OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) — technology overview
The OPC Foundation's overview of the OPC UA architecture: platform-independent, service-oriented, with built-in security and extensible information modeling.
Index
24 curated external resources in the Shopfloor index, newest first.
Browse by topic: Additive Manufacturing · CNC / Machining · DCS · Digital Twins · Edge Computing · EtherCAT · EtherNet/IP · Factory Software · Industrial Hardware · Industrial IoT / IIoT · Industrial Networking · Manufacturing · MES · Modbus · Motion Control · MQTT · OPC UA · OT Cybersecurity · PLCs · Process Automation · PROFINET · Robotics · SCADA · Semiconductor · Sparkplug B · TSN
MQTT: the standard for IoT messaging
The MQTT organization homepage: protocol resources, version history, and links to brokers, clients, and the OASIS standard.
Eclipse Sparkplug — specification and resources
The Eclipse Sparkplug project: specification, TCK, compatible products, and working-group resources for MQTT-based OT interoperability.
Modbus specifications and resources
The Modbus Organization: current specifications for Modbus RTU, ASCII, and TCP, plus conformance and developer resources.
ODVA: EtherNet/IP and CIP technology
ODVA's technology pages covering EtherNet/IP, CIP, DeviceNet, and conformance testing for multi-vendor interoperability.
EtherCAT technology introduction
The EtherCAT Technology Group's technical introduction: functional principle, distributed clocks, topologies, and performance figures.
PROFINET & PROFIBUS International
PROFIBUS & PROFINET International: specifications, profiles (PROFIdrive, PROFIenergy), certification, and technology news.
ISA standards: ISA-95, ISA-88, ISA/IEC 62443
ISA's standards library, including ISA-95/IEC 62264 (enterprise–control integration), ISA-88 (batch), and ISA/IEC 62443 (OT security).
NIST SP 800-82 Rev. 3: Guide to OT Security
NIST SP 800-82 Rev. 3: the current federal guide to OT security — architecture, risk assessment, controls, and incident response for ICS.
ROS: Robot Operating System
The Robot Operating System project: ROS 2 documentation, middleware (DDS), packages, and the industrial (ROS-Industrial) consortium.
MTConnect: shop-floor equipment connectivity standard
MTConnect Institute: the open, read-only standard for shop-floor device data — adapters, agents, schemas, and companion specs.
IEEE 802.1 Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)
The IEEE 802.1 working group's TSN pages: task group, published standards (Qbv, Qbu, CB, Qcc), and ongoing projects.
SEMI: semiconductor equipment and materials standards
SEMI: standards (E-series, S-series), market data, and programs spanning wafer fab equipment and materials.
PLCopen: motion, safety, and IEC 61131-3 libraries
PLCopen: IEC 61131-3 motion control libraries, safety, OPC UA function blocks, and coding guidelines.
AutomationML: vendor-neutral plant engineering data exchange
AutomationML: the open data format for exchanging plant engineering data between tools (topology, geometry, logic, behavior).
Automation.com — news and resources
Automation.com: industrial automation news, tutorials, and vendor coverage from the ISA-affiliated publication.
The Automation Blog — PLC & HMI tutorials
Shawn Tierney's long-running PLC and HMI tutorial site: reviews, training, and plain-spoken controls commentary.
HiveMQ Blog — MQTT in depth
HiveMQ's technical blog: MQTT features, Sparkplug, broker operations, and IIoT architecture at scale.
OptoBlog — edge & IIoT practices
Opto 22's OptoBlog: edge devices, Node-RED, MQTT/Sparkplug, and practical IIoT project writeups.
Modern Machine Shop — machining technology
Modern Machine Shop: CNC processes, tooling, and shop technology for metalworking manufacturers.
Additive Manufacturing — production 3D printing
Additive Manufacturing Media: production 3D printing — processes, materials, and end-use part manufacturing.
HighByte — Industrial DataOps platform
HighByte: Industrial DataOps software for modeling, contextualizing, and governing data from edge to cloud.
Kepware industrial connectivity (Velotic)
Kepware (now part of Velotic): industrial connectivity software exposing hundreds of device protocols via OPC UA, MQTT, and more.
ABB Control Systems — 800xA & Freelance
ABB Control Systems: the 800xA DCS, Freelance compact DCS, PLC automation, and related lifecycle services.