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If we are talking about automating factories, isn't Factorio the game of choice, rather than Minecraft? 😋

Same story here. We've just started to standarize on Beckhoff. EtherCAT is nice medium for realizing distributed systems. We use EP boxes for distributed IO (just as your case - a great way to reduce wiring; add IO-Link sensors and actuators to the mix and you save A LOT of work with the system assembly and testing and gaining unlimited flexibility). EL terminals for the control cabinet - you can basically build any system capabilities you like, and add anything any time in case you'd forgot. Also, you get safety-rated terminals and boxes (and you can build distributed system with that, no need to bother with all those cables from curtains and interlocks from the other side of the machine). And motion control with EtherCAT based servodrives. And everything integrated within single TwinCAT environment (and they even know and care what source code control is). And you can have everything deployed on Windows based industrial PC with real-time TwinCAT capabilities and have some other applications running side-to-side. Well, if you haven't noticed yet, I'm in love with this whole system That being said, I still consider LabVIEW ("old-gen" one, mind you) to be superior environment. It's sad that NI never had and still doesn't have too much to offer in terms of machine control and industrial automation.