Latest Logistics Technical Articles

Synchronized motion has become an industry standard with robots, gantries, and pick and place automation. Follow along…

Synchronized motion has become an industry standard with robots, gantries, and pick and place automation. Follow along this three-part series as we discuss methods of synchronizing servo motors.

You’ve seen it a thousand times: 24 volts powering a device or representing a trigger signal, but what makes 24 VDC…

You’ve seen it a thousand times: 24 volts powering a device or representing a trigger signal, but what makes 24 VDC such a versatile voltage, and what about the other voltages in control cabinets?

Stacking items on a pallet seems a minor part of the manufacturing process, but it actually requires speed, precision,…

Stacking items on a pallet seems a minor part of the manufacturing process, but it actually requires speed, precision, and flexibility to relieve a heavy burden placed on employees.

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.

Learn how to drive a compact Meca500 industrial 6-axis robot with a CompactLogix PLC over an Ethernet connection,…

Learn how to drive a compact Meca500 industrial 6-axis robot with a CompactLogix PLC over an Ethernet connection, transferring direct TCP set points in joint and world coordinate systems.

Meet the Meca500 6-axis arm, a robot known for its ultra-high precision and compact footprint. Learn how to use the web…

Meet the Meca500 6-axis arm, a robot known for its ultra-high precision and compact footprint. Learn how to use the web server for programming and 6-axis jogging with a structured text interface.

The stack light has a simple but powerful purpose: to report the status of the equipment. Follow along as we take a deep…

The stack light has a simple but powerful purpose: to report the status of the equipment. Follow along as we take a deep dive into the venerable illuminated signal tower.

Learn how to set up a VFD, from initial unboxing to configuring the network parameters necessary to drive some simple…

Learn how to set up a VFD, from initial unboxing to configuring the network parameters necessary to drive some simple motion from a PLC.

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.

After working with solenoid valves for many years, there are still a few questions: is AD or DC voltage better? Do we…

After working with solenoid valves for many years, there are still a few questions: is AD or DC voltage better? Do we really need lubrication? I turned to an expert for some answers.

Explore the art of automated palletizing and the different ways you can accelerate the packaging process using PLC and…

Explore the art of automated palletizing and the different ways you can accelerate the packaging process using PLC and robotic controls.

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.

Learn how AI, machine vision, and sensor breakthroughs are driving humanoid robots from sci-fi dreams to industrial realities.

Learn how AI, machine vision, and sensor breakthroughs are driving humanoid robots from sci-fi dreams to industrial realities.

I had some questions about firewalls for industrial networks, topics like selecting, configuring, and updating the…

I had some questions about firewalls for industrial networks, topics like selecting, configuring, and updating the software, so I turned to some experts for a little advice.

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.

In this article, we’ll connect a Festo CMMT to a Rockwell CompactLogix PLC, and as a bonus, we’ll add an HMI to…

In this article, we’ll connect a Festo CMMT to a Rockwell CompactLogix PLC, and as a bonus, we’ll add an HMI to provide some basic on/off and positional targeting controls.

Learn how to configure a single motion axis using Festo’s Automation Suite, a servo motor drive, and a simple electric…

Learn how to configure a single motion axis using Festo’s Automation Suite, a servo motor drive, and a simple electric linear slide assembly.