Tim Wilborne's Podcast
Episodes
Insulation Testing, Legacy Networks, and Shop Fires: Weekly Q&A
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week we dive into a wide range of topics gathered from your questions on YouTube and LinkedIn. We start by addressing a common terminology correc...
The Truth About the Skills Gap: Practice vs. Pushing a Broom
22 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The news that Yokohama Tire in Salem is closing its doors on March 18th is a "plant obituary" for our community. For me, it’s personal. I ...
Stop Trying to "Fix" Everything: Lessons from the Plant Floor and Rotary
08 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We dive into the common pitfall of new engineers: the urge to provide solutions before understanding the existing environment. Drawing parallels betwe...
Industrial Networking Rants and Insulation Tester Tips
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We cover a variety of automation topics starting with a helpful tip from a viewer regarding the lock button feature on insulation testers that makes u...
Why We Don't Accept Paid Product Placements: Staying Authentic in Automation
25 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Amber recap an energetic week at the A3 Business Forum in Florida and discuss the hard facts behind making business decisions based on data ra...
Your PLC Questions: Switching Brands, Scaling 4-20mA, & Starting a Business
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we are diving deep into your questions from the past week and sharing stories from our most recent training class. We start by addres...
The $100 Startup: Building a Business Out of a Shed
11 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In 2007, we walked out of the hospital with a newborn baby, less than $100 in our bank account, and a radical plan to start a company. Most people tol...
Stop Patching the Noise and Start Finding the Root Cause
04 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Finding the root cause of an erratic signal can feel like chasing a ghost, especially when your trend lines show noise that shouldn't be there. In...
Why I May Return to the Mic: The Future of Tim Wilborne's Podcast
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I share why I decided to step back from the mic to focus on YouTube "how-to" videos and, more importantly, why I am contemplating a return t...
Starting a Business
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Helping you become a better technician so you will always be in demand Get the full details of this lesson at https://twcontrols.com/plc-lessons It...
Tim and Amber's First Date
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Helping you become a better technician so you will always be in demand Get the full details of this lesson at https://twcontrols.com/plc-lessons It...
The Fate of Our Future Live Streams
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Subscribe to our Main channel for How To's https://www.youtube.com/user/TimWilborne?sub_confirmation=1
Automate Show Recap
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Subscribe to our Main channel for How To's https://www.youtube.com/user/TimWilborne?sub_confirmation=1
Building a Product as a Small Business
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Subscribe to our Main channel for How To's https://www.youtube.com/user/TimWilborne?sub_confirmation=1
Are You Building a Company or a Brand?
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We share thoughts on how to portray yourself when you start a company, angry HMIs, and community.
Confessions from Manufacturing Maniacs
07 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What worked and what is on the horizon in manufacturing for 2023.
Why do You Work in Manufacturing?
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Three very different stories of how to enter a great career in manufacturing.
Why are You Still Attending Trade Shows?
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There is a lot of talk out there about whether trade shows are worth attending or if we have moved past the need for them.
Automation Ideas for 2022
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Catch us live on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 11am EST.
Internships for Engineering and Manufacturing
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We talk about the importance of internships and mentors in raising up the next generation of of engineers and technicians in manufacturing. &nbs...
STEM vs STEAM and the Need for Art in Engineering
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the difference between STEM education vs STEAM education. We need to include art in engineering plus find surprising similarities bet...
Getting Youth into Trades. STEM Education.
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can we get the youth into trades? We discuss ideas and what is missing from any education systems.
Manual Literacy. Working with your Hands.Trade Skills. STEM and STEAM
15 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with MB Clemens about the need for the trades, working with your hands, and the importance of integrating STEM Science Technology Engineering ...
PLC Quiz Program a Start Stop Reverse in Multiple Languages Answer #31
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this PLC programming challenge, we needed to program a start stop motor control with reverse operation in ladder logic, function block diagrams, an...
PLC Quiz Program a Start Stop Reverse in Multiple Languages #30
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this PLC programming challenge, we need to program a start stop motor control with reverse operation. This exercise is good for beginners, in...
Allen Bradley PLC Passwords and Source Protection Rockwell Automation #29
22 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is the purpose of putting a password in an Allen Bradley PLC? Should we enable source protection in Rockwell Automations Studio 5000?  ...
Job Burnout, Haters Gonna Hate, and Industrial Automation #27
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you do industrial automation projects for long, the up's and down's will eventually lead to burnout. What can we do as both individuals and e...
My First Studio 5000 PLC Program Tutorial, formerly RsLogix 5000 #24
27 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I'm going to review my first RsLogix 5000 PLC program, now called Studio 5000 Logix Designer, that I wrote for an Allen Bradley Controllogix PLC in th...
Allen Bradley PLC Programming Review. My First RsLogix PLC Program! #23
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever gone back and reviewed one of your old PLC programs? A popular request is for us to share PLC programming examples and explain the...
Things I've Learned Since Starting a Business #22
05 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I share with you some important words of wisdom about running a business. This comes from a LinkedIn post by Dave Borski: 8 year...
24VDC Industrial Electrical Control Panel Training #21
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This industrial control panel trainer is completely 24VDC including the fan making training much safer when beginners are learning electrical fundamen...
Studio 5000 Mini Edition on Rockwell Automation's Portal #20
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Studio 5000 Mini Edition is now available on Rockwell Automation's License Portal. The Mini Edition of Studio 5000, formerly RsLogix 5000, c...
Q&A about RsLogix 500 to Connected Components Workbench Conversion #19
15 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are going to convert a RsLogix 500 program for the Allen Bradley Micrologix 1400 to a Connected Components Workbench program for the Allen Bradley ...
Rslogix 500 to Connected Components Workbench Conversion #18
15 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are going to convert a RsLogix 500 program for the Allen Bradley Micrologix 1400 to a Connected Components Workbench program for the Allen Bradley ...
PLC Programming Tutorial for Beginners. 3 Steps Before you Start #17
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What are the steps to start PLC programming? Before you start going through plc programming tutorials, DO THIS! Selecting the right brand ...
Industrial Automation and Manufacturing Q&A Podcast #16
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We get lots of questions about industrial automation and manufacturing and today we are going to select some of them to answer. Items used in t...
Tips on Starting a Small Business. Advice on When to Start #15
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let's talk about when you should start your business and give some advice that will help you out along the way. Determining when you are ready t...
What is a Real Job in Industrial Automation? #14
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Industrial automation offers infinite opportunities for a lifelong career with a good salary and benefits. There are many big automation compani...
Do I Need a College Degree to be a PLC Programmer? Engineer? Bachelor? #13
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A common question we get is do you need a degree to be a PLC programmer or design control systems for industrial automation. What makes this que...
Upcoming PLC Programming and Industrial Automation Lessons #12
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is your chance to influence future PLC programming lessons. We have upcoming videos on Studio 5000, Connected Components Workbench, Control...
UL 508A Getting Started. What are Barriers to the MTR Exam ? #11
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Becoming a UL 508A Industrial Control Panel manufacturer is easier than you think. Getting started can seem impossible with all the requirements...
Servant Leader, Chris Grainger of EECO Ask Why's Manufacturing Podcast #10
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are joined with Chris Grainger, host of EECO Ask Why from Electrical Equipment Company. Chris runs a manufacturing and industrial automation ...
What Would You Name an Industrial Automation Podcast? #9
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The final entries have been selected and it is up to you to vote for you favorite entry at Name the Podcast. Finalist are: Talks with Tim Aut...
Signed and Unsigned Numbers. Binary Integers #8
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The difference between a signed and unsigned integer is in its last binary digit. This is bit 15 in a 16 bit integer and bit 31 in a 32 bit inte...
Dealing with Failures on Industrial Automation Projects | Episode 7
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I'm going to let you in on a secret that most professionals won't tell you. We have all FAILED! We are going to talk about...
Binary Numbers. How to Convert Binary to Decimal and Decimal to Binary | Tim Wilborne Episode 6
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we are going to explore what binary numbers are, what the saying "There are 10 Types of People in the World, Those Who Understand Bin...
PLC Programmer Salary. How Much Should You Charge? | Tim Wilborne Episode 5
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we are going to talk about what you can expect to make as a PLC programmer when working for a company and to try to make some sense ou...
Why I quit my job and the importance of leaving on good terms | Tim Wilborne Episode 4
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I share why I quit my job and started an industrial automation company. A common question I get is how do you know it is the right tim...
Running an Automation Company. How We Got Started and Work/Life Balance | Tim Wilborne Episode 3
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Amber and I share how we got started and give thoughts on work/life balance. Support these videos by becoming a patron on Patreon ...
Who has Built the Perfect Industrial Control Panel? Negative Comments | Tim Wilborne Episode 2
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Has anyone ever built the perfect industrial control panel? Or written the perfect PLC program? Or the most eye catching HMI? In thi...
Breaking into Industrial Automation | Tim Wilborne Episode 1
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Getting a job in industrial automation and PLC programming can seem like an impossible task. In this episode we explore ways to get your foot in...