The Squirrel and Marketing
I have been acquainted with the squirrel for a long time. In the 1960s I am fairly sure it once ate my homework. Some of my friends who have been diagnosed with ADHD, ADD or are “on the spectrum” have …
Author: Frank
Electrical Engineer and business owner from the Nashville, Tennessee area. I also play music, Chess and Go.
Happy New Year 2026!
The past year has been a mixed bag… it started well, but I kind of got sidetracked by yet another new project. This one was not exactly chosen by me, instead I ended up with a bunch of used equipment …
Mastering the Machine Podcast Released
Well. after a couple of months of preparation, my new podcast is finally released. It is on the typical feeds; Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and on my YouTube channel. While a have done a lot of webinars on YouTube, podcasts are …
What’s Up: My Shop and Equipment Storage
Well, the garage has been built and the equipment moved. I still need to inventory everything and do some water remediation, but I finally have space in my office! My next goal is to get my office prepared for classes …
What’s Up: Office-House Modifications and Used Equipment
A couple of weeks ago I put a video out on YouTube discussing what to do with used and surplus industrial automation equipment. I am not going to discuss this today, though I could certainly use some help dealing with …
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Why Start a Podcast? The Benefits (and Pitfalls) of Social Media
Well, as if I don’t have anything else to do, I am starting a podcast. What makes people need to express themselves on social media, even if no one is listening? I can’t speak for others, but here is where …
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Back to Basics 5: Industrial Training
In 2013, not long after leaving Wright Industries and going back out on my own, I taught my first PLC class for Automation Training, a Canadian company. I drove to Raleigh, NC, unpacked the equipment and set it up. It …
Back to Basics 4: Content Creation
Last night was a special time for me. Chris Guillebeau stopped by the Nashville Entrepreneur Center for the release of his latest book, Time Anxiety. Chris’s first book, The Art of Non-Conformity, had a major influence on my life. It …
Back to Basics 3: Design
Everything that is accomplished in industrial automation requires design. It may be written on a napkin, but there is still thought required before starting a project. Industrial Automation Design Tools: CAD: My first CAD tool that I used was Autosketch, …
Back to Basics 2: Control Panels
In 1995 I started building control panels in my garage. I was still working for an electrical distributor at the time, and one way to make a sale was to provide a complete solution rather than selling individual components. Since …