Latest Motors & Motion Controls Articles

Any machine can become a source of elevated temperature, even under regular operation. We cannot assume that temperature…

Any machine can become a source of elevated temperature, even under regular operation. We cannot assume that temperature problems occur only based on climate conditions, and mitigation steps must be employed.

The diverse power terms in electrical generation systems include active, reactive, and apparent power, all of which lead…

The diverse power terms in electrical generation systems include active, reactive, and apparent power, all of which lead to the introduction of ‘power factor’ effectiveness in an AC circuit.

​​​​​​​Arduinos have been a staple in the community of makers, students, and project innovators for many…

​​​​​​​Arduinos have been a staple in the community of makers, students, and project innovators for many years. For many using Arduino’s IDE, there can be difficulties in translating between PLC ladder rungs and text programming.

The CTRL F3 series reviews field studies and failures in the field focused on control fails, fixes, and facts. This…

The CTRL F3 series reviews field studies and failures in the field focused on control fails, fixes, and facts. This article covers an explosion at an industrial sawmill.

Bosch Rexroth's new universal Smart Function Kit for Dispensing helps customers execute dispensing tasks faster than…

Bosch Rexroth's new universal Smart Function Kit for Dispensing helps customers execute dispensing tasks faster than previously possible with their complete and deployment-ready linear robots. 

ABB showcased its latest innovative motor solutions at the EASA Convention in Saint Louis, Missouri on June 26-28. The…

ABB showcased its latest innovative motor solutions at the EASA Convention in Saint Louis, Missouri on June 26-28. The motors are designed to operate in harsh industrial environments, with different options available to fit customers' changing needs. 

Electrical signal analysis has come to the forefront of predictive maintenance, helping to reduce downtime in industrial…

Electrical signal analysis has come to the forefront of predictive maintenance, helping to reduce downtime in industrial manufacturing by remotely identifying problems with electric motors and generators.

Many companies offer automation solutions that work from the beginning to the end of a process. Not the progress of the…

Many companies offer automation solutions that work from the beginning to the end of a process. Not the progress of the product through the facility, but rather hardware from the shop floor to the cloud level and everything in between. We highlight here some solutions from Emerson and Bosch Rexroth from Automate 2022.

What if you could control the end position and the speed of a hydraulic actuator accurately with just a simple signal?…

What if you could control the end position and the speed of a hydraulic actuator accurately with just a simple signal? Some systems use simple open/close valves, but others require far more precision.

SMC announces a new electric actuator series with high-rigidity guide rods, equipped with a battery-less encoder, driven…

SMC announces a new electric actuator series with high-rigidity guide rods, equipped with a battery-less encoder, driven by stepper motor and matching drive compatible with multiple networks.

Even with the most reliable networks, network outages are inevitable for a host of reasons, and managing these outages in…

Even with the most reliable networks, network outages are inevitable for a host of reasons, and managing these outages in VFD systems becomes critically important.

Although the are similarities in operating theory, relays and contactors are used in industrial circuits for different…

Although the are similarities in operating theory, relays and contactors are used in industrial circuits for different specific applications, and should not be used interchangeably.

Hysteresis is a term introduced in basic control system courses and listed on sensor datasheets, but the terms is not…

Hysteresis is a term introduced in basic control system courses and listed on sensor datasheets, but the terms is not often understood, with error deriving from both the system itself as well as the sensor.

In honor of May the 4th, Star Wars Day, we compare the sources and applications of the two most common force-delivery…

In honor of May the 4th, Star Wars Day, we compare the sources and applications of the two most common force-delivery systems - mechanical and hydraulic.

Our Control Automation engineering staff got the chance to visit a commercial farm in North Dakota and learn the hardware…

Our Control Automation engineering staff got the chance to visit a commercial farm in North Dakota and learn the hardware and software making these huge automated tractors ready for high-tech ‘field’ work.

Rockwell recently announced the newest addition to the PowerFlex family of VFD units - the Armor PowerFlex series,…

Rockwell recently announced the newest addition to the PowerFlex family of VFD units - the Armor PowerFlex series, designed for on-machine control with heightened IP ratings over previous models.

Hydraulic component leader Parker Hannifin recently announced a new PAC motion controller and module series with…

Hydraulic component leader Parker Hannifin recently announced a new PAC motion controller and module series with web-based visualization for instant remote monitoring of up to 40 motion axes.

Epson robot programming bears similarities to other industry-standard brands, but contains many unique features,…

Epson robot programming bears similarities to other industry-standard brands, but contains many unique features, including the ability to run background programs alongside the main function.

Two common methods exist for driving induction motors with VFDs - linear scalar control, which is often labeled as V/f,…

Two common methods exist for driving induction motors with VFDs - linear scalar control, which is often labeled as V/f, and vector, or field-oriented control, which can be a bit more complex to understand.