Latest HMIs Technical Articles

This article features an in-depth discussion of the various options for buttons and switches, including function, styles,…

This article features an in-depth discussion of the various options for buttons and switches, including function, styles, shapes, and illumination options for all kinds of control panel inputs.

The subject of grounding in electronics is broad and complex, spanning across a variety of functions and objectives. In…

The subject of grounding in electronics is broad and complex, spanning across a variety of functions and objectives. In this article, we will investigate the applications and regulation of grounding in control systems on a fundamental level.

Insufficient controller memory can result in reduced HMI and SCADA response speed and longer scan times. Know the…

Insufficient controller memory can result in reduced HMI and SCADA response speed and longer scan times. Know the differences between RAM, ROM, and removable memory, and how to keep program sizes in check.

This article discusses the meaning and effects of proportional gain in a controlled system such as motion, temperature,…

This article discusses the meaning and effects of proportional gain in a controlled system such as motion, temperature, and fluid flow.

Data stored in a historian server is useful for analysis and troubleshooting. Learn about data archiving techniques for…

Data stored in a historian server is useful for analysis and troubleshooting. Learn about data archiving techniques for control systems, as well as what type of data is stored and the tools to make it happen.

Human-machine interfaces, or HMIs, provide visual process data and allow access to process parameters and diagnostics…

Human-machine interfaces, or HMIs, provide visual process data and allow access to process parameters and diagnostics information. What’s inside these touchscreen displays, and how do they actually work?

Network Manager SCADA is a real-time, modular system that is highly scalable and easy to deploy and maintain. The system…

Network Manager SCADA is a real-time, modular system that is highly scalable and easy to deploy and maintain. The system can grow with future needs and support a virtualized environment to decrease hardware cost.

Many worldwide plants are still running the old Advant Controller 450 from ABB in their facility, with many plants using…

Many worldwide plants are still running the old Advant Controller 450 from ABB in their facility, with many plants using the latest System 800xA DCS interfaced with the existing AC450 controller.

There are three main types of numeric values that must be handled by a PLC: boolean, integers, and floating point. These…

There are three main types of numeric values that must be handled by a PLC: boolean, integers, and floating point. These last floating-point values can create the most confusion for programmers and technicians.

Learn how one small farm in a rural community is upgrading production with advanced technology in several ways to…

Learn how one small farm in a rural community is upgrading production with advanced technology in several ways to overcome staff shortages, product demand, and regulatory compliance.

Explore the design of a servo pick and place sample case using B&R Automation Studio, from the project creation to the…

Explore the design of a servo pick and place sample case using B&R Automation Studio, from the project creation to the configuration of the controller, drives, and motion axes. 

B&R is a control system manufacturer less heard of than some of its bigger competitors, Rockwell and Siemens, however…

B&R is a control system manufacturer less heard of than some of its bigger competitors, Rockwell and Siemens, however their PLCs, lineup of motors, and product offerings with Automation Studio make B&R a leader in industrial innovation.

Over the last decade, cloud service providers have improved technology, particularly data security and integrity. These…

Over the last decade, cloud service providers have improved technology, particularly data security and integrity. These remain the top concern of many manufacturing businesses, but as improvements are rolled out, more and more companies are adopting cloud solutions. 

Centralized control systems are often seen as outdated compared to decentralized systems; however, both have their…

Centralized control systems are often seen as outdated compared to decentralized systems; however, both have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to choosing which one to use in manufacturing. 

This article discusses Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon SageMaker and AWS IoT Greengrass, and how their capabilities at…

This article discusses Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon SageMaker and AWS IoT Greengrass, and how their capabilities at the edge can impact machine learning use cases such as defect defection.

With the increasing appearance of “web-based” HMIs, we investigate these devices, learn how they differ from the…

With the increasing appearance of “web-based” HMIs, we investigate these devices, learn how they differ from the graphical HMIs, and see implications for our modern control system architecture.

We’re all familiar with information technology, or IT. The computer systems, hardware, internet, and various software…

We’re all familiar with information technology, or IT. The computer systems, hardware, internet, and various software we use in our own homes and offices are mostly IT. But when it comes to industrial workplaces, the rules are different.

Learn the basics of connecting multiple PLCs to an HMI using various data types.

Learn the basics of connecting multiple PLCs to an HMI using various data types.

Learn about quality control in manufacturing using 3D Inspection, an essential method to achieve quality targets.

Learn about quality control in manufacturing using 3D Inspection, an essential method to achieve quality targets.