Latest Motors Technical Articles

When motors drive in parallel from a single main power source, do they each need an individual VFD? Check out why this is…

When motors drive in parallel from a single main power source, do they each need an individual VFD? Check out why this is useful in some cases, and take note of some necessary precautions.

Predictive maintenance brings real cost and time savings, but there can be a lot of confusion when setting up a system.…

Predictive maintenance brings real cost and time savings, but there can be a lot of confusion when setting up a system. Control.com talks to the experts at NORD, a motor specialist, to learn more.

Requiring multiple AC motors to start simultaneously is a common need for conveyors within manufacturing plants, but can…

Requiring multiple AC motors to start simultaneously is a common need for conveyors within manufacturing plants, but can we really reduce costs and panel space by eliminating redundant components?

Part 2 of a 2-part series. A practical look at how normally closed (NC) power contacts and feedback can drive loads…

Part 2 of a 2-part series. A practical look at how normally closed (NC) power contacts and feedback can drive loads toward a defined safe state under real‑world faults.

Part 1 of a 2-part series. A practical look at the failures that plague motor drive systems, even those that are rated to…

Part 1 of a 2-part series. A practical look at the failures that plague motor drive systems, even those that are rated to be fail-safe.

Learn a few tips and solutions to promote long-lasting electric motor health, explaining why some maintenance practices…

Learn a few tips and solutions to promote long-lasting electric motor health, explaining why some maintenance practices are a better fit for certain devices and situations.

A practical look at how 2NO/2NC contactors and auxiliary contacts can clean up command, feedback, and fault logic in…

A practical look at how 2NO/2NC contactors and auxiliary contacts can clean up command, feedback, and fault logic in motor circuits.

This guide shows you how to set up RS-485 communication between the FX3U PLC and the FR-D700 inverter with the…

This guide shows you how to set up RS-485 communication between the FX3U PLC and the FR-D700 inverter with the FX3U-485-BD. You can control speed and monitor the system using ladder logic.

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.

Learn about precharge circuits, inrush current, and understand why VFD and servo drives may trip during power-up.

Learn about precharge circuits, inrush current, and understand why VFD and servo drives may trip during power-up.

Coordinating motion in three or more axes is a difficult manual process. For more advanced gantry or articulated robots,…

Coordinating motion in three or more axes is a difficult manual process. For more advanced gantry or articulated robots, this motion type solves the complex calculation of a set of related joints.

Conveyor technology is rapidly advancing thanks to the close integration of mechanical machines and electrical controls,…

Conveyor technology is rapidly advancing thanks to the close integration of mechanical machines and electrical controls, but it’s important to understand how feedback improves that relationship.

Cam profiles are a great way of strictly controlling two servo axes to follow a predefined path. Follow along as we dive…

Cam profiles are a great way of strictly controlling two servo axes to follow a predefined path. Follow along as we dive into setting up and programming an electronic cam profile.

A practical, experience-driven guide to designing and wiring electrical cabinets for machine-tending robotic cells.

A practical, experience-driven guide to designing and wiring electrical cabinets for machine-tending robotic cells.

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.

Managing the climate inside a building is critical for both people and infrastructure. Managing the climate is the job of…

Managing the climate inside a building is critical for both people and infrastructure. Managing the climate is the job of HVAC control systems, but what’s inside an HVAC system, and how do they work?

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.

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.

Servo drives interact with hardware axes, but there are many ways to configure the motion. I/O signals allow connections…

Servo drives interact with hardware axes, but there are many ways to configure the motion. I/O signals allow connections of sensors and switches for functions like homing and setting travel limits.