Latest Building Technical Articles

Not every control system requires an expensive PLC. This tutorial will introduce Node-RED, a popular programming…

Not every control system requires an expensive PLC. This tutorial will introduce Node-RED, a popular programming environment that can be installed on a low-cost single-board controller.

Electrical and automation components drive modern HVAC efficiency and reliability. Sensors, relays, and controls enable…

Electrical and automation components drive modern HVAC efficiency and reliability. Sensors, relays, and controls enable predictive maintenance and efficiency while keeping systems running smoothly.

Is it best to ‘controller scope’ or ‘program scope’ your tags? This is the question asked by many new PLC…

Is it best to ‘controller scope’ or ‘program scope’ your tags? This is the question asked by many new PLC programmers, and it often comes down to personal preference.

Looking for a way to create IIoT applications for your factory without hiring expensive developers or spending months on…

Looking for a way to create IIoT applications for your factory without hiring expensive developers or spending months on the computer? Take a look at Node-RED’s approach to low-code applications.

Data centers have been a focus of industrial automation in recent days. Control.com spoke with experts at Weidmuller to…

Data centers have been a focus of industrial automation in recent days. Control.com spoke with experts at Weidmuller to learn more about how control technology can solve data center challenges.

Managing the climate inside a building is critical for both people and infrastructure. Managing the climate is the job of…

Managing the climate inside a building is critical for both people and infrastructure. Managing the climate is the job of HVAC control systems, but what’s inside an HVAC system, and how do they work?

Alignment procedures for pulleys and shafts are a key to preventing costly breakdowns. An effective strategy pairs…

Alignment procedures for pulleys and shafts are a key to preventing costly breakdowns. An effective strategy pairs alignment with vibration analysis to both prevent and predict these downtime events.

Learn about OT resilience strategies, including SSH, authentication, port blocking, and MAC address binding, methods that…

Learn about OT resilience strategies, including SSH, authentication, port blocking, and MAC address binding, methods that can be employed to protect network switches.

Networked remote I/O allows machine centers to operate while physically separated from the rest of the system, and often,…

Networked remote I/O allows machine centers to operate while physically separated from the rest of the system, and often, the solution can drop right into place.

Alignment is an often overlooked element in operations, leading to both energy efficiency and equipment longevity in…

Alignment is an often overlooked element in operations, leading to both energy efficiency and equipment longevity in rotating machinery.

Motion systems come in many forms. Hydraulic motion brings some unique problems, not seen in electric systems. This…

Motion systems come in many forms. Hydraulic motion brings some unique problems, not seen in electric systems. This article will focus on how to recognize prominent failures quickly and correctly.

Learn how electric actuators can replace fluid systems with SMC’s e-Actuator series, offering simple setup, clean…

Learn how electric actuators can replace fluid systems with SMC’s e-Actuator series, offering simple setup, clean operation, and accurate motion contro

Learn about some of the basic Boolean logic gates using the graphical PLC language of function blocks, recreating ladder…

Learn about some of the basic Boolean logic gates using the graphical PLC language of function blocks, recreating ladder logic and other IEC languages with a digital flair.

Selecting the right robotic gripper is key to performance. Discover gripping solutions for delicate parts, soft foods,…

Selecting the right robotic gripper is key to performance. Discover gripping solutions for delicate parts, soft foods, and industrial payloads.

Finding a good PLC simulator can be challenging. Read an assessment of Factory I/O and learn how it works, how to get…

Finding a good PLC simulator can be challenging. Read an assessment of Factory I/O and learn how it works, how to get started, and how to use it in your automation learning journey.

Handshaking between robots can be handled in many ways, one of them being GE-FANUC’s protocol called “Ethernet Global…

Handshaking between robots can be handled in many ways, one of them being GE-FANUC’s protocol called “Ethernet Global Data,” or EGD. Learn how to set up EGD on a pair of FANUC robots.

H-bridge circuits are commonly used to provide current switching capabilities to different electrical components in…

H-bridge circuits are commonly used to provide current switching capabilities to different electrical components in automated systems like motor control circuits, VFDs, and DC/AC current conversions.

Learn how SPE and Power over Data Line are enabling advanced developments in industrial and building automation,…

Learn how SPE and Power over Data Line are enabling advanced developments in industrial and building automation, robotics, processing, infrastructure, and energy.

Previously reserved for personal and commercial deployments, learn how cellular IoT connectivity technologies are…

Previously reserved for personal and commercial deployments, learn how cellular IoT connectivity technologies are influencing industrial trends, organizations, and integrators.