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 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 how to align and configure the parameters of a light curtain using a send/receive pair of SICK deTec4 light beam…
Learn how to align and configure the parameters of a light curtain using a send/receive pair of SICK deTec4 light beam curtains and the new DCM4 extension module for advanced operating modes.
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.
Learn how to integrate fail-safe logic and explosion-proof design to keep your processes running safely and smoothly.
Learn how to integrate fail-safe logic and explosion-proof design to keep your processes running safely and smoothly.
Learn how to assess risks and determine SIL by understanding operator actions as initiating events, independent…
Learn how to assess risks and determine SIL by understanding operator actions as initiating events, independent protection layers, or a part of the safety instrumented function loop.
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.
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?
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.
The choice to ground or float a power supply is not always clear in the NEC. This article explains floating or fixing a…
The choice to ground or float a power supply is not always clear in the NEC. This article explains floating or fixing a DC supply with respect to ground and how circuits can be functionally constructed both ways.
Even though electrical safety practices have existed for over a century, arc flash safety has only gained traction in…
Even though electrical safety practices have existed for over a century, arc flash safety has only gained traction in recent decades. This article discusses the danger and prevention of arc flash injury.
Regardless of industry, codes and standards developed by organizations including ISO, ANSI, and IEEE are an integral part…
Regardless of industry, codes and standards developed by organizations including ISO, ANSI, and IEEE are an integral part of the environment in which we work and have a major influence on engineering and design.
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.
This article investigates the basic qualities that make up a safety PLC, what distinguishes a safety PLC from a standard…
This article investigates the basic qualities that make up a safety PLC, what distinguishes a safety PLC from a standard model, and the reasons for which a safety PLC may be critical.
Learn about FANUC’s Dual Check Safety (DCS) system and the various methods, how to configure the DCS parameters, and…
Learn about FANUC’s Dual Check Safety (DCS) system and the various methods, how to configure the DCS parameters, and how to avoid and resolve issues associated with DCS positional alarms.
Safety devices have two main purposes, both of them meant for (you guessed it) safety. They protect both machine and…
Safety devices have two main purposes, both of them meant for (you guessed it) safety. They protect both machine and operator from harm. But what’s inside, and how do these switches work?
Pressures are always rising and falling in fluid systems. Sometimes the changes are extreme and lead to damage. What…
Pressures are always rising and falling in fluid systems. Sometimes the changes are extreme and lead to damage. What causes problematic pressure changes, and how can you trace them to their source?
Current flow in wires is often modeled with a perfectly circular cross-section, with the size of the wire being…
Current flow in wires is often modeled with a perfectly circular cross-section, with the size of the wire being responsible for the maximum current. This is true, but there’s more to the story.
When beginning a new career, an obvious question is how to take positive steps, from your first day inside the plant all…
When beginning a new career, an obvious question is how to take positive steps, from your first day inside the plant all the way to becoming an experienced senior operator.
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