LOADING...
LOADING...
The tools, hardware, and software in my daily rotation as a field service tech, engineering student, and automation builder.
Inspired by uses.tech — a collection of developer setups. Last updated March 2026.
Daily driver. Data logging, min/max capture, battery-backed memory. The industry standard for a reason.
Non-contact quick checks — saves time when you just need to confirm presence of voltage at a terminal.
Field repairs, panel wiring, sensor loops. Reliable and compact.
PLC programming, drive commissioning, diagnostics. Varies by machine brand.
RS-232, RS-485, CANopen — older industrial kit still talks serial.
Home workstation for CAD, simulation, heavy builds, and running local AI models.
One runs NodeOne infrastructure services. The other lives in the lab for experiments.
Side-by-side PLC ladder logic and schematics — ultrawide pays for itself in this job.
Long sessions writing code and documentation. Tactile feedback matters.
Everything except PLC work. Extensions: Pylance, Tailwind CSS IntelliSense, MDX.
Data pipelines, automation scripts, ML experiments, ETL. My go-to for anything backend.
This site and most web projects. Server components, edge-compatible, great DX.
Design system of choice. Fast iteration, consistent output, no context switching.
For project data stores that don't need a server. SoakHauler, DAJobs — both run on SQLite.
All projects in version control. GitHub Actions for basic CI on web projects.
Quick dashboards when I don't want to build a full React frontend. DAJobs runs on it.
Primary 3D modelling and CAM tool. Integrated CAM is genuinely good for 3-axis work.
2D schematics, panel layouts, engineering drawings. Still the standard in field docs.
Laser engraver control and job setup. Excellent tool for a niche piece of software.
Used at previous roles for 3D CAM on CNC mills. Solid mid-range option.
Learning. The dominant ecosystem in industrial automation. Step 7 / S7-1200/1500 family.
Field exposure. Rockwell Automation is widely deployed in Australian manufacturing.
Electrical schematic design. Standard in panel building and machine documentation.
Ongoing. Formal foundation in applied engineering to complement field experience.
Best free resource for industrial automation content. Genuinely underrated for field techs.
Lifesavers for old machines with no digital docs. Bookmark these immediately.
Targeted certs to complement degree: Python, data science, automation fundamentals.
Filling foundation gaps. Signal processing and control theory need solid algebra and calculus.
Personal infrastructure for task management, content, and monitoring. Built and maintained in-house.
Second brain / notes. Linked markdown files for projects, learning, and engineering notes.
Email (warren@wfdnelson.com), Drive, Docs, Sheets for client-facing and admin work.
Team communications and notification routing for personal automation systems.
Hosting for wfdnelson.com and associated sub-services. Reliable, affordable, easy SSH.
Curious about how any of this fits together, or want something similar built for your operation?
Get in touch →