Latest PLCs & PACs Articles

Software obsolescence poses a threat in industrial automation equal to hardware obsolescence and should not be…

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.

The HART protocol enables instruments to send analog and digital signals over the same physical wire. This provides…

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.

Configuring analog signals into usable digital quantities is accomplished by scaling function inside the PLC, which,…

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.

Explore trends in PLC technology that give us a glimpse into what the future may hold for hardware, software, and system…

Explore trends in PLC technology that give us a glimpse into what the future may hold for hardware, software, and system architecture.

Welcome to Control Automation Day 2022—Control.com’s digital-only event for engineers! Here is your guide to…

Welcome to Control Automation Day 2022—Control.com’s digital-only event for engineers! Here is your guide to navigating the keynote addresses, live educational sessions, and exciting giveaways from your favorite manufacturers!

Counting up and down are commonly required functions in PLC lagger logic programs for tracking inventories, placement…

Counting up and down are commonly required functions in PLC lagger logic programs for tracking inventories, placement patterns, and gaining informational insights about machine performance statistics.

Designing an obsolescence mitigation plan to detect and solve mitigation risks before they occur is key to avoiding…

Designing an obsolescence mitigation plan to detect and solve mitigation risks before they occur is key to avoiding costly downtime and a potential catastrophe in control environments. 

Many PLC commands are well-known to programmers, including contacts, coils, timers, and counters. But a less-common…

Many PLC commands are well-known to programmers, including contacts, coils, timers, and counters. But a less-common instruction is the one-shot, capable of harnessing the incredible processing speeds in a CPU.

One of the most considerable risks in aging control environments is that eventually, spare parts become obsolete and…

One of the most considerable risks in aging control environments is that eventually, spare parts become obsolete and unavailable, and the lack of an upgrade plan can turn a simple failure into a catastrophe.

Credited with coining the name ‘PLC’, Allen-Bradley and parent company Rockwell Automation are major players in the…

Credited with coining the name ‘PLC’, Allen-Bradley and parent company Rockwell Automation are major players in the world of control systems. Learn how the hardware platforms have evolved into the familiar modern configurations.

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.

The reappearance of the Automate show in Detroit is an opportunity to witness some of the most innovative, exciting…

The reappearance of the Automate show in Detroit is an opportunity to witness some of the most innovative, exciting technology displays from manufacturers around the globe. If you see us, stop and say hello!

Using a combination of software, gripper, lift mount, and loading station, the OnRobot Palletizer is a flexible,…

Using a combination of software, gripper, lift mount, and loading station, the OnRobot Palletizer is a flexible, customizable option for all kinds of robot types and pallet-loading scenarios.

Invertek, a global manufacturer of VFDs for single and three-phase motors, announces its investment plans for growing…

Invertek, a global manufacturer of VFDs for single and three-phase motors, announces its investment plans for growing business in Germany and expanding operations into other areas in Europe.

Remote access to equipment offers the benefits of both data visualization and remote programming ability for faster…

Remote access to equipment offers the benefits of both data visualization and remote programming ability for faster operation. Ewon’s recent announcement of the free M2Web offers remote access solutions.

The timer is a fundamental function of ladder logic programming. In this article, we discuss on- and off-delay as well as…

The timer is a fundamental function of ladder logic programming. In this article, we discuss on- and off-delay as well as retentive timers and define the inputs and outputs required to properly use them.

Scaling values has a wide range of applications and helps to match output values to their real-world applications. Most…

Scaling values has a wide range of applications and helps to match output values to their real-world applications. Most scaling is linear, but many of these real-world changes are not quite so simple.

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.