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Basic Concepts of Pneumatically Powered Air Motors

Air motors are common in process industries, mainly used in hazardous areas. This article introduces the features and working principles of air motors and the differences between air and electrical motors.

19 hours ago by Muhammad Asim Niazi

Introduction to Single Pair Ethernet (SPE)

Industrial Ethernet is getting a facelift, but will the industry adopt this new change? Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) offers gigabit speeds with a reduced footprint. When is it used, and where?

one day ago by Shawn Dietrich

Understanding Power Quality, Monitoring, and Correction  

Power quality is an increasing concern for manufacturers all over the world as electrical equipment becomes more advanced and therefore sensitive to discrepancies in the supplied power.

2 days ago by Damond Goodwin

Introduction to Modbus and Modbus Function Codes

Modbus is one of the oldest industrial communication protocols still in use today. Continue reading to find out how the protocol works and how to use it for monitoring and control.

3 days ago by Shawn Dietrich

Understanding RS232 Serial Communication Message Formats

There are many settings and configurations to consider when using RS232 devices. This article breaks down this communication standard and explains how to send messages from one device to another.

January 26, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Rockwell’s Studio 5000 and Analog I/O Tutorial 2

Learn how to install and program analog modules into Rockwell’s hardware and software environments using a CompactLogix PLC and Studio 5000.

January 25, 2023 by David Peterson

Not Just Another IIoT Article: MQTT for Pneumatic Cylinder Maintenance

IIoT is a daunting topic due to ambiguous interactions of hardware and software. This article outlines the basic steps to use an MQTT broker to collect the number of cycles from a pneumatic cylinder for PM software.

January 24, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Alarm and Event Handling and Processing in Process Control Systems

Events that cause alarms are not the most common events in a process system, but they must be handled with proper care, being both resolved and recorded in order to prevent hazards and downtime.

January 23, 2023 by Munir Ahmad

How To Know When Predictive Maintenance Isn’t An Ideal Solution

To know if predictive maintenance is the right strategy, it might help to first recognize if it isn’t. Here are some indicators that your organization should improve before implementing predictive maintenance.

January 19, 2023 by Bryan Christiansen, Limble CMMS

Count Up (CTU) Instructions on an Arduino OpenPLC Simulator

DC motors are an old technology still commonly used in industry. This hands-on article shows how to implement a Count Up (CTU) counter on an Arduino OpenPLC Simulator to control a low-voltage DC motor.

January 18, 2023 by Dr. Don Wilcher

Intro to PLC Programming with Rockwell’s Studio 5000 and CompactLogix

Rockwell Automation is known for being one of the most popular PLC brands, supported by many compatible devices. Learn the basics of getting started with a CompactLogix project in the Studio 5000 environment.

January 17, 2023 by David Peterson

Safety Devices - The When, How, and Why

Machine safety design can be a daunting task with all the different safety devices on the market today. Choosing the correct device for your design can be made easier by understanding when to use the proper device.

January 16, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Comparing Parallel Circuits: Practical vs Theoretical Electrical Systems

We are taught that parallel circuits maintain equal voltage across all branch resistors, equally sharing the source voltage. But reality is often far from ideal, and individual devices certainly impact the rest of the circuit.

January 12, 2023 by Seth Price

Exploring 4 Popular Machine Learning Algorithms for Industrial Applications

Machine learning is a subset of AI that allows a machine to learn using past data. Learn about the two categories of machine learning as well as four major machine learning models often used in industrial applications.

January 11, 2023 by Anthony King Ho

Introduction to Network Switches for Industrial Applications

Industrial network switches connect automation equipment, controllers, and other such devices. Learn about unmanaged, managed, and PoE enabled switches, as well as the differences between switches, routers, and hubs.

January 10, 2023 by Seth Price

Memory: A Challenge on the Road to Industry 4.0

Memory for data is among the most pressing challenges to Industry 4.0. Given the evolving nature of Industry 4.0 and associated memory solutions, however, some memory-based trends are becoming apparent.

January 10, 2023 by Girija Chougala and Karthik Rangarajan, Infineon Technologies

What’s the Difference Between a Safety Contactor and a General Purpose Contactor?

Designing a system with motor motion always includes a consideration of safety. Incorporating safety contactors might be the correct prevention to protect equipment and users but may add additional challenges.

January 09, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Alan Turing: The Innovation Behind Modern Computer Controls

Nearly all modern programmable control systems are constructed from computer-driven algorithms. Join us to explore the extraordinary life of the ‘founder of computing science’, Alan Turing.

January 09, 2023 by Stephanie Leonida

Types of Actuators: Comparing Fluid-power and Electric Actuators

Actuators are used to control the motion of manufacturing devices and raw materials. This article will compare electric actuators and several types of fluid-power actuators.

January 08, 2023 by Seth Price

An Introduction to Types of Closed-loop Motor Control

Closed-loop motor control is a control system used to regulate the output of a motor. Learn about the four common types of closed-loop motor control systems to understand each one’s inner-workings and applications.

January 06, 2023 by Anish Devasia