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Automation Issues and Energy Usage in Environmental Extremes

As summer heat continues to scorch the northern hemisphere, manufacturers face potential equipment damage and downtime. Learn about the ways extreme heat can damage automated equipment and systems. 

4 days ago by Antonio Armenta

Recreating PLC Ladder Logic in an Arduino C/C++ IDE

​​​​​​​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.

August 01, 2022 by David Peterson

PLC Program Commands: Move and Copy Instructions

Moving data is a critical function of PLCs. In this article, we’ll talk about Move, Masked Move, Copy File, and Synchronous Copy File and show how they can be used to move individual pieces of data and entire arrays. 

July 28, 2022 by Jon Peterson

SIKO’s New Position Sensor With IO-Link Interface

The latest networked position indicator from SIKO, the AP05 IO-Link, is bus compatible and compact. Its user-friendly, easy-to-read display and reduced set-up and installation time make for simple I/O technology.

July 27, 2022 by Damond Goodwin

Photoelectric Sensor Wavelengths

Learn about the differences between red, green, infrared, and more recently, blue photoelectric sensors and how the different light spectrums can aid in varying industrial automation processes.

July 26, 2022 by Antonio Armenta

What is Firmware, and Why is PLC Firmware Important?

Inside a controller, code is interpreted into the binary signals that influence input and output signals, flags and registers, and even the communication of network signals. This is the job of firmware.

July 21, 2022 by David Peterson

Understanding Centralization vs Decentralization of PLCs

Centralized control systems are often seen as outdated compared to decentralized systems; however, both have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to choosing which one to use in manufacturing. 

July 13, 2022 by Seth Price

Automation and Digital Technologies Transform the Food and Beverage Industry

Automation and digital technologies in the food and beverage industry provide manufacturers with greater operational efficiency, improved worker safety, and higher quality goods for end-consumers. 

July 13, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida

Understanding PLC Program Commands: Comparison Instructions

​​​​​​​We will show you how to recognize, utilize, and efficiently operate your comparison instructions in Rockwell Automation’s Studio 5000 and Automation Direct’s Productivity Suite to make your program flow smoothly.

July 06, 2022 by Jon Peterson

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Hardware - Control Automation

Programmable Logic Control (PLC) systems are the core of most industrial control systems that drive modern manufacturing. In this Control Automation video, we discuss the important hardware elements that define a PLC, regardless of its size or purpose.

July 06, 2022 by David Peterson

Control Automation Launches PLC Tutorial Video Series

Watch our 'Introduction to PLCs' series by our very own Control Automation engineering staff. Join us for the YouTube premier LIVE event on Wednesday, July 6th with a Q&A from the video author and engineer.

July 05, 2022 by David Peterson

Balluff Introduces I/O Module with the Protection of CIP Safety 

The newly-announced CIP Safety I/O Module from Balluff supports CIP Safety specifications over an Ethernet network, providing a platform for safety device distribution directly on the machine center.

July 03, 2022 by David Peterson

Working With Legacy Systems—Why Use Serial to Ethernet Converters?

One common challenge when working with legacy control systems is establishing communication with old devices that use old protocols like RS232 and RS485. Learn about the importance of converting from serial to Ethernet.

June 30, 2022 by Antonio Armenta

Understanding PLC Program Commands: Trigonometry Instructions

We will show you how to use the basic trigonometry functions to build ladder logic in a PLC, allowing for a clean, well-organized, and easy-to-use code that allows you and other users to troubleshoot your programs.

June 28, 2022 by Jon Peterson

Data from Control System to Cloud - Industry 4.0 Communication Protocols

Communication protocols are a key component for an industry 4.0 compliant facility and are used to enable communication back and forth between cloud servers to transmit data or receive instructions.

June 25, 2022 by Anish Devasia

Understanding PLC Program Commands: Math Instructions

We will show you how to use common math functions from two popular PLC programs—Rockwell Automation's Studio 5000 and Automation Direct Productivity Suite. 

June 24, 2022 by Jon Peterson

Introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) - Control Automation

Programmable Logic Control (PLC) systems are the core of most industrial control systems that drive modern manufacturing. In our Control.com video tutorials, we will share information, experience, and tips for working with PLCs—from the hardware, to the wiring, to the programming logic of inputs, outputs, and communication processes.

June 24, 2022 by David Peterson

Migrating PLC Software

Software obsolescence poses a threat in industrial automation equal to hardware obsolescence and should not be overlooked. Many PLC OEMs offer tools to migrate upgraded software projects to the newest controller revisions.

June 23, 2022 by Antonio Armenta

Getting Starting with the HART Protocol for Sensing Instruments

The HART protocol enables instruments to send analog and digital signals over the same physical wire. This provides multiple advantages for remote configuration, increased accuracy, and more.

June 23, 2022 by Shawn Dietrich

Advanced Scaling Techniques for PLC Analog Quantities

Configuring analog signals into usable digital quantities is accomplished by scaling function inside the PLC, which, along with analog signal wiring, is important to understand.

June 21, 2022 by Antonio Armenta