We know what a circuit breaker is meant to do: stop the flow of electricity in case of a fault or failure. But just like fuses, breakers and overloads respond differently depending on the load.
March 06, 2024 by David Peterson
This article investigates the basic components and wiring conventions for common three-phase motor starter configurations, including direct online, reversing, and star-delta.
February 13, 2024 by Damond Goodwin
Have you ever heard of a relay? Of course you have. There are many different kinds, plus hundreds of different trade lingo names. What are some of the most common, and how do we use them?
January 25, 2024 by David Peterson
Knowing what kind of control system to use: that’s a question that must be answered before setting up the factory floor. Why would someone choose pneumatic over electrical controls?
January 23, 2024 by Austin Futrell
Within motors, two very different types of resistance are evident. The resistance of the windings is measured with a normal multimeter. But what is insulation resistance, and how is it measured?
January 16, 2024 by Gunner Scott
In order to trace control system problems to the core, the ability to read and interpret various resources, from facility-level diagrams to machine-level wiring layouts, is critical.
January 15, 2024 by David Peterson
Digital controls like VFDs and soft starts have advantages by elongating start time, but simple strategies for starting motors with a reduced current draw, like star-delta (or wye-delta) are common.
January 02, 2024 by David Peterson
We depend on circuit breakers all the time, even when you have a day off or work from home. These overcurrent protection devices keep machines running safely, reducing the risk of fires and arcing.
December 27, 2023 by Seth Price
In this article, we will explore real-world considerations for strain gauge performance and typical applications. We’ll be talking about foil and wire strain gauges, but ignoring semiconductors.
December 12, 2023 by Harry Trietley
Pressures are always rising and falling in fluid systems. Sometimes the changes are extreme and lead to damage. What causes problematic pressure changes, and how can you trace them to their source?
November 15, 2023 by Damond Goodwin
Single-phase motors are common in household and small industrial devices. They are a bit more complex than 3-phase models, so it’s important to recognize failure modes and common symptoms.
July 13, 2023 by Seth Price
Radiation, despite its reputation in pop culture as a harmful emission resulting from a natural disaster, is a property of many materials and processes and must be carefully monitored for quality and safety.
May 11, 2023 by Antonio Armenta
Mitsubishi's FX series PLC is one of MELSOFT GX Developer’s most popular automation solutions for small and medium-scale applications. Learn how to use GX Developer software to program the FX series PLC.
May 10, 2023 by Bob Odhiambo
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.
May 09, 2023 by David Peterson
Vibration sensors measure the mechanical vibration of an object, making it possible to monitor machines for early signs of failure to prevent costly and dangerous breakdowns.
May 09, 2023 by Antonio Armenta
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?
May 08, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
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?
May 04, 2023 by Antonio Armenta
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.
May 03, 2023 by David Peterson
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
May 02, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
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.
May 02, 2023 by Antonio Armenta
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