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Motor Control Expanded: Rockwell Automation Announces Product Upgrades

Motor Control Expanded: Rockwell Automation Announces Product Upgrades

Motor control is accomplished by circuit devices from simple contactors to complex frequency drive systems. Rockwell Automation recently added a host of new features and upgrades to common product lines.


News Apr 11, 2023 by David Peterson
Balluff Unveils Inductive Sensor That Detects Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals at Same Switching Distance

Balluff Unveils Inductive Sensor That Detects Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals at Same Switching Distance

Balluff’s new Factor 1 inductive sensors offer users a single sensor that senses both ferrous and non-ferrous metals at the same switching distance, fit for use in environments with various metal types.


News Apr 08, 2023 by Bob Odhiambo
The Power of Invisibility: Infrared Sensors for Automation

The Power of Invisibility: Infrared Sensors for Automation

Operating just outside the visible light spectrum, infrared energy emits from anything with heat stored in it. Detecting this energy, infrared sensors find use in applications from proximity detection to temperature measurement.


Ladder Logic for the Arduino Opta PLC: Creating Your First Program

Ladder Logic for the Arduino Opta PLC: Creating Your First Program

Arduino’s Opta mini PLC platform is supported by the new PLC IDE. Learn to create and download your first program and take advantage of built-in I/O for an easy introduction to the platform.


A Hands-on Walkthrough of MQTT Protocol Using the paho-mqtt Open Source Library

A Hands-on Walkthrough of MQTT Protocol Using the paho-mqtt Open Source Library

No more IIoT buzzwords! This article aims to walk through an implementation of MQTT using the paho-mqtt library using nothing more than your local machine and some simple Python programming.


New Possibilities for Power, Data, and Fluid from Fischer Connectors

New Possibilities for Power, Data, and Fluid from Fischer Connectors

Fischer Connectors has released several new series of heavy-duty cable layouts, allowing reliable fastening of single-pair Ethernet (SPE) and USB 3.2, as well as offerings for combined data and fluid connection.


News Apr 04, 2023 by David Peterson
Leveraging IIoT and Energy Measurement Tools for Machine Optimization

Leveraging IIoT and Energy Measurement Tools for Machine Optimization

Analytics from data algorithms can predict machine failures and provide diagnostics—but what should we measure? Then, once the information has been collected, what trends might point to problems?


Lasers and Their Uses in Sensing and Object Detecting

Lasers and Their Uses in Sensing and Object Detecting

A subset of light is the focused cohesive beams that make up lasers, which can be used in optical sensing. These devices provide benefits of greater range, precision, and even mapping for mobile robotics.


What’s This Standardized Code for Information? Funny You Should ASCII

What’s This Standardized Code for Information? Funny You Should ASCII

ASCII is a familiar acronym, found in applications like Modbus communications and string data types—but what is it, and what does ASCII mean for automation engineers?


AI-enabled Vision Software Sees Upgrades for Enhanced Capabilities

AI-enabled Vision Software Sees Upgrades for Enhanced Capabilities

Teledyne DALSA has added new features to its vision processing software, increasing the software's accuracy and speeding up its AI parameters and processing.


News Mar 29, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Cybersecurity for Industrial Control Systems

Cybersecurity for Industrial Control Systems

Cybersecurity is all about processes and people. A lot of threats can be mitigated through technology, but only if people understand how cybersecurity affects control systems and related technology.


A Look at Additive Manufacturing and Its Potential In Production

A Look at Additive Manufacturing and Its Potential In Production

3D printers have come a long way over the years, but can we really expect to see them on the factory floor, taking the place of large machining centers? What benefits and challenges does printing offer to manufacturing?


Multi-network Module Simplifies Networking, Supports CC-Link IE TSN and EtherNet/IP

Multi-network Module Simplifies Networking, Supports CC-Link IE TSN and EtherNet/IP

Mitsubishi Electric releases a new module that combines IoT asynchronous messaging with deterministic cyclic messaging typically found in field I/O.


News Mar 24, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
The Basics of Optical Sensors and Common Types

The Basics of Optical Sensors and Common Types

Optical sensors are one of the most popular sensor types in industrial automation. This article covers optical sensor basics and commonly used types, including fiber optic, photoelectric, and optical encoders.


ABB Begins Expansion of North American Robotics Headquarters

ABB Begins Expansion of North American Robotics Headquarters

ABB has begun the expansion to its North American robotics headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, strengthening its commitment to the Americas market and accelerating the development of the "next generation" of robots.


News Mar 23, 2023 by Seth Price
Opinion: Where Are the New Automotive Workers?

Opinion: Where Are the New Automotive Workers?

The results from the Global ABB Automotive Manufacturing Outlook Survey highlight the struggles of the automotive industry to find skilled workers. Is it the fault of foreign manufacturing and education?


News Mar 22, 2023 by Seth Price
 Rugged and Intelligent Sensing: Inductive Proximity Sensors with IO-Link Capabilities

Rugged and Intelligent Sensing: Inductive Proximity Sensors with IO-Link Capabilities

Carlo Gavazzi has released a new family of full-metal inductive proximity sensors with an IP69K rating and standard IO-Link capabilities to suit any automation application.


News Mar 21, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Field-oriented Control (Vector Control) for Brushless DC Motors

Field-oriented Control (Vector Control) for Brushless DC Motors

Field-oriented control (FOC), also called vector control, can control 3-phase alternating current motors and brushless DC motors. Read more to learn its advantages, how it works, and its best applications.


Introduction to Industrial Sensors

Introduction to Industrial Sensors

Industrial sensors can be found in nearly every modern industrial process, regardless of complexity. Learn the history, evolution, and variety of sensors that make manufacturing the modern marvel we see today.


AVEVA to Transition to a Subscription Model for Industrial Software

AVEVA to Transition to a Subscription Model for Industrial Software

AVEVA has begun a portfolio-wide transition to a subscription model, expecting 80% of clients to be switched over by 2025. With the transition, clients can expect to see quicker ROI, reduced costs, and the latest in software.


News Mar 16, 2023 by Seth Price