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Migrating PLC Software

Migrating PLC Software

Software obsolescence poses a threat in industrial automation equal to hardware obsolescence and should not be overlooked. Many PLC OEMs offer tools to migrate upgraded software projects to the newest controller revisions.


Getting Starting with the HART Protocol for Sensing Instruments

Getting Starting with the HART Protocol for Sensing Instruments

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.


Advanced Scaling Techniques for PLC Analog Quantities

Advanced Scaling Techniques for PLC Analog Quantities

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.


A How-to Guide to Control Automation Day 2022

A How-to Guide to Control Automation Day 2022

Welcome to Control Automation Day 2022—Control.com’s digital-only event for engineers! Here is your guide to navigating the keynote addresses, live educational sessions, and exciting giveaways from your favorite manufacturers!


News Jun 20, 2022 by David Peterson
Understanding PLC Program Commands: Up and Down Counters

Understanding PLC Program Commands: Up and Down Counters

Counting up and down are commonly required functions in PLC lagger logic programs for tracking inventories, placement patterns, and gaining informational insights about machine performance statistics.


Successful Obsolescence Mitigation

Successful Obsolescence Mitigation

Designing an obsolescence mitigation plan to detect and solve mitigation risks before they occur is key to avoiding costly downtime and a potential catastrophe in control environments. 


Schaffner Introduces EMC Filter Series for Data Centers and Robotics

Schaffner Introduces EMC Filter Series for Data Centers and Robotics

Schaffner introduces its newest electromagnetic compatibility filters for data centers and robotic-automation sectors, allowing for different connection options and saving on space with a 1U rack-mount design.


News Jun 17, 2022 by Damond Goodwin
Understanding PLC Program Commands: One-Shots

Understanding PLC Program Commands: One-Shots

Many PLC commands are well-known to programmers, including contacts, coils, timers, and counters. But a less-common instruction is the one-shot, capable of harnessing the incredible processing speeds in a CPU.


Clarifying Misconceptions About Theoretical vs Physical Circuits

Clarifying Misconceptions About Theoretical vs Physical Circuits

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.


Obsolescence in Control Systems - Disaster or Opportunity?

Obsolescence in Control Systems - Disaster or Opportunity?

One of the most considerable risks in aging control environments is that eventually, spare parts become obsolete and unavailable, and the lack of an upgrade plan can turn a simple failure into a catastrophe.


Yaskawa Showcases Latest Technologies at Automate 2022

Yaskawa Showcases Latest Technologies at Automate 2022

Yaskawa Motoman unveils its HC Series collaborative welding bots, Smart Pattern extension, and Smart Pendant software version 2.1 at the Automate 2022 show.


News Jun 14, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida
Podcast: Universal Robots CEO Kim Povlsen on Collaborative Robots for the 98%

Podcast: Universal Robots CEO Kim Povlsen on Collaborative Robots for the 98%

Universal Robots CEO Kim Povlsen is a self-described robotics geek who now runs one of the world’s leading collaborative robot (cobot) companies where they strive to develop robots for the 98% of the market that doesn’t yet know they need them.


News Jun 07, 2022 by Dale Wilson
Kawaski Robotics Joins Forces with Realtime Robotics to Accelerate Collision-Free Training

Kawaski Robotics Joins Forces with Realtime Robotics to Accelerate Collision-Free Training

Realtime Robotics motion planning and collision avoidance software will be employed on Kawasaki Robotics industrial robots the two companies announced today at Automate 2022.


News Jun 06, 2022 by Dale Wilson
Control.com Will be Attending Automate 2022

Control.com Will be Attending Automate 2022

The reappearance of the Automate show in Detroit is an opportunity to witness some of the most innovative, exciting technology displays from manufacturers around the globe. If you see us, stop and say hello!


News Jun 05, 2022 by David Peterson
Invertek Drives Expands its German Operations into the DACH Region

Invertek Drives Expands its German Operations into the DACH Region

Invertek, a global manufacturer of VFDs for single and three-phase motors, announces its investment plans for growing business in Germany and expanding operations into other areas in Europe.


News Jun 01, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida
Ewon Launches New M2Web for PLC Data Access

Ewon Launches New M2Web for PLC Data Access

Remote access to equipment offers the benefits of both data visualization and remote programming ability for faster operation. Ewon’s recent announcement of the free M2Web offers remote access solutions.


News Jun 01, 2022 by Damond Goodwin
Understanding PLC Program Commands: Timers

Understanding PLC Program Commands: Timers

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.


RoboDK Releases TwinTool For Robot Calibration

RoboDK Releases TwinTool For Robot Calibration

Industrial robots use various methods to supply position data for the end-of-arm tools. Many are known to be far less than perfect, but RoboDK is attempting to solve this challenge with TwinTool calibration capabilities.


News May 31, 2022 by Shawn Dietrich
Plug and Play End of Arm Tooling for Cobot Applications

Plug and Play End of Arm Tooling for Cobot Applications

In the world of modern manufacturing, we want the tools to be effective, safe, and very easy to install and commission. But when we say ‘easy’, how easy can it really be to commission robotic tools?


Industrial Cabling Solutions: HELUKABEL Acquires EKD and Sangel

Industrial Cabling Solutions: HELUKABEL Acquires EKD and Sangel

HELUKABEL adds EKD Systems and Sangel Systemtechnik to its network to become a complete electrical connection system solution provider.


News May 26, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida