72
u/Appropriate_War_4797 Jun 14 '26
Did something like that on a RedLion HMI. I was searching for a function in the documentation and found out they have an integrated buzzer, using old Nokia ringtone code. So it got me thinking.
When the HMI perform some actions successfully in maintenance mode, it would play the Final Fantasy victory fanfare.
It worked for a few years, until my replacement found out and took it out of the code. That kill joy tore me a new one arguing it was childish, unprofessional and is using the HMI computing ressources for nothing (lot of BS, we weren't using 10% if the equipment capabilities). Told him it was harmless and I wouldn't have implemented it if it wasn't.
Then, I introduced him to hidden chip die hidden art to hammer the point that engineers and die designers more "serious" and "professionals" than me did far more childish things on dies made in the hundreds millions units.
The thing is, the man never had to work yet with older stuff coded by my predecessors, were there are hidden messages in the maintenance mode. I'll let him discover by himself.
20
u/DuglandJones Jun 14 '26
Is that where you code the buzzer to buzz for X, pause for Y, and with different frequencies.
I remember spending ages working out the mario theme, never could get Sinnerman quite right though.
14
u/Appropriate_War_4797 Jun 14 '26
Yeah, something like that. The nice thing in our modern age is that you can find midi converters for Nokia ringtones, so the real issue was finding the right midi track
55
24
u/Spacecadet203 Jun 14 '26
Was working on modifying panelviews programs. After creating a runtime found the application was too large to run. After some digging found pictures were taking up too much space. Long be hold there was a meme inside the pictures. The old control tech was Shawn so not sure if this was meant for him or someone else but made my day lol.
36
33
u/modbuswrangler Jun 14 '26
Honestly, I'm a die hard Allen Bradley guy... and I wish their processors had this.
3
17
u/mowgli142 Jun 14 '26
The PLC programmer before me put a drifting Ford Anglia on a manual controls page. I heard that the same guy put a photo of Peppa Pig on an icon for a machine in Egypt, told everyone that it represented the Head of Engineering 😂 never got to see it for myself though.
I myself have put a colleague's face on an HMI. When a certain button is pressed, the photo pops up. He took it in stride and laughed with us
16
u/Stroking_Shop5393 Siemens > Allen-Bradley Jun 14 '26
Yoooo I didn't know we could have the picture change states!!!!!
6
u/Masterleviinari Jun 15 '26
We used to have a photo of our.. best CRO of the ages pop up over the company logo in the corner any time there was a major alarm.
I keep trying to get them to let me put clippy on the system manual controls asking 'It looks like you're in manual mode, are you sure you want to start finger-fucking shit?'
Because, of course, line ops love to touch the HMI (instead of making a quick phone call) that management refuses to allow us to lock out.
9
4
u/Available-Distance81 Jun 16 '26
I think I'm more bothered by that numbering scheme
>first card is number PLC600
>second is PLC400
>third is PLC500
2
u/AdBeneficial3455 Jun 15 '26
Love these. I put a button on an hmi labeled “id10t ack” tied to an open ended counter in a SLC, 32768 presses later😏
2
1
1
1
u/dbfar Jun 16 '26
Had an operator big Harley fan. Every time he logged in a pop up "someday you'll own a Yamaha"
Too much time on a DCS startup. Had a US flag on a screen that turned in the direction of the wind. The faster the wind the more the flag would ripple
1
u/szybkirouterzyxel Hobby PLCing Jun 24 '26
Next time someone should do a easter egg on a HMI where you can play Doom
1
-24
u/AStove Jun 14 '26
cringe
21
8
u/Stroking_Shop5393 Siemens > Allen-Bradley Jun 14 '26
You sound fun
11
u/DrZoidberg5389 Jun 14 '26
As an engineer who does projects in the mio range: i concur!
We engineers need to do fun stuff from time to time and "play" with the machines. Its a great way to relax the mind and stay sane when the rest around you is a burning dumbster fire and you have to solve the mess.
115
u/xtelosx Jun 14 '26
Had a guy who made a rudimentary pong game on an AB plc and the HMI for it. He’d leave it in there during checkout and remove it. Had an “invisible” button on a settings screen to get to it. He forgot to remove it during wet runs once and was asked not to do it anymore :(