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Dot Notation: A Different Way Of Addressing Integers in PLCs

Dot Notation: A Different Way Of Addressing Integers in PLCs

Addressing variables at the bit level can save precious PLC memory as well as make your code more readable and easier to understand.


Automate 2026: Opto 22 and the Full IT/OT Automation Adventure

Automate 2026: Opto 22 and the Full IT/OT Automation Adventure

Control isn’t a standalone hardware challenge these days. Check out the full journey on display at Automate in Chicago: from the ground floor up to the clouds!


News Jun 28, 2026 by David Peterson
Getting Pumped for Chicago: Automate 2026!

Getting Pumped for Chicago: Automate 2026!

We’re looking forward to an amazing, exciting week at McCormick Place for the annual Automate show. Check out the lineup of great companies. Will we see you there?


News Jun 17, 2026 by David Peterson
Pepperl+Fuchs Rolls Out Ethernet Motor Control Module for Conveyors

Pepperl+Fuchs Rolls Out Ethernet Motor Control Module for Conveyors

The new G20 Ethernet system targets both simple and complex conveyor systems, controlling up to 120 motor rollers via one IP address.


News May 28, 2026 by Shawn Dietrich
Tutorial: Driving Mecademic Robots with Siemens PLCs

Tutorial: Driving Mecademic Robots with Siemens PLCs

Learn how to create programs that directly drive a Meca500 robot arm using a Siemens S7 PLC, including adding the hardware and using pre-built function blocks for STEP7 TIA Portal.


Learning Some BASIC Programming in a PLC Environment

Learning Some BASIC Programming in a PLC Environment

Use the analog capabilities of a TRi PLC to read a distance sensor and create a custom function that triggers events using integer data types.


Debugging and Variable Watch Tables Using the OpenPLC Editor

Debugging and Variable Watch Tables Using the OpenPLC Editor

Recent OpenPLC Editor versions offer an improved debugger, allowing real-time monitoring of variables and tags in industrial control applications running on an Arduino Uno PLC.


Mitsubishi PLC to VFD Control: RS-485 Communication

Mitsubishi PLC to VFD Control: RS-485 Communication

This guide shows you how to set up RS-485 communication between the FX3U PLC and the FR-D700 inverter with the FX3U-485-BD. You can control speed and monitor the system using ladder logic.


Turck TX400 Series Adds Power and Flexibility to HMI/PLCs

Turck TX400 Series Adds Power and Flexibility to HMI/PLCs

New TX400 panels from Turck combine HMI and PLC functions with faster hardware, CodeSys support, and multiple display sizes.


News Apr 21, 2026 by Joshua Tidwell
TRi PLC Updates FX1616-BA PLC With Surface-Mount Redesign

TRi PLC Updates FX1616-BA PLC With Surface-Mount Redesign

The FX1616-BA controller’s transition to surface-mount technology aims to combat component obsolescence and improve manufacturing consistency.


News Apr 12, 2026 by Shawn Dietrich
TRi PLC Fx Series Tutorial: Getting Started with Ladder Logic

TRi PLC Fx Series Tutorial: Getting Started with Ladder Logic

Learn how to connect, wire, and program a TRi PLC Fx controller in this step-by-step tutorial.


Siemens Introduces LOGO! 9 Next-Generation Logic Controllers

Siemens Introduces LOGO! 9 Next-Generation Logic Controllers

The LOGO! 9 logic controllers offer up to 800 function blocks, expanded I/O capacity, a color touchscreen display, and improved engineering tools for small-scale automation tasks.


News Apr 02, 2026 by Bob Odhiambo
Tutorial: Rockwell’s Micro800 PLCs With FactoryTalk Design Workbench

Tutorial: Rockwell’s Micro800 PLCs With FactoryTalk Design Workbench

Learn how to configure a connection and download a simple digital I/O project using the newest Rockwell software, paired with the Ethernet version of the Micro800 PLC lineup.


Industry Insights: Understanding Hybrid Linear Motion

Industry Insights: Understanding Hybrid Linear Motion

Kyntronics’ mission is to combine servo control with hydraulic actuators to form hybrid motion control. Our engineering team posed a few questions in hopes of learning more about this technology.


Inside Rockwell Automation’s Factory Where Automation Is Built

Inside Rockwell Automation’s Factory Where Automation Is Built

Join Control.com for an inside look at the Rockwell Automation HQ in Milwaukee, WI, and check out a fully automated assembly line. Plus, a preview of new product tutorials, coming soon!


A Legacy of Factory and Motion Control: Mitsubishi Electric Automation

A Legacy of Factory and Motion Control: Mitsubishi Electric Automation

Showcase, manufacturing, repair, and research: Join Control.com for a recap of our team’s recent visit to the US HQ of Mitsubishi Electric Automation, and see where the magic happens.


Explaining the Tech: Common vs. Isolated PLC I/O Modules

Explaining the Tech: Common vs. Isolated PLC I/O Modules

Learn the difference between common and individually isolated PLC I/O modules; how do we know when isolation might be helpful or required for outputs, inputs, and analog signals?


Virtual Control Systems For Real World Applications

Virtual Control Systems For Real World Applications

These days, a virtual PLC is not only for simulations; it can also be used to read real-world inputs, turn on outputs, or initiate motion. Follow along as we dive deep into the world of virtual PLCs.


AutomationDirect Adds I/O Modules to Productivity PLC Family

AutomationDirect Adds I/O Modules to Productivity PLC Family

The newest additions include low-noise solid-state relay output modules, 16-bit resolution thermocouple modules, and a dual-purpose discrete/relay combination module.


News Feb 24, 2026 by Seth Price
Industrial Connectivity and DataOps: Work Together to Unlock Your Manufacturing Data

Industrial Connectivity and DataOps: Work Together to Unlock Your Manufacturing Data

Working with data is no simple task. It requires a solid understanding of how to acquire the data, process it, and then use it to deliver tangible benefits to the operation and the company.