Latest Plastics & Polymers Technical Articles

It can be risky to adopt unknown technology; it poses serious security concerns if misused. The Control.com engineering…

It can be risky to adopt unknown technology; it poses serious security concerns if misused. The Control.com engineering team contacted our friends at OnLogic to gain some insight into VPN technology.

CODESYS is an automation software that is independent from any one vendor, capable of many PLC, I/O, and motion…

CODESYS is an automation software that is independent from any one vendor, capable of many PLC, I/O, and motion operations. However, being vendor-agnostic can present challenges. Learn how to get started.

The purpose of LOTO is to create a method of reducing the chance that a worker will be exposed to hazardous energy.…

The purpose of LOTO is to create a method of reducing the chance that a worker will be exposed to hazardous energy. It’s important for companies to establish an SOP for standardized LOTO practice.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: like you’ve (probably) never heard it before.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: like you’ve (probably) never heard it before.

As an engineer, why would you settle for simply plugging and unplugging your Christmas lights when you could, instead,…

As an engineer, why would you settle for simply plugging and unplugging your Christmas lights when you could, instead, spend many hours automating this very important December job? Let me show you.

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.

Compressed air is a common economical way of adding motion to your automated equipment, but the air needs to be filtered,…

Compressed air is a common economical way of adding motion to your automated equipment, but the air needs to be filtered, regulated, and sometimes lubricated. The air prep unit does all that and more.

Truly understanding how to implement IIoT technology requires tangible examples of machines, platforms, and data insights…

Truly understanding how to implement IIoT technology requires tangible examples of machines, platforms, and data insights that give relevance to high-level concepts.

Timers and counters are two of the most important fundamental function blocks in automation programming. Learn how to use…

Timers and counters are two of the most important fundamental function blocks in automation programming. Learn how to use TwinCAT 3 to program and monitor these important function variables.

Learn about how one example platform, KEPServerEX by PTC, uses OPC UA to integrate machine centers with various…

Learn about how one example platform, KEPServerEX by PTC, uses OPC UA to integrate machine centers with various communication protocol differences, the ultimate goal of M2M integration.

Conveyor systems come in all shapes and sizes, with factors like the drive motor and conveyor style influencing the…

Conveyor systems come in all shapes and sizes, with factors like the drive motor and conveyor style influencing the control method. Join us as we dive into the world of automated conveyance.

The simple tasks can lead to the most failures. Basic practices in the wiring assembly stages of a project can lead to…

The simple tasks can lead to the most failures. Basic practices in the wiring assembly stages of a project can lead to long-term success or haunting tales of intermittent yet persistent failures.

The SLC 500 PLC family dominated automation control for well over thirty years and now, with the recent discontinuation…

The SLC 500 PLC family dominated automation control for well over thirty years and now, with the recent discontinuation of most of the series, we look at the differences between SLC and modern Logix PLCs.

If your facility or workplace uses a PLC, it’s almost certainly because it must interface with physical input and…

If your facility or workplace uses a PLC, it’s almost certainly because it must interface with physical input and output devices. What kinds of I/O modules exist, and how can you tell the difference?

Several use cases for industrial AI get a lot of attention, like maintenance and process optimization. Learn how AI has…

Several use cases for industrial AI get a lot of attention, like maintenance and process optimization. Learn how AI has been used for years to ensure high-quality product monitoring and output.

Many online sources explain how to reverse a 3-phase motor; this article will discuss the electrical principles that…

Many online sources explain how to reverse a 3-phase motor; this article will discuss the electrical principles that define why it works and how the phase relationships determine the rotation direction.

Predicting when maintenance should occur isn’t simply a matter of getting on board with the latest trend, it can save…

Predicting when maintenance should occur isn’t simply a matter of getting on board with the latest trend, it can save many thousands of dollars in lost downtime and unnecessary parts and labor.

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.

It's important to keep your system up and running without regular intervention. While every system requires maintenance,…

It's important to keep your system up and running without regular intervention. While every system requires maintenance, never overlook the critical importance of tools and training for the operators.