Latest Building Articles

Virtual networks can connect or isolate various local control networks through configuration of a managed switch. Why…

Virtual networks can connect or isolate various local control networks through configuration of a managed switch. Why would we use VLANs, and how can you segment a network switch to create a VLAN?

Structured Text (ST) is one of the common IEC programming languages that can be used in programming PLCs. Learn how to…

Structured Text (ST) is one of the common IEC programming languages that can be used in programming PLCs. Learn how to use structured text to write executable programs for MELSEC’s FX series PLC.

Mathematical operations are essential in PLC programming as they help in creating an argument output that is based on…

Mathematical operations are essential in PLC programming as they help in creating an argument output that is based on proportionality and numbers. Learn how to implement mathematical operations in FX and Q Series PLCs.

After an amazing first half in 2023, with site records being broken in many categories, we have you, our viewers, to…

After an amazing first half in 2023, with site records being broken in many categories, we have you, our viewers, to thank! But what content have you been enjoying most? Articles, forums, the textbook?

I could run down to the local box store or internet marketplace and buy a 5-port switch for less than 20 dollars, or…

I could run down to the local box store or internet marketplace and buy a 5-port switch for less than 20 dollars, or invest in an industrial switch for hundreds. Why would I choose the industrial switch?

Three-phase motors are a backbone of the modern industrial control landscape. But plenty of applications still rely on…

Three-phase motors are a backbone of the modern industrial control landscape. But plenty of applications still rely on single-phase motors. Can these types of motors be reversed, and if so, how?

OnLogic, manufacturer of rugged industrial computers, adds to its existing line of IPCs with a product that boasts…

OnLogic, manufacturer of rugged industrial computers, adds to its existing line of IPCs with a product that boasts connecting to new and legacy components with extended array of communication options.

Implementing PID control in a PLC is far more complicated than textbooks would make it appear. There is more to the…

Implementing PID control in a PLC is far more complicated than textbooks would make it appear. There is more to the process than simply picking gain (k) values and calculating an output value.

SICK has released a new time-of-flight (TOF) safety vision sensor and a new contactless linear encoder to the product…

SICK has released a new time-of-flight (TOF) safety vision sensor and a new contactless linear encoder to the product catalog, intended to impact new automation systems in mobile and linear motion designs.

An introduction to the various tag types used within one of the leading supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)…

An introduction to the various tag types used within one of the leading supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software powering IIoT, HMI, and I4.0 applications: Ignition by Inductive Automation.

Direct current (DC) motors have existed since the late 19th century. What sets these motors apart from AC models, how do…

Direct current (DC) motors have existed since the late 19th century. What sets these motors apart from AC models, how do you control them, and how can you tell when it’s time to repair or replace them?

Selecting a suitable electrical connector is a process that is based on how you will terminate it to the system. This…

Selecting a suitable electrical connector is a process that is based on how you will terminate it to the system. This article provides advice on how to make the right contact selection for your industrial or robotic system.

Mitsubishi Electric Automation expands the iQ-F series of compact PLCs with the powerful and affordable FX5S that uses…

Mitsubishi Electric Automation expands the iQ-F series of compact PLCs with the powerful and affordable FX5S that uses familiar programming software while increasing the range of I/O and communication.

Errors in communications often manifest as a result of electrical noise interrupting the data during the transmission…

Errors in communications often manifest as a result of electrical noise interrupting the data during the transmission process, leading to various methods for determining whether received data has been damaged.

Phoenix Contact has announced the release of the new Thermomark E-Series printers to increase the speed of wiring…

Phoenix Contact has announced the release of the new Thermomark E-Series printers to increase the speed of wiring projects and provide a more well-documented future for control cabinet manufacturing.

The SIMATIC S7-1500V is Siemens's newest PLC, but it looks completely different than any other PLC… Mainly because it…

The SIMATIC S7-1500V is Siemens's newest PLC, but it looks completely different than any other PLC… Mainly because it doesn’t physically exist.

The Lean process uses a method of implementation focusing only on actions providing value to customers. The following…

The Lean process uses a method of implementation focusing only on actions providing value to customers. The following five steps break down the process into discrete modules when introducing efficiency to production.

Antaira released two new DC-DC converters capable of producing more power to drive multiport switches, commonly equipped…

Antaira released two new DC-DC converters capable of producing more power to drive multiport switches, commonly equipped with power over Ethernet (PoE), using a standard industrial line voltage.

Setting and resetting a PLC output is essential in establishing a holding circuit for a transducer. Learn how to use…

Setting and resetting a PLC output is essential in establishing a holding circuit for a transducer. Learn how to use set/reset instructions in MELSOFT series GX Works2 to latch and release an output.