Latest Sheet Metal Technical Articles

Some safety applications aren’t a simple on/off at all times; they need objects to pass through a light curtain without…

Some safety applications aren’t a simple on/off at all times; they need objects to pass through a light curtain without stopping the machine. For these, we turn to muting and blanking features.

Learn about safety light curtains: which one will fit your application, how to choose the proper size, and how to…

Learn about safety light curtains: which one will fit your application, how to choose the proper size, and how to properly process the output signals.

Use the analog capabilities of a TRi PLC to read a distance sensor and create a custom function that triggers events…

Use the analog capabilities of a TRi PLC to read a distance sensor and create a custom function that triggers events using integer data types.

Motor speed control can be a tricky process, due to the variety of options. In a VFD, speed can be controlled using fixed…

Motor speed control can be a tricky process, due to the variety of options. In a VFD, speed can be controlled using fixed values, digital or analog signals, or communication networks.

Showcase, manufacturing, repair, and research: Join Control.com for a recap of our team’s recent visit to the US HQ of…

Showcase, manufacturing, repair, and research: Join Control.com for a recap of our team’s recent visit to the US HQ of Mitsubishi Electric Automation, and see where the magic happens.

Despite being one of the oldest protocols in automation, Modbus is still more complex than digital I/O. When you have a…

Despite being one of the oldest protocols in automation, Modbus is still more complex than digital I/O. When you have a Modbus TCP device, what do you do? How do you actually use it?

H-bridge circuits are commonly used to provide current switching capabilities to different electrical components in…

H-bridge circuits are commonly used to provide current switching capabilities to different electrical components in automated systems like motor control circuits, VFDs, and DC/AC current conversions.

When the blinking lights on automation devices stop blinking, the control cabinet is often the go-to troubleshooting…

When the blinking lights on automation devices stop blinking, the control cabinet is often the go-to troubleshooting culprit, but how do you make the best judgments for quickly locating the problem?

Filters and reactors can protect your electrical devices, but what is the difference between these two kinds of devices,…

Filters and reactors can protect your electrical devices, but what is the difference between these two kinds of devices, and are they supposed to be installed before or after a VFD?

Have you ever disassembled a motor and wondered how it rotates? Throughout this article, we’ll discuss electromagnetic…

Have you ever disassembled a motor and wondered how it rotates? Throughout this article, we’ll discuss electromagnetic induction and how magnetic fields can be utilized to generate motion.

Electromagnetic devices like motors and transformers rely on electric currents that drive magnetic fields which, in turn,…

Electromagnetic devices like motors and transformers rely on electric currents that drive magnetic fields which, in turn, can drive current on their own. That’s not always a good thing.

Learn about various ways to activate directional control valves for fluids using manual input, air pilot sources, and…

Learn about various ways to activate directional control valves for fluids using manual input, air pilot sources, and electrical controls. Sometimes, valves even use a mix of multiple power sources.

Inputs and outputs play crucial roles in various automated processes. This article will explain the variances between…

Inputs and outputs play crucial roles in various automated processes. This article will explain the variances between digital and group I/O and offer guidance on setting up each type through Ethernet.

Some terminology, like 'normally open' and 'normally closed' switch contacts, is common throughout industry but can still…

Some terminology, like 'normally open' and 'normally closed' switch contacts, is common throughout industry but can still be confusing, misleading, or even hazardous if not properly understood.

Learn about the modules and systems that provide a network connection to the outside world, transforming traditional PLCs…

Learn about the modules and systems that provide a network connection to the outside world, transforming traditional PLCs into true, modern process automation controllers (PAC).

Electrical grounding is used to accomplish several different tasks, but none more important than for the safety of users…

Electrical grounding is used to accomplish several different tasks, but none more important than for the safety of users and equipment while maintaining strict adherence to regulations.

Learn all about the power supply: modular and built-in devices that deliver electricity to the PLC backplane and modules,…

Learn all about the power supply: modular and built-in devices that deliver electricity to the PLC backplane and modules, and learn the difference between control and field device power delivery.

Building precise rotating or linear systems often costs a lot! When is it justified to spend the extra cost to design and…

Building precise rotating or linear systems often costs a lot! When is it justified to spend the extra cost to design and build such a system, and what are the different components and system types?

An age-old debate in PLC programming: investigating the uses and caveats of latching software commands versus seal-in…

An age-old debate in PLC programming: investigating the uses and caveats of latching software commands versus seal-in ladder logic for industrial control applications.