Industrial robots are a valuable investment because of their speed and accuracy. However, failing to establish the tool center point (TCP) can decrease the…
Industrial robots are a valuable investment because of their speed and accuracy. However, failing to establish the tool center point (TCP) can decrease the accuracy, effectiveness, and ROI for a robot workcell.
Electrical signal analysis has come to the forefront of predictive maintenance, helping to reduce downtime in industrial…
Electrical signal analysis has come to the forefront of predictive maintenance, helping to reduce downtime in industrial manufacturing by remotely identifying problems with electric motors and generators.
Communication protocols are a key component for an industry 4.0 compliant facility and are used to enable communication…
Communication protocols are a key component for an industry 4.0 compliant facility and are used to enable communication back and forth between cloud servers to transmit data or receive instructions.
The HART protocol enables instruments to send analog and digital signals over the same physical wire. This provides…
The HART protocol enables instruments to send analog and digital signals over the same physical wire. This provides multiple advantages for remote configuration, increased accuracy, and more.
Configuring analog signals into usable digital quantities is accomplished by scaling function inside the PLC, which,…
Configuring analog signals into usable digital quantities is accomplished by scaling function inside the PLC, which, along with analog signal wiring, is important to understand.
Control engineering is integrally woven together with electricity and electrical circuits. Even so, sometimes the most…
Control engineering is integrally woven together with electricity and electrical circuits. Even so, sometimes the most basic scenarios become misunderstood through lack of training or experience.
The timer is a fundamental function of ladder logic programming. In this article, we discuss on- and off-delay as well as…
The timer is a fundamental function of ladder logic programming. In this article, we discuss on- and off-delay as well as retentive timers and define the inputs and outputs required to properly use them.
Scaling values has a wide range of applications and helps to match output values to their real-world applications. Most…
Scaling values has a wide range of applications and helps to match output values to their real-world applications. Most scaling is linear, but many of these real-world changes are not quite so simple.
Power supplies tend to get a reputation as one of the most important power considerations of a DC control circuit - but…
Power supplies tend to get a reputation as one of the most important power considerations of a DC control circuit - but we can’t ignore other key players: power filters, converters, and backup power modules.
Hello acoustics, my old friend. I've come to monitor you again. Because a worn-out bearing softly creeping, slowly got…
Hello acoustics, my old friend. I've come to monitor you again. Because a worn-out bearing softly creeping, slowly got worse while I was sleeping. And the vibration that was planted in my brain still remains… Within the sound of Maintenance
What if you could control the end position and the speed of a hydraulic actuator accurately with just a simple signal?…
What if you could control the end position and the speed of a hydraulic actuator accurately with just a simple signal? Some systems use simple open/close valves, but others require far more precision.
Allen Bradley’s Data Highway Plus (DH+) networking ability is still found commonly in interfaces with legacy equipment.…
Allen Bradley’s Data Highway Plus (DH+) networking ability is still found commonly in interfaces with legacy equipment. Understanding this network structure can bridge the gap between old and new systems.
Although the are similarities in operating theory, relays and contactors are used in industrial circuits for different…
Although the are similarities in operating theory, relays and contactors are used in industrial circuits for different specific applications, and should not be used interchangeably.
What’s the difference between a Cat 6 and a Cat 6a cable, anyhow? Ethernet cables must meet certain performance…
What’s the difference between a Cat 6 and a Cat 6a cable, anyhow? Ethernet cables must meet certain performance standards, and these standards can be quite confusing at first glance.
Hysteresis is a term introduced in basic control system courses and listed on sensor datasheets, but the terms is not…
Hysteresis is a term introduced in basic control system courses and listed on sensor datasheets, but the terms is not often understood, with error deriving from both the system itself as well as the sensor.
Our Control Automation engineering staff got the chance to visit a commercial farm in North Dakota and learn the hardware…
Our Control Automation engineering staff got the chance to visit a commercial farm in North Dakota and learn the hardware and software making these huge automated tractors ready for high-tech ‘field’ work.
‘Reduce-reuse-recycle’ is a common slogan for promoting reduction of waste associated with end use of materials. But…
‘Reduce-reuse-recycle’ is a common slogan for promoting reduction of waste associated with end use of materials. But a circular economy model includes manufacturing processes and raw materials as well.
Two common methods exist for driving induction motors with VFDs - linear scalar control, which is often labeled as V/f,…
Two common methods exist for driving induction motors with VFDs - linear scalar control, which is often labeled as V/f, and vector, or field-oriented control, which can be a bit more complex to understand.
Using an ADC can be very useful when dealing with analog devices in microprocessors, and a necessity when adding analog…
Using an ADC can be very useful when dealing with analog devices in microprocessors, and a necessity when adding analog devices to an industrial controller. But once you connect the hardware - what next?
Blockchain recording can reduce risks associated with data transactions such as data theft and erroneous information. But…
Blockchain recording can reduce risks associated with data transactions such as data theft and erroneous information. But what implications, if any, does blockchain hold for industrial control system engineers?
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