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Tutorial: Arduino and AutomationDirect Merged in the ProOpen PLC

Having separately covered Arduino’s microcontroller platforms and AutomationDirect Productivity PLCs, it’s time to take the wheel of the ProOpen, a PLC that combines modularity with C++ programming.

April 18, 2024 by David Peterson

Beginner’s Guide to Automation: How to Choose the Right Project

There are a lot of companies considering in-house automation or consulting with integrators for automated systems. But where do you start, and how do you even pick a project for automation?

April 17, 2024 by Joshua Tidwell

Using a PLC to Track Data Within Automated Equipment

There are a few options when it comes to tracking part data throughout a process or assembly of a machine. Follow along as we explain just a few of the more common methods.

April 11, 2024 by Shawn Dietrich

Accelerating Pulp and Paper Processing with Advanced Process Control

Innovative pulp and paper operators are turning advanced process control, automated testing, and quality control system data into actionable business insights that improve operational efficiency all along the value chain.

April 08, 2024 by Steve St Jarre, ABB Process Industries

Tutorial: Analog I/O Programming for AutomationDirect Productivity PLCs

Learn how to use analog I/O devices with AutomationDirect’s Productivity series of PLCs and Productivity Suite software. Wiring, configuring I/O, and programming will be a part of this tutorial.

April 02, 2024 by David Peterson

Understanding Industrial Ethernet Connections: RJ45, Fiber, M12, and SFP

Ethernet switches can use four different types of connections: RJ45, fiber, M12, and SFP. Understanding the difference can help with network troubleshooting, design, or alteration.

April 02, 2024 by Damond Goodwin

Temp Sensing With RTDs: Wiring Connection and Transmitter Setup

Learn how to measure temperature using an RTD and a temperature transmitter to convert resistance into common analog voltage or current values for process control.

April 01, 2024 by Munir Ahmad

How Is Your Code Backed Up? Maximizing DevOps in Industrial Automation

Shifting from manual code backup processes to more modern, automated solutions can provide more benefits to manufacturers, far above simply the time saved compared to manual techniques.

March 31, 2024 by Adam Gluck, Copia Automation

Using Virtualization Technology to Enhance Industrial Control System

Automated control systems incorporate virtualization technology to reduce physical hardware, automatically minimizing the cost of IT/OT equipment, installations, and maintenance efforts.

February 23, 2024 by Munir Ahmad

Motor Starter Wiring Infographic

Complete wiring guide for 3-phase motor starters with and without overload (OL) relays.

February 06, 2024 by David Peterson

UDW Data Calculations, Post Disturbance Review, UI, and Backup | Part 2

Effectively managing data includes processing it after initial collection: performing calculations, reviewing for anomalies, and displaying the data for easier actionable insights.

February 01, 2024 by Munir Ahmad

Understanding RMS and True RMS for Meters and Mechanical Measurements

Electrical and mechanical measurements are often labeled with "RMS" and "True RMS." Aside from the simple math definitions we learned in electronics class, why is this distinction actually important?

January 29, 2024 by Gunner Scott

Data Model and Functionality of Utility Data Warehouse | UDW Part 1

Storing data long-term for recording and reporting purposes is the job of the utility data warehouse, quite different from data-collection processes that optimize systems and predict failures.

January 22, 2024 by Munir Ahmad

Electrical Drawings, Schematics, and Wiring Diagrams: How to Read Them

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

How to Convert Numbers: Binary, Decimal, and Hex Systems

Converting different numbering systems is quite common in PLCs and structured text codes. Why? Because people read decimals. Computers read binary. Processors read sets of bits. Not so simple.

January 10, 2024 by David Peterson

Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 6: Refined Data Presentation

We conclude the data flow project with the step of developing a business intelligence dashboard to present machine data, at a reliable schedule, to a leadership or maintenance team.

January 03, 2024 by Michael Levanduski

Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 5: Basic Data Dashboards

We begin to wrap up our data flow project with an introduction to visual-based (GUI) tools and dashboards to present the data ingested from the Google Sheets fault data source.

December 21, 2023 by Michael Levanduski

Handling of Power System Data | Indications, Counters, and Data Flags

For large process systems, learn how the location of data indication and flag processing can increase or decrease the burden on computers at the device, RTU, or main computer level.

December 20, 2023 by Munir Ahmad

Data-Driven Maintenance: Transforming Industrial Automation with IoT

Connected technology is the backbone of data transfer – data that can be used to predict failures and optimize workflows to enhance industrial operations.

December 19, 2023 by Eric Whitley, L2L

Understanding the JSON Data Format for Industrial Control Architecture

It is important to have some baseline understanding of JavaScript Object Notation, or JSON, one of the most common data exchange formats used in the connected industrial world today.

December 15, 2023 by Michael Levanduski