Resources & Tools
Curated tools, courses, and references I actually use or have used. Not affiliate-padded fluff — real recommendations from real use.
Automation & PLC
Resources for getting started with industrial automation, PLCs, and control systems.
CLICK PLC by AutomationDirect
Affordable entry-level PLC — great for learning ladder logic without spending thousands. Used these early in my automation journey.
RSLogix 500 / Studio 5000 (Allen-Bradley)
Industry-standard PLC programming software. Free 30-day demo available. If you're going industrial, this is the one to learn.
Ladder Logic World
Free tutorials and reference guides for PLC ladder logic — good starting point for complete beginners.
RealPars
Structured video courses on PLCs, SCADA, and industrial automation. Paid, but genuinely high quality production.
CNC & CAD/CAM
Tools and references for CNC programming, CAD modelling, and machine operation.
Fusion 360
My go-to for CAD and CAM work. Hobbyist license is free. Integrated CAM toolpaths, post-processor library, and simulation.
NYCNC YouTube Channel
NYC CNC covers Fusion 360 CAM workflows, machining techniques, and CNC setup. Practical, hands-on content.
Practical Machinist Forum
The best machinist community on the web. When I was reverse-engineering that 30-year-old CNC, this forum was gold.
CNCCookbook G-Code Tutor
Interactive G-code learning and reference. Good for getting comfortable with manual code and understanding what your CAM is generating.
Coding & Automation Scripts
Python, web dev, and scripting tools for building your own automation tooling.
Python.org
Start here. Python is the scripting language for engineers — readable, powerful, and there's a library for everything.
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python
Best free Python book for people who want practical results fast. Covers file ops, web scraping, Excel automation, PDFs.
Next.js
The React framework I use for wfdnelson.com. Great for building full-stack web apps with server rendering out of the box.
Tailwind CSS
Utility-first CSS framework. Makes building custom UIs fast without writing a mountain of custom CSS.
Engineering Education
Courses, certifications, and references for ongoing engineering learning.
UniSA Associate Degree in Engineering
What I'm currently enrolled in. Solid applied focus, flexible study options. Recommended for working engineers looking to formalise.
Coursera – Industrial IoT
Industrial IoT specialisations from top universities. Bridges the gap between traditional automation and modern connected systems.
Ohm's Law & Electronics Fundamentals (Khan Academy)
Free, well-structured electronics fundamentals. Good refresher or starting point before diving into control systems.
Engineering Toolbox
Engineering reference — formulas, unit conversions, material properties, fluid dynamics. Bookmarked for years.
Tools I Actually Use
Software and gear in my daily workflow.
VS Code
Primary code editor. Extensions for Python, JS, MDX, and Git make this a complete dev environment.
Obsidian
Markdown note-taking with local-first storage. I keep technical notes, project logs, and learning summaries here.
GitHub
Version control for all code projects. If you're not version-controlling your automation scripts, start now.
DigitalOcean
Where wfdnelson.com is hosted. $5/mo droplet handles a Next.js app fine. Simple, no-nonsense cloud hosting.
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