Technical Guides

An in-depth look at the UNS Framework standard YAML definitions — how factories are described today inside monolithic vendor tools, why that breaks at scale, and how a set of simple YAML files gives you a version-controlled, human-readable, machine-readable single source of truth. Includes a hands-on walkthrough of describing a small CNC shop from scratch, templates, generated MQTT topics, and multi-site scaling.

An in-depth look at digital twins in manufacturing — what they really are, why they're notoriously hard to scale, and how a Unified Namespace with function-based GitOps provides a composable, version-controlled, vendor-neutral alternative to monolithic twin platforms. Includes a CNC quality twin case study and industry research.

A practical guide comparing flow-based programming (Node-RED) with the function-based GitOps approach used by fn-uns. Start with Node-RED to experiment, then graduate to GitOps when you need version control, failure isolation, and multi-site deployment. Includes migration path and side-by-side comparisons.

A complete walkthrough of the 12 functions that form the fn-uns data pipeline — from machine data capture through processing, reporting, and AI-powered analysis. Animated diagrams, layer-by-layer breakdown, and persona-specific insights for developers, IT, and manufacturing engineers.

How to get data from a Siemens Logo 8.4 on the factory floor into your MQTT broker. Covers wired Ethernet and wireless LoRaWAN with cost analysis, decision matrix, and approved manufacturer list.

Complete tutorial for configuring a Siemens Logo PLC to publish data via MQTT. Covers network setup, Mosquitto broker installation, VS Code MQTT client, Logo configuration, data mapping, and testing with real I/O signals.

How to wire real-world signals — stack lights, door sensors, relay contacts, proximity switches — into the Logo's digital inputs to detect whether a machine is running. Includes wire diagram, step-by-step instructions, and safety best practice.