Robin2:
I get very nervous when people with very little programming knowledge want to develop programs for "industrial equipment".Most industrial equipment has the capability to cause death, injury or serious damage if something goes wrong. Consequently there needs to be insurance in place to cover those risks and all the equipment in use must be approved by the insurers.
The other concern is the question of who will maintain and repair the system if the amateur programmer is not available.
...R
Robin, you worry too much! It's the OPs equipment.
Insurance risk is based on industry type experience, not on equipment in a plant. That would drive an underwrite mad. I have had insurance on my plant for 18 years and have never had a visit from any insurance person.
What the OP does need to do, if he/she intends to continue with the project, is to thoroughly document what he is doing and how he is doing it. And not just program files on a computer disk. We so easily forget just what we did and why we did it.
Paul