Latest Motors & Motion Controls Articles

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?

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.

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?

Siemens releases a new version of the SINUMERIK CNC product line and upgrades their digital twin simulation software,…

Siemens releases a new version of the SINUMERIK CNC product line and upgrades their digital twin simulation software, allowing users to increase productivity and reduce waste better than ever before.

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.

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.

Most grippers are powered by either air or electricity. Learn about the questions and factors an engineer should consider…

Most grippers are powered by either air or electricity. Learn about the questions and factors an engineer should consider to make the best decisions while selecting a gripper to use for unique applications.

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.

Process automation relies on precise control systems to operate production equipment for everything from lumber to…

Process automation relies on precise control systems to operate production equipment for everything from lumber to pastries. Using control algorithms produces stable, accurate, and often delicious results.

Transfer functions allow systems to be converted from non-algebraic time measurement units into equations that can be…

Transfer functions allow systems to be converted from non-algebraic time measurement units into equations that can be solved, but how do these functions work, and why do we use them?

Join Control Automation for a review of the show highlights and a special feature of some exciting booths visited on the…

Join Control Automation for a review of the show highlights and a special feature of some exciting booths visited on the last and final day of the Automate trade show. Excited for the next year of innovation!

System dynamics is primarily concerned with understanding complex systems’ behaviors over time. Mathematical and…

System dynamics is primarily concerned with understanding complex systems’ behaviors over time. Mathematical and computer models can help identify responses before turning to costly real-world experiments.

It’s the first two days of Automate 2023, and the Control Automation team hit the streets to learn about the latest and…

It’s the first two days of Automate 2023, and the Control Automation team hit the streets to learn about the latest and greatest technology rocking the world of robotics and industrial automation!

Automate 2023 has begun! This year’s trade show features some exciting new technologies, including automation solutions…

Automate 2023 has begun! This year’s trade show features some exciting new technologies, including automation solutions from Universal Robots, Bosch Rexroth, and DENSO Robotics.

We usually think of joysticks in terms of video game controllers, but they exist in all kinds of industrial systems:…

We usually think of joysticks in terms of video game controllers, but they exist in all kinds of industrial systems: heavy equipment, overhead cranes, and even some robotic controls. But how do they work?

Variable control allows external conditions, like temperature, to be monitored so the controller can activate devices to…

Variable control allows external conditions, like temperature, to be monitored so the controller can activate devices to heat or cool the system as needed. Simulate a temp controller with low-cost components!

Designing, installing, and maintaining control systems involves a lot of wires. Each wire has a purpose, often indicated…

Designing, installing, and maintaining control systems involves a lot of wires. Each wire has a purpose, often indicated by the color of the insulation. But what are the common colors, and what do they mean?

Rubber belts have lived under the hood of nearly every car since they first took to the streets, but they also transmit…

Rubber belts have lived under the hood of nearly every car since they first took to the streets, but they also transmit power through all kinds of industrial machine drives as well.