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Electromechanical Integration Using Fusion 360

Electromechanical Integration Using Fusion 360

Nearly every electronic product depends on the unity of electrical components and PCBs with physical enclosures and parts. Learn how Autodesk’s Fusion 360 offers a complete solution for electromechanical integration and design.


Understanding NPN vs PNP for Sensors and Devices

Understanding NPN vs PNP for Sensors and Devices

You are bound to encounter two terms associated with sensors and some loads: ‘NPN’ and ‘PNP’. You must understand the relationship between the field device and the control module in order to choose and install components properly when needed.


Siemens’ 120 V Solid-state Circuit Breaker Now UL Listed

Siemens’ 120 V Solid-state Circuit Breaker Now UL Listed

Siemens breaks new ground by having a solid-state circuit breaker UL listed for residential, commercial, and light industrial use.


News Oct 12, 2022 by Shawn Dietrich
Life on the Farm: Cleaning Stalls, Milking Cows, and… Robots?

Life on the Farm: Cleaning Stalls, Milking Cows, and… Robots?

Learn how one small farm in a rural community is upgrading production with advanced technology in several ways to overcome staff shortages, product demand, and regulatory compliance.


Rockwell Set to Acquire CUBIC for Strengthened Motor Control Offerings

Rockwell Set to Acquire CUBIC for Strengthened Motor Control Offerings

Rockwell Automation announced plans to acquire the electromechanical solutions provider, CUBIC, to promote intelligent motor control offerings worldwide.


News Oct 09, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida
Sine/Cosine Approximations Simplify Controller Operation

Sine/Cosine Approximations Simplify Controller Operation

Programming languages often include sine and cosine functions. They simplify programming, but consume valuable memory space and computation time. This can be overcome using simple approximations.


What You Need to Know: Unmanaged Switches for Industrial Ethernet

What You Need to Know: Unmanaged Switches for Industrial Ethernet

Network switches allow the interconnection of devices and controllers across a facility, with particular features that make them a good fit for industrial applications. We introduce a few of the leading manufacturers of these products.


Info Byte: The Mystery of Ice Cube Relays–Coil Polarity

Info Byte: The Mystery of Ice Cube Relays–Coil Polarity

Relay and other coil devices pose a few confusing questions: How can the relay still work if you connect a DC supply in reverse? How can an alternating voltage attract and hold the load consistently?


Why is 4-20 mA Current Used for Industrial Analog Sensors?

Why is 4-20 mA Current Used for Industrial Analog Sensors?

Industrial analog sensor devices primarily use 0-10 volt or 4-20 milliamp. For those mA signals, learn the reasons for why the lower and upper limit standards were determined as 4 mA and 20 mA.


PLC Ladder Logic on an Arduino: Building a Start-Stop Circuit

PLC Ladder Logic on an Arduino: Building a Start-Stop Circuit

Learn how to prototype an industrialized OpenPLC Arduino PLC control station concept. This hands-on project will illustrate converting a relay ladder control circuit into a Ladder Diagram (LD) program.


Pilz’ New Compact PNOZmulti 2 Standalone Safety Relay

Pilz’ New Compact PNOZmulti 2 Standalone Safety Relay

Pilz has added the PNOZ m C0 to their PNOZmulti 2 product lineup, an easy-to-program, standalone safety relay that provides customers with a compact solution for smaller machines.


News Sep 28, 2022 by Damond Goodwin
Industrial Control Panel Design Standards and Best Practices

Industrial Control Panel Design Standards and Best Practices

Industrial control panels are at the heart of control systems. Learn about the standards and regulations that dictate industrial control panel design for safety and efficiency, including NFPA 70, UL 60947-4-1, and NFPA 79. 


Introduction to Industrial Control Panel Design

Introduction to Industrial Control Panel Design

Whether open or closed, industry standard or built for tough environments, or modular or customized, it is important to follow a set of repeatable tasks when designing industrial control panels for efficiency and safety.


Schaffner’s Unique Locking Plug Prevents Accidental Unplugging

Schaffner’s Unique Locking Plug Prevents Accidental Unplugging

Schaffner releases new power connector, expanding on their IEC lock connector offerings to prevent accidental unplugging and for reducing electrical noise.


News Sep 07, 2022 by Seth Price
Advanced Energy Unveils Latest Additions to TEGAM 700 Series Bond Meters

Advanced Energy Unveils Latest Additions to TEGAM 700 Series Bond Meters

Advanced Energy has released two new bond meters, the TEGAM 720A and TEGAM 730A, to measure electrical bonding between devices for the aerospace, automotive, and renewable energy industries.


News Sep 01, 2022 by Seth Price
Preventing Failures in High-Temperature Manufacturing Processes

Preventing Failures in High-Temperature Manufacturing Processes

Any machine can become a source of elevated temperature, even under regular operation. We cannot assume that temperature problems occur only based on climate conditions, and mitigation steps must be employed.


I/O Module Debate: Transistor vs. Relay Output?

I/O Module Debate: Transistor vs. Relay Output?

When selecting the right module for the right load, be sure to understand how the load resistance will affect the voltage and current of the output module terminals.


Active Power, Reactive Power, Apparent Power, and the Role of Power Factor

Active Power, Reactive Power, Apparent Power, and the Role of Power Factor

The diverse power terms in electrical generation systems include active, reactive, and apparent power, all of which lead to the introduction of ‘power factor’ effectiveness in an AC circuit.


Grounding for Control Transformers

Grounding for Control Transformers

Grounding transformer connections presents its own set of challenges. This article addresses these challenges and several common configurations for control transformer grounding.


Automation Issues and Energy Usage in Environmental Extremes

Automation Issues and Energy Usage in Environmental Extremes

As summer heat continues to scorch the northern hemisphere, manufacturers face potential equipment damage and downtime. Learn about the ways extreme heat can damage automated equipment and systems.