John Clore
Industrial Automation · Web Development · Real World Solutions
Featured project

Controls Trainer

Interactive Industrial Automation Training

A browser-based PLC and controls training platform where students wire circuits, program ladder logic, troubleshoot faults and practice industrial automation in an interactive environment.

  • Interactive simulations
  • Industrial components and wiring
  • Saved progress and completion certificates
  • Built for students and technicians
Actual Controls Trainer homepage with hero, industrial control panel and feature cards
Actual Controls Trainer homepage
⚙10Training levels

From motor control to advanced automation.

▣Real equipment

PLCs, VFDs, sensors, wiring and HMIs.

⌁Hands-on learning

Build, test and troubleshoot interactively.

✓Certificates

Track progress and earn completion certificates.

About this project

A hands-on platform for real controls skills

Controls Trainer is an interactive, browser-based industrial automation training platform I created to help students and technicians practice electrical wiring, PLC programming, troubleshooting and machine operation. I personally created the training lessons, using progressive, hands-on exercises that combine component selection, circuit building, PLC logic, troubleshooting and simulated equipment in a single learning experience.

Rather than simply reading about industrial controls, learners make connections, write logic, test their work and see how the system responds.

My role

Founder, Lesson Creator, Designer & Developer

I conceived and built Controls Trainer from the ground up. I created the lessons and instructional progression, then designed and developed the interactive platform that brings each exercise to life.

  • Creation of every lesson, challenge and learning objective
  • Platform concept and instructional design
  • Website design, development and hosting
  • PLC, wiring and troubleshooting simulation design
  • Visual assets, equipment interfaces and animations
  • Testing and ongoing improvements
Progressive skill development

Training levels

Start with guided fundamentals and advance into commissioning, troubleshooting and machine-design challenges. These are cropped images from the real website, not placeholder graphics.

Controls Trainer homepage showing introductory training
LEVELS 1–2 · FREE

Guided motor starters

Learn wiring and ladder fundamentals through introductory lessons.

Actual Controls Trainer electrical cabinet wiring screenshot cropped from the original Level 3 lesson imagery
LEVEL 3 · FULL ACCESS

Technical challenge

Select components, assign PLC I/O, wire the system and program the turret.

Actual Level 4 troubleshooting bench screenshot
LEVEL 4 · FULL ACCESS

Troubleshooting

Diagnose faults with a virtual multimeter and control panel.

Actual Controls Trainer electrical cabinet wiring screenshot cropped from the original Level 3 lesson imagery
Level 3: interactive cabinet wiring
Build and connect

Interactive wiring and components

Work with PLCs, power supplies, terminal blocks and field devices. Click terminals, trace connections and build functional control panels.

  • Industrial component selection
  • Electrical wiring and I/O assignment
  • Interactive visual feedback
  • Ladder logic programming
Diagnose and repair

Real-world troubleshooting

Use a virtual Fluke multimeter, diagnose live faults and follow lockout/tagout procedures. The simulation presents control-panel test points and repair steps.

  • Interactive multimeter
  • Control-panel test points
  • Lockout/tagout procedures
  • Fault diagnosis
Actual Level 4 Fluke multimeter, control panel and lockout/tagout station
Level 4: troubleshooting bench and LOTO
Actual packaging conveyor and PanelView Plus 7 HMI fault screen
Packaging conveyor and interactive HMI
Operate and monitor

HMI and machine operation

Explore machine status, start and stop controls, alarms and I/O feedback through an interactive operator interface.

  • HMI screen simulation
  • Live I/O monitoring
  • Alarm and fault handling
  • Conveyor operation

Ready to build real controls skills?

Explore the actual lessons and interactive simulations at ControlsTrainer.com.

Visit ControlsTrainer.com ↗