Learn about produced and consumed tags in PLCs, their functions, setup, and important considerations for effective data sharing between controllers in a control system.
Learn about produced and consumed tags in PLCs, their functions, setup, and important considerations for effective data sharing between controllers in a control system.
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.
‘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.
Power and control interruptions are, at best, problematic. In some applications, it’s catastrophic. Learn about…
Power and control interruptions are, at best, problematic. In some applications, it’s catastrophic. Learn about redundancy for the system, power supplies, control devices, and network topologies.
Many PLC systems still require knowledge of the previous generation of RSLogix software from Rockwell, including the SLC…
Many PLC systems still require knowledge of the previous generation of RSLogix software from Rockwell, including the SLC 500 and the Lite software version for the MicroLogix family.
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.
Gathering and manipulating process data is, perhaps, the most significant advantage of digital controllers. Beckhoff IPCs…
Gathering and manipulating process data is, perhaps, the most significant advantage of digital controllers. Beckhoff IPCs gather, process, and integrate data with high-level systems in one platform.
These days, the industrial PC (IPC) is changing the way that engineers approach control logic solutions. Learn how to set…
These days, the industrial PC (IPC) is changing the way that engineers approach control logic solutions. Learn how to set up a basic project in a Beckhoff IPC using structured text programming.
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.
The OPC UA protocol is designed to solve two problems in automation: interoperability between device vendors and…
The OPC UA protocol is designed to solve two problems in automation: interoperability between device vendors and independence from incompatible transport layer differences.
Before tuning a motion axis, you must define the axis. If the control system doesn’t understand the axis properties or…
Before tuning a motion axis, you must define the axis. If the control system doesn’t understand the axis properties or specifications, it can’t be expected to effectively complete the tuning process.
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).
Embedded, modular, panel mount, distributed, machine mount, and remote, oh my! What does it all mean, and how are you…
Embedded, modular, panel mount, distributed, machine mount, and remote, oh my! What does it all mean, and how are you supposed to know which one to choose for your application?
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?
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.
One of the smallest PLCs on the market, the Millenium Slim by Crouzet, can handle advanced functions with a wireless…
One of the smallest PLCs on the market, the Millenium Slim by Crouzet, can handle advanced functions with a wireless interface and function block (FBD) style IEC 61131 programming.
Some devices, like switches, are non-polar; you can connect them in either direction. What makes diodes so special, and…
Some devices, like switches, are non-polar; you can connect them in either direction. What makes diodes so special, and how can you tell the right way from the wrong way?
Besides using a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino Uno, a low-cost PLC can be built using the popular ESP32 microcontroller. The…
Besides using a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino Uno, a low-cost PLC can be built using the popular ESP32 microcontroller. The OpenPLC software supports this popular 32-bit platform.
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