Latest PLCs & PACs Articles

The next part of our Python learning journey will touch upon control flow, critical to implementing logic in programs.…

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.

It's important to keep your system up and running without regular intervention. While every system requires maintenance,…

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.

Mitsubishi Electric has increased its existing investment in Realtime Robotics. The company is focused on strengthening…

Mitsubishi Electric has increased its existing investment in Realtime Robotics. The company is focused on strengthening its factory automation solutions with Realtime Robotics' motion planning technology.

The latest update to Aerotech's Automation1 platform delivers enhanced support for laser scan heads and drives, with key…

The latest update to Aerotech's Automation1 platform delivers enhanced support for laser scan heads and drives, with key updates including tools for faster development, 3D data visualization, and enhanced scanner control.

Learn how to connect analog inputs, either voltage or current, to the Phoenix Contact’s IIoT PLC platform and design…

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.

A new proof of concept center from Omron and a shared campus for Endress+Hauser USA and Eastern Controls are some recent…

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.

Wrapping up the data structures portion of our journey are sets. This is the least frequently used data structure, but…

Wrapping up the data structures portion of our journey are sets. This is the least frequently used data structure, but don’t write off the set just yet. Its efficiency and simplicity may provide value in manufacturing data processing.

Every method of connecting to an industrial device—USB, serial, or Ethernet—poses challenges. For Ethernet, we often…

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.

As we approach the conclusion of Python data structures, we’ll examine the tuple. Used less frequently than lists and…

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.

When setting up a system for the first time, the process can seem complex and daunting. However, there are tools…

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.

Object detection and operator interfaces can be simplified with the new dedicated, high-intensity light indicator with…

Object detection and operator interfaces can be simplified with the new dedicated, high-intensity light indicator with configurable colors for a wide range of optical applications.

Learn how to get started with Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext and Engineer software, a platform that ultimately provides a…

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.

Both lists and dictionaries can retain structured data in Python. The dictionary is unique in that it stores individual…

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.

Sensor networks with built-in logic functions can save cost and program execution speed, but what are those various logic…

Sensor networks with built-in logic functions can save cost and program execution speed, but what are those various logic functions, and when might they be preferred over normal PLC ladder logic?

Every automated cell requires a ‘brain’ in order to achieve the required tasks. How do you determine the necessary…

Every automated cell requires a ‘brain’ in order to achieve the required tasks. How do you determine the necessary I/O, communication protocols, and processor necessary for controlling your system?

Learn how to write a ladder logic program to assign a string value to a data register and share that register with any…

Learn how to write a ladder logic program to assign a string value to a data register and share that register with any HMI compatible with Mitsubishi’s MELSEC PLC series.

Rockwell PLC users can more easily integrate field-level analog HART devices with two new modules designed for the…

Rockwell PLC users can more easily integrate field-level analog HART devices with two new modules designed for the popular 5380 CompactLogix platform.

Naver Labs and Adlink Technology are partnering to drive innovation in next-generation service robots for delivery, café…

Naver Labs and Adlink Technology are partnering to drive innovation in next-generation service robots for delivery, café assistance, and parcel distribution applications.

ABB, Rockwell Automation, and other top industrial automation companies have come together to develop an open standard…

ABB, Rockwell Automation, and other top industrial automation companies have come together to develop an open standard for interoperability between hardware and software in the industrial space.