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Seal-In Ladder Logic vs. Latching/Unlatching PLC Commands

Seal-In Ladder Logic vs. Latching/Unlatching PLC Commands

An age-old debate in PLC programming: investigating the uses and caveats of latching software commands versus seal-in ladder logic for industrial control applications.


CIMON Announces Updates to Canvas 4.0 HMI Dev Platform

CIMON Announces Updates to Canvas 4.0 HMI Dev Platform

The new eXT and nXT series of Xpanel HMI displays from CIMON have been given an upgrade with the release of Canvas 4.0, providing access to new features for HMI project development.


News Jul 01, 2024 by David Peterson
Baumer Launches Ultrasonic Sensor for Mobile Machinery in Harsh Conditions

Baumer Launches Ultrasonic Sensor for Mobile Machinery in Harsh Conditions

Baumer has designed an ultrasonic sensor that can withstand extreme outdoor conditions, making it suitable for use on mobile machinery in the agricultural and construction industries.


News Jun 28, 2024 by Shawn Dietrich
Weincloud Adds Remote Management for Smart Manufacturing and IoT

Weincloud Adds Remote Management for Smart Manufacturing and IoT

Weintek introduces four key enhancements to the newest version of Weincloud: a permission directory system, EasyAccess 2.0 upgrades, increased data allowance, and simplified remote connectivity.


News Jun 27, 2024 by Austin Futrell
Python Tutorial Part 7 | Conditional Flow: If Statements

Python Tutorial Part 7 | Conditional Flow: If Statements

The next part of our Python learning journey will touch upon control flow, critical to implementing logic in programs. The concept is broad and the first topic to cover will be if/elif statements.


Nidec Releases High-Speed Communications Module for HVAC Drive Systems

Nidec Releases High-Speed Communications Module for HVAC Drive Systems

Nidec’s Control Techniques has launched the SI-BACnet IP add-on module for new and existing HVAC drives to help communicate between devices and create a connected automated building.


The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Maintaining Your System

The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Maintaining Your System

It's important to keep your system up and running without regular intervention. While every system requires maintenance, never overlook the critical importance of tools and training for the operators.


Tutorial: Analog Signals with Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext Platform

Tutorial: Analog Signals with Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext Platform

Learn how to connect analog inputs, either voltage or current, to the Phoenix Contact’s IIoT PLC platform and design simple data processing programs with the PLCnext Engineer IDE.


Company Expansions in North America Point Toward Industrial Growth

Company Expansions in North America Point Toward Industrial Growth

A new proof of concept center from Omron and a shared campus for Endress+Hauser USA and Eastern Controls are some recent examples that promise industrial development in North America.


News Jun 21, 2024 by Damond Goodwin
Tighter Control With the Unitronics UMI-B7 Variable Frequency Drive Series

Tighter Control With the Unitronics UMI-B7 Variable Frequency Drive Series

The new UMI-B7 series of VFDs from Unitronics has an added Ethernet connection and tighter closed-loop control for more precise speed, torque, and position.


News Jun 21, 2024 by Seth Price
Compact and Capable Motor Control with Gefran G-Start

Compact and Capable Motor Control with Gefran G-Start

Gefran’s new G-Start motor controllers offer digital I/O and monitoring features normally only found on inverters, all housed in a compact package for more simple control scenarios.


News Jun 18, 2024 by Seth Price
Banner Engineering Adds Two New Series to Radar Sensor Offerings

Banner Engineering Adds Two New Series to Radar Sensor Offerings

The K50R and Q90 R series of radar sensors bring versatility and cost-effectiveness to object detection across applications. Both series are designed to be superior alternatives to ultrasonic sensors.


News Jun 18, 2024 by Joshua Tidwell
Networking Woes | How and Why To Change the IP Address of My Computer?

Networking Woes | How and Why To Change the IP Address of My Computer?

Every method of connecting to an industrial device—USB, serial, or Ethernet—poses challenges. For Ethernet, we often must adjust the IP address of our PC, not only the device itself.


New Modbus-Enabled Closed-Loop Stepper Motor From Autonics

New Modbus-Enabled Closed-Loop Stepper Motor From Autonics

The accuracy and reliability of the AiC-MT series of stepper motor systems have been expanded with the addition of Ethernet-based Modbus TCP communications and software for parameter adjustment.


News Jun 13, 2024 by Shawn Dietrich
Python Tutorial Part 5 | Data Structures: Tuples

Python Tutorial Part 5 | Data Structures: Tuples

As we approach the conclusion of Python data structures, we’ll examine the tuple. Used less frequently than lists and dictionaries, tuples do serve some handy use cases where immutability is a critical requirement.


The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Testing, Commissioning, and Debugging

The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Testing, Commissioning, and Debugging

When setting up a system for the first time, the process can seem complex and daunting. However, there are tools available to make the job much easier before commissioning.


Tutorial: First Program With Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext Platform

Tutorial: First Program With Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext Platform

Learn how to get started with Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext and Engineer software, a platform that ultimately provides a PLC environment for plant control as well as an OS for more advanced IIoT projects.


KEB Debuts Asynchronous 3-Phase Low-Voltage High-Power Motors

KEB Debuts Asynchronous 3-Phase Low-Voltage High-Power Motors

The new DM160 motors are highly configurable and offer users an efficient space-saving design providing up to 36 kW with IP65 ratings for many different industrial applications.


News Jun 10, 2024 by Damond Goodwin
Python Tutorial Part 4 | Data Structures: Dictionaries

Python Tutorial Part 4 | Data Structures: Dictionaries

Both lists and dictionaries can retain structured data in Python. The dictionary is unique in that it stores individual entries with human-readable logical names rather than index numbers.


Phoenix Contact Releases Caparoc Power Module With EtherNet/IP Interface

Phoenix Contact Releases Caparoc Power Module With EtherNet/IP Interface

Customers will now be able to communicate via EtherNet/IP on their Caparoc circuit breaker system with the release of the new EtherNet/IP power module.


News Jun 06, 2024 by Joshua Tidwell