# S1E20 PLCs, HMIs, & Making Hardware Move | Karl Gerety

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-07-03
- Length: 33m
- Episode: 20
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety

## Summary

Karl Gerety, Director of Engineering at Machine Solutions, explains the roles of PLCs and HMIs in controlling medical device manufacturing equipment like stent crimpers. He discusses the transition from field service to controls engineering, noting that PLC programming is often learned on the job, and compares platforms like Beckhoff, Allen Bradley, and Siemens for different automation scales. Gerety shares a failure story involving a prototype gantry system crashing into simulated baths, highlighting the importance of off-equipment prototyping, and emphasizes troubleshooting humility and code simplicity as key engineering habits.

## Chapters

- [0:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=13) Introduction: Karl Gerety and Machine Solutions
- [1:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=61) Defining PLCs, HMIs, and Controls Engineering
- [2:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=161) Controlling Medical Device Equipment: Stent Crimpers
- [4:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=259) Career Path: From Field Service to Controls Engineer
- [8:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=531) PLC Platforms: Beckhoff, Allen Bradley, and Siemens
- [11:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=699) Mobile Apps and Security in Industrial Control
- [14:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=899) Automation Differences: Semiconductor vs. Medical Devices
- [17:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=1041) Mechatronics and Recruiting Controls Engineers
- [20:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=1228) Vendors: Phoenix Contact, SMC, and MSI Tech
- [21:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=1311) Engineering Habits: Simplicity and Prototyping
- [25:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=1525) Failure Story: Prototype Gantry Crash
- [28:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety#t=1684) Lessons Learned: Humility and Troubleshooting

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Machine Solutions (company)
- Beckhoff (other)
- Allen Bradley (other)
- Siemens (other)
- Phoenix Contact (other)
- SMC (other)
- MSI Tech (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with John Davis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-03-26-an-interview-with-john-davis) (The Amp Hour)
- [309: Nature's Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-11-08-309-natures-engineers) (Embedded.fm)
- [Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap with Joe Carson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2019-11-25-taking-the-entrepreneurial-leap-with-joe-carson) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Engineering Education with Dr Don Wilcher](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-02-20-engineering-education-with-dr-don-wilcher) (The Amp Hour)
- [3: Plenty of Candy, No Guns](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-05-29-3-plenty-of-candy-no-guns) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-03-s1e20-plcs-hmis-making-hardware-move-karl-gerety. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.