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Troubleshooting PLCs: Recognizing Visual Status Indicators and LEDs

Troubleshooting PLCs: Recognizing Visual Status Indicators and LEDs

Machine downtime can be very stressful for everybody involved. Next time you face a challenging system failure, try some of these LED troubleshooting techniques to reduce stress.


Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 1: The Challenge of Data

Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 1: The Challenge of Data

All of modern industry relies on data. In the first installment of a series showcasing the importance of industrial data movement, we explain the challenge of data flow and build a fault list.


Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 8: Final - Data Dashboard

Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 8: Final - Data Dashboard

In this final installment of the IIoT tech stack project, learn how to design the customer-facing dashboard or observability platform using the data acquired from the MQTT client device.


Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS): What Is It and Why Would You Want It?

Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS): What Is It and Why Would You Want It?

Traditionally, automation requires a sizable investment and integration risks. RaaS empowers manufacturers to let someone else adopt the risks in exchange for an hourly or monthly subscription rate.


The Mechanic’s View of Control: Chain Drive Power Transmission

The Mechanic’s View of Control: Chain Drive Power Transmission

In the world of mechanical power transmission, gears, belts, and chains dominate the landscape, but what's so special about chain drives, and why would they be used in place of rubber belts?


Industrial Computing Tackles the Challenge of Long Rebooting Time

Industrial Computing Tackles the Challenge of Long Rebooting Time

Rebooting industrial controllers and computers incurs costs, not only from the downtime but also from cascading effects of communication with up/downstream controllers. How can this downtime be managed?


Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 6: Node-RED Development

Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 6: Node-RED Development

This article will explore the setup of Node-RED, the glue that will serve to connect all of the individual components of the solution that we have created up to this point.


The Art of Maintaining and Repairing Hydraulic Cylinders

The Art of Maintaining and Repairing Hydraulic Cylinders

Hydraulic cylinders and actuators can quickly move heavy objects and provide strong clamping forces. But when they break down, the effects can be catastrophic and the repairs costly and timely.


Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 5: Database Setup

Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 5: Database Setup

Now that our IIoT project has verified the transmission of an MQTT data payload packet, this next article will explore the setup of an InfluxDB database to store the incoming sensor data.


Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 3: Commissioning MQTT Broker

Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 3: Commissioning MQTT Broker

Learn to develop an actual IoT solution end to end. Create a Mosquitto MQTT broker for the Raspberry Pi client in order to connect and publish Sense HAT sensor data.


Understanding Delta-Wound Three-Phase Motors for Industrial Applications

Understanding Delta-Wound Three-Phase Motors for Industrial Applications

There are two types of winding designs inside three-phase industrial motors: Wye and Delta. Although the motors and connections look similar on the outside, this article discusses the internal construction for Delta wound motors.


Human Machine Interface (HMI): Controls and Data Types

Human Machine Interface (HMI): Controls and Data Types

An overview of HMI data types, input controls, output indicators, and message functions, the building blocks used to construct informative and appealing HMI applications.


5 Reasons Why Sensors Are Crucial For Modern Manufacturing

5 Reasons Why Sensors Are Crucial For Modern Manufacturing

Data has become the currency that enables operational excellence. Sensors are the key links, acting as the eyes and ears of modern manufacturing units by providing real-time data on machine performance.


Cobot Roundup: Who Makes Them and What Makes Them Special

Cobot Roundup: Who Makes Them and What Makes Them Special

Cobots have recently been hailed as one of the latest and greatest innovations in production and manufacturing automation. But are collaborative robots living up to their reputation? Control.com investigates the benefits and drawbacks of these versatile industrial machines.


Origin Story: Meet Unimate, the First Industrial Robot

Origin Story: Meet Unimate, the First Industrial Robot

Most commercial control technologies have fascinating histories, especially industrial robots. Here’s the story behind the development of Unimate, the world’s first.


Ethernet Ports on Controllers: How Many, and What do They Do?

Ethernet Ports on Controllers: How Many, and What do They Do?

Some controllers and network devices have one port, while others have two. Why is there a difference, and what advantages does having two network ports actually provide?


Understanding XML and Data Exchange Formats for Industrial Settings

Understanding XML and Data Exchange Formats for Industrial Settings

The basic component of data exchange between devices, machines, and embedded systems serves as a hallmark foundation in every organization’s Industry 4.0 implementation process.


How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 1

How to Design and Deploy a Web-Based HMI Project - Part 1

A walkthrough and discussion of a simple web-based HMI solution that could modernize your current HMI technology stack. The first step in the process involves sending data from a device to a server.


Three Things About IO-Link Sensors That May Shock You

Three Things About IO-Link Sensors That May Shock You

Control.com’s Director of Engineering got to explore IO-Link sensors and what he found might surprise you! Although still considered an “emerging” technology, it’s clear IO-Link technology boasts several bonafide benefits over traditional sensors.


System Dynamic and Frequency Response Analysis

System Dynamic and Frequency Response Analysis

Understanding the building blocks of s-domain analysis and magnitude response theory can go a long way in helping engineers predict how and why some system design choices are made over others.