Latest Utilities Articles

Schneider Electric improves the Square D VisiPacT product line with safety and convenience features designed to set the…

Schneider Electric improves the Square D VisiPacT product line with safety and convenience features designed to set the paradigm of heavy-duty switches, meeting or exceeding the demands of OSHA and NEMA.

Single-phase motors are common in household and small industrial devices. They are a bit more complex than 3-phase…

Single-phase motors are common in household and small industrial devices. They are a bit more complex than 3-phase models, so it’s important to recognize failure modes and common symptoms.

Wireless technology is typically slower to adoption for industrial automation, but what wireless advancements are shaping…

Wireless technology is typically slower to adoption for industrial automation, but what wireless advancements are shaping the current and future landscape of the automated factory floor?

Virtual networks can connect or isolate various local control networks through configuration of a managed switch. Why…

Virtual networks can connect or isolate various local control networks through configuration of a managed switch. Why would we use VLANs, and how can you segment a network switch to create a VLAN?

Ground wires reduce the risk of injury and damage from faulty equipment. Shops designing according to the UL 508A…

Ground wires reduce the risk of injury and damage from faulty equipment. Shops designing according to the UL 508A standard must understand how, when, and why to properly ground and bond circuits.

Structured Text (ST) is one of the common IEC programming languages that can be used in programming PLCs. Learn how to…

Structured Text (ST) is one of the common IEC programming languages that can be used in programming PLCs. Learn how to use structured text to write executable programs for MELSEC’s FX series PLC.

Eaton and FMX collaborate to create a predictive maintenance software specifically designed to work with electrical…

Eaton and FMX collaborate to create a predictive maintenance software specifically designed to work with electrical components and systems, providing greater savings on maintenance and reduced downtime.

Beckhoff has introduced a new Ethernet-APL module allowing process automation engineers to acquire data faster and at…

Beckhoff has introduced a new Ethernet-APL module allowing process automation engineers to acquire data faster and at further distances with greater protection against hazardous environments.

Rockwell Automation’s Micro800 series is the modern replacement for some older MicroLogix PLCs. Learn how to get…

Rockwell Automation’s Micro800 series is the modern replacement for some older MicroLogix PLCs. Learn how to get started with basic I/O, plus timers and counters, to build your own programs in a snap!

Three-phase motors are a backbone of the modern industrial control landscape. But plenty of applications still rely on…

Three-phase motors are a backbone of the modern industrial control landscape. But plenty of applications still rely on single-phase motors. Can these types of motors be reversed, and if so, how?

GX Simulator2 is one of MELSOFT’s essential tools for the simulation of programs in a virtual PLC and works with GX…

GX Simulator2 is one of MELSOFT’s essential tools for the simulation of programs in a virtual PLC and works with GX Works2. Learn how to virtually simulate and test your ladder programs.

SICK has released a new time-of-flight (TOF) safety vision sensor and a new contactless linear encoder to the product…

SICK has released a new time-of-flight (TOF) safety vision sensor and a new contactless linear encoder to the product catalog, intended to impact new automation systems in mobile and linear motion designs.

An introduction to the various tag types used within one of the leading supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)…

An introduction to the various tag types used within one of the leading supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software powering IIoT, HMI, and I4.0 applications: Ignition by Inductive Automation.

Temperature profiling is an effective tool to monitor thermal properties in process equipment. This article defines…

Temperature profiling is an effective tool to monitor thermal properties in process equipment. This article defines temperature profiling, discusses the process components, and describes the various benefits it offers.

Starting as an exciting novelty that has gained a foothold in many consumer technologies, voice control has struggled…

Starting as an exciting novelty that has gained a foothold in many consumer technologies, voice control has struggled with industrial traction, but Konica Minolta has a new method of programming robotics.

Any kind of computer programming can be challenging to determine what aspects are truly unique versus what aspects should…

Any kind of computer programming can be challenging to determine what aspects are truly unique versus what aspects should be standardized across projects and platforms to streamline future development.

Alphabet’s Intrinsic has partnered with Comau for testing and continued development of its Flowstate robotics…

Alphabet’s Intrinsic has partnered with Comau for testing and continued development of its Flowstate robotics programming and software package.

Transformer types can vary from small instruments to large power distribution systems. 3-phase systems require…

Transformer types can vary from small instruments to large power distribution systems. 3-phase systems require transformers that employ the same wye and delta arrangements common to industrial motors.

Automate 2023 has begun! This year’s trade show features some exciting new technologies, including automation solutions…

Automate 2023 has begun! This year’s trade show features some exciting new technologies, including automation solutions from Universal Robots, Bosch Rexroth, and DENSO Robotics.