Some workplaces are more dangerous than others, not because of the practices, but rather the products. Where do explosions occur, and what practices exist to…
Some workplaces are more dangerous than others, not because of the practices, but rather the products. Where do explosions occur, and what practices exist to reduce such risk for equipment and workforce?
User-defined data types (UDTs) are a powerful and useful tool when applied to their full advantage. However, misused,…
User-defined data types (UDTs) are a powerful and useful tool when applied to their full advantage. However, misused, they can become problematic and introduce roadblocks to troubleshooting and upgrading PLC programs.
Triggering a machine by an external event often requires a pulse timer for OpenPLC Pulse Timer control. Here’s a brief…
Triggering a machine by an external event often requires a pulse timer for OpenPLC Pulse Timer control. Here’s a brief tutorial on how an M5Stack Core can offer a simple, effective low-cost Arduino OpenPLC HMI solution.
Many articles address the wiring and implementation of analog control signals, but where are they used, and what might…
Many articles address the wiring and implementation of analog control signals, but where are they used, and what might make them a better (or perhaps worse) decision than digital input/output devices?
Using the right motor for the right task is critical - but what happens if the motor is connected to the wrong supply? It…
Using the right motor for the right task is critical - but what happens if the motor is connected to the wrong supply? It is never recommended, but important to quickly understand symptoms of incorrect wiring.
Engineers face a common challenge of moving objects from one point to another, especially in a production line. This…
Engineers face a common challenge of moving objects from one point to another, especially in a production line. This article will introduce the pneumatic cylinder as used in industrial automation.
We usually think of joysticks in terms of video game controllers, but they exist in all kinds of industrial systems:…
We usually think of joysticks in terms of video game controllers, but they exist in all kinds of industrial systems: heavy equipment, overhead cranes, and even some robotic controls. But how do they work?
Rubber belts have lived under the hood of nearly every car since they first took to the streets, but they also transmit…
Rubber belts have lived under the hood of nearly every car since they first took to the streets, but they also transmit power through all kinds of industrial machine drives as well.
Hydraulic systems suffer from pressure drops and energy loss whenever any fluid is in motion. Learn about these devices…
Hydraulic systems suffer from pressure drops and energy loss whenever any fluid is in motion. Learn about these devices called ‘accumulators’. What are they, how do they work, and why do we need them?
Understanding torque is a key method of preventing damage to machines and ensuring a long lifespan. We have all heard of…
Understanding torque is a key method of preventing damage to machines and ensuring a long lifespan. We have all heard of torque, but what is it, and how is it measured in automated systems?
AutomationDirect’s Productivity line of PLCs is known for cost-effectiveness and ease of use. Learn how to build and…
AutomationDirect’s Productivity line of PLCs is known for cost-effectiveness and ease of use. Learn how to build and download a simple program using discrete input and output ladder commands.
Limit switches are electromechanical devices that open or close contacts when external pressure is applied to an…
Limit switches are electromechanical devices that open or close contacts when external pressure is applied to an actuator. This solves a simple problem faced by motion devices: limiting movement
Engineering processes like robotics, feedback control, and security systems rely on position and distance sensors to…
Engineering processes like robotics, feedback control, and security systems rely on position and distance sensors to provide real-time information that enables machines to operate accurately and safely.
Fluid flow control is often crucial to control systems and can be achieved by incorporating control valves. In this…
Fluid flow control is often crucial to control systems and can be achieved by incorporating control valves. In this article, we will look at the sequence valve and its use in systems to automate fluid flow.
MEMS sensors enable the creation of highly sensitive, compact, and low-power devices for measuring quantities like…
MEMS sensors enable the creation of highly sensitive, compact, and low-power devices for measuring quantities like acceleration, magnetic fields, pressure, and more, and are found in automotive safety systems, navigation, and environmental monitoring.
Although electrical systems often receive the highest praise for advancement, precision, and technological innovation,…
Although electrical systems often receive the highest praise for advancement, precision, and technological innovation, the world would be stuck without mechanical power delivery systems like gear drives.
In today's modern, digitally connected world, reliable and continuous power availability, together with power quality,…
In today's modern, digitally connected world, reliable and continuous power availability, together with power quality, help optimize power consumption hence improving distribution system efficiency.
Pressure sensors are essential tools in industrial applications, required wherever there is a hydraulic or pneumatic…
Pressure sensors are essential tools in industrial applications, required wherever there is a hydraulic or pneumatic system to keep pressure quantities under control.
Calibration is performed on a regular basis to ensure proper measurement tool function, but how do we determine the…
Calibration is performed on a regular basis to ensure proper measurement tool function, but how do we determine the proper interval? Factors include environment, usage, and level of dependence on proper function.
Seeing use in a variety of industrial applications for position sensing and object detection, inductive sensors are based…
Seeing use in a variety of industrial applications for position sensing and object detection, inductive sensors are based on the phenomenon of magnetism and its resultant magnetic fields.
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