Latest PLCs Articles

The SLC 500 PLC family dominated automation control for well over thirty years and now, with the recent discontinuation…

The SLC 500 PLC family dominated automation control for well over thirty years and now, with the recent discontinuation of most of the series, we look at the differences between SLC and modern Logix PLCs.

The OPC UA protocol is designed to solve two problems in automation: interoperability between device vendors and…

The OPC UA protocol is designed to solve two problems in automation: interoperability between device vendors and independence from incompatible transport layer differences.

Thanks to its compact design, Bihl+Wiedemann's newest addition to its family of ASi-5 counter modules offers…

Thanks to its compact design, Bihl+Wiedemann's newest addition to its family of ASi-5 counter modules offers manufacturers greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness for small-scale applications.

Vention has announced the release of an AI-based motion controller and compatibility between its automation platform and…

Vention has announced the release of an AI-based motion controller and compatibility between its automation platform and ABB cobots. Both moves are aimed at simplifying the use of robotics in manufacturing.

Before tuning a motion axis, you must define the axis. If the control system doesn’t understand the axis properties or…

Before tuning a motion axis, you must define the axis. If the control system doesn’t understand the axis properties or specifications, it can’t be expected to effectively complete the tuning process.

Keyence has released its latest next-gen PLC, the KV-X, with an impressive quad-core CPU, providing a machine ops…

Keyence has released its latest next-gen PLC, the KV-X, with an impressive quad-core CPU, providing a machine ops recorder and granting preset access to over 300 peripheral device EDS files.

Learn about the modules and systems that provide a network connection to the outside world, transforming traditional PLCs…

Learn about the modules and systems that provide a network connection to the outside world, transforming traditional PLCs into true, modern process automation controllers (PAC).

Embedded, modular, panel mount, distributed, machine mount, and remote, oh my! What does it all mean, and how are you…

Embedded, modular, panel mount, distributed, machine mount, and remote, oh my! What does it all mean, and how are you supposed to know which one to choose for your application?

If your facility or workplace uses a PLC, it’s almost certainly because it must interface with physical input and…

If your facility or workplace uses a PLC, it’s almost certainly because it must interface with physical input and output devices. What kinds of I/O modules exist, and how can you tell the difference?

Copia Automation has expanded its list of supported automation software for its popular DeviceLink platform, which…

Copia Automation has expanded its list of supported automation software for its popular DeviceLink platform, which monitors factory automation software in real time for code changes and backups.

Learn all about the power supply: modular and built-in devices that deliver electricity to the PLC backplane and modules,…

Learn all about the power supply: modular and built-in devices that deliver electricity to the PLC backplane and modules, and learn the difference between control and field device power delivery.

Red Lion has expanded its Sixnet Series of VersaTRAK MIPM industrial remote terminal units (RTUs) with two new devices…

Red Lion has expanded its Sixnet Series of VersaTRAK MIPM industrial remote terminal units (RTUs) with two new devices suitable for rugged environments in process applications.

One of the smallest PLCs on the market, the Millenium Slim by Crouzet, can handle advanced functions with a wireless…

One of the smallest PLCs on the market, the Millenium Slim by Crouzet, can handle advanced functions with a wireless interface and function block (FBD) style IEC 61131 programming.

Some devices, like switches, are non-polar; you can connect them in either direction. What makes diodes so special, and…

Some devices, like switches, are non-polar; you can connect them in either direction. What makes diodes so special, and how can you tell the right way from the wrong way?

Besides using a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino Uno, a low-cost PLC can be built using the popular ESP32 microcontroller. The…

Besides using a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino Uno, a low-cost PLC can be built using the popular ESP32 microcontroller. The OpenPLC software supports this popular 32-bit platform.

Ladder logic is an industrial control systems legend stemming from electrical line diagrams before the days of PLCs.…

Ladder logic is an industrial control systems legend stemming from electrical line diagrams before the days of PLCs. Although logical, they are difficult to interpret.

Remote control is a risky business for industrial automation, but the ability to remotely monitor, asses failures, and…

Remote control is a risky business for industrial automation, but the ability to remotely monitor, asses failures, and clear faults has been expanded from robotics to PLC systems by Olis Robotics.

Koidra and Nature Fresh Farms have established a trial partnership to test a new way of farming greenhouse environments…

Koidra and Nature Fresh Farms have established a trial partnership to test a new way of farming greenhouse environments using Koidra's AI-powered automation technologies.

In any process industry, transducers are the basic instrumentation unit for continuous monitoring of system variables…

In any process industry, transducers are the basic instrumentation unit for continuous monitoring of system variables that provide inputs for control system algorithms and outputs.