SCADA Philosophy and Exporting SIM-IPE Data to a CSV
It was a busy week in the lab with some great community engagement.
Many of you noticed a new trick during our recent walkthroughs: exporting the SIM-IPE discovery list. We're also diving into a debate that often gets heated in the engineering world—how to actually design a SCADA system that works for the person standing in front of the machine.
Getting Your Data Out of the SIM-IPE
If you've ever spent time manually typing out IP addresses, this one is for you. The SIM-IPE now supports a CSV export via Telnet.
To get started, you'll need a client like Putty. First, verify your SIM-IPE IP address by navigating to Prepare Address > Network Setup. In Putty, enter that IP and use Port 23 with the Telnet protocol. Once the connection is open, simply type C and hit Enter. The device will generate a comma-separated list of every device it found on the network.
From there, it’s a simple copy-paste into your spreadsheet app. Just remember to set your delimiter to "Comma" so the data snaps into clean columns. Note that this feature requires Series G hardware and firmware version 2025-04 or later. If you aren't sure what you have, check Options > About Device.
Why We Don't Always Follow ISA 101
We received several questions about whether our SCADA design follows the ISA 101 standard for high-performance HMI. The short answer is: No.
While the standard has merits—like reducing visual clutter—it often ignores the practical reality of the technician. For instance, a grayscale screen might look sleek in a climate-controlled office, but it is nearly impossible to read in a wastewater plant with the sun beating down on it.
Our philosophy focuses on Operator Psychology. A SCADA system should be a tool that allows an operator to tell a technician exactly what is wrong. If the screen just says "Robot Fault," you're still stuck hunting through a cabinet. If it says "A3 Axis Current High," you already know where to start. We believe in building systems that age gracefully and provide real-world diagnostics over rigid aesthetic standards.
Community Wins
We also saw some great discussion on LinkedIn regarding career transitions. We heard from a field service engineer who made the jump to controls at age 62! It’s a great reminder that this industry is about horizontal and vertical movement—if you aren't happy where you are, there is always a new platform or a new challenge waiting.