous for my PLC Basics Training Kickstarter launched back...

Online vs Classroom Training: Pros and Cons

If you've been installing or maintaining industrial automation products going back to the twentieth century, then there's a good chance that you attended one or more in-person classroom training courses. Yes, it's true there were other options available back then, including physical books, VHS Video Tapes, and Computer Based Training...

What’s New at The Automation School (Video)

Learn about The Automation School's new courses, bundles, lessons, design and more in this monthly update video:  Please post any questions you have as a reply below,

What’s New At The Automation Blog And School, Summer 2019 (Article & Video)

It's been a busy summer here at Insights In Automation, and I thought I'd take a moment to review what's new at The Automation Blog and School! You can either watch the video version here, or scroll down for the text version below the video: [vimeo 366834245 w=750 h=420] What's new at...

PLC Basics Kickstarter Celebrates Five Year Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary, PLC Basics! Five years ago this month, on May 2nd, 2014, my Kickstarter campaign to create an affordable PLC video course was successfully funded thanks to forty five awesome people who believed in my vision to produce affordable PLC training for the masses. Why PLC Basics? At that time I...

Inside Insights: Studio Renovation

Today I'm starting a new behind the scenes series, "Inside Insights," that takes a look at what's going on here at Insights In Automation. In this first article of the series, I want to share with you the project that has been consuming most of my days over the past...

A New Look & What’s Coming for 2018!

We are pleased to announce that our newly updated business site, Insights In Automation, now provides you with all of our automation resources in one place. You will find helpful links to The Automation School, The Automation Blog, The Automation Exchange, The Automation Minute, and The Automation Forums. This...

The Automation School Upgraded!

So you may have been wondering where I've been for the last few weeks? Well, I've spent most of my free time upgrading The Automation School's website and server, and re-launched the site last week. One of the most noticeable changes is the site now has a completely new look, as well as...

Over two hours of PLC communications how-to

Good morning visitors, If you're new to The Automation Guy blog, this is where I post about what I've working on over at The Automation Blog, Minute, Podcast, and School. Recently in preparation for recording some advanced communication lessons in my ControlLogix course, PAC Basics course, I took a break from...

Enrollment now open at The Automation School

Today I'm happy to announce that enrollment in online courses at TheAutomationSchool.com is now open! While The Automation School website had previously hosted a couple of short courses, most of the links on the site lead to non-interactive On-Demand or DVD courses. However, after weeks of behind the scenes work several courses are...

Do you know someone who would like to learn PLCs?

If you know someone who would like to learn PLCs, I may have exactly what they've been looking for.   Not everyone is fortunate enough to work for a big company that will send them away for weeks at a time to formal factory training costing thousands of dollars. And while there are...

Micro Programmable Controller Basics

"Everything you need to know to get started using PLCs!" Today I'm proud to announce the release of my very first DVD training video, "Micro Programmable Controller Basics." This release is the culmination of nearly a year's worth of weekends and vacation time, all for the sole purpose of producing an affordable PLC...

Kickstarter Campaign Successful! (P19)

In The Automation Podcast: Episode 19, we discuss the success of our Kickstarter campaign! Note: You can find out more about our Kickstarter Campaign in the companion articles listed below: The Automation Podcast, Episode 18: Our New Kickstarter Campaign Our official Kickstarter page (www.LinkToKS.com) Our Kickstarter Launch announcement Video tour of our Kickstarter project page How to make...

Announcing our Kickstarter campaign! (P18)

In The Automation Podcast: Episode 18, we discuss our new Kickstarter campaign as well as how Kickstarter works. Note: You can find out more about our Kickstarter Campaign on our companion sites listed below: Our official Kickstarter page Launch announcement Video tour of our Kickstarter project page How to make a pledge step-by-step Listen to the Podcast: