Latest Utilities Articles

Categories

“Among the Fastest in the Industry”: Omron Automation’s Slim Relays

“Among the Fastest in the Industry”: Omron Automation’s Slim Relays

Omron Industrial Automation has released two new styles of industrial relays to its existing lineup. The slim-style relays are available as mechanical or solid-state and offer a reduced footprint being only 6.2 mm wide.


News Feb 03, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Look Out For Factory Automation Solutions At ATX West 2023

Look Out For Factory Automation Solutions At ATX West 2023

Hosted by IMEngineering West in Anaheim, CA on Feb 7-9, the Automation Technology Expo (ATX) West is quickly approaching. Check out some of the innovative factory automation and robotic solutions to be demonstrated on the show floor.


News Feb 01, 2023 by Caitlin Nicholson
Understanding Power Quality, Monitoring, and Correction  

Understanding Power Quality, Monitoring, and Correction  

Power quality is an increasing concern for manufacturers all over the world as electrical equipment becomes more advanced and therefore sensitive to discrepancies in the supplied power.


Introduction to Modbus and Modbus Function Codes

Introduction to Modbus and Modbus Function Codes

Modbus is one of the oldest industrial communication protocols still in use today. Continue reading to find out how the protocol works and how to use it for monitoring and control.


Alarm and Event Handling and Processing in Process Control Systems

Alarm and Event Handling and Processing in Process Control Systems

Events that cause alarms are not the most common events in a process system, but they must be handled with proper care, being both resolved and recorded in order to prevent hazards and downtime.


Controlling Processes with Analog Inputs: New Potentiometer Lineup

Controlling Processes with Analog Inputs: New Potentiometer Lineup

CUI Devices has expanded its product line of motion and control components, offering a new family of shaft and shaftless potentiometers that come in different varieties with varying resistance ratings.


News Jan 18, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Intro to PLC Programming with Rockwell’s Studio 5000 and CompactLogix

Intro to PLC Programming with Rockwell’s Studio 5000 and CompactLogix

Rockwell Automation is known for being one of the most popular PLC brands, supported by many compatible devices. Learn the basics of getting started with a CompactLogix project in the Studio 5000 environment.


Safety Devices - The When, How, and Why

Safety Devices - The When, How, and Why

Machine safety design can be a daunting task with all the different safety devices on the market today. Choosing the correct device for your design can be made easier by understanding when to use the proper device.


Comparing Parallel Circuits: Practical vs Theoretical Electrical Systems

Comparing Parallel Circuits: Practical vs Theoretical Electrical Systems

We are taught that parallel circuits maintain equal voltage across all branch resistors, equally sharing the source voltage. But reality is often far from ideal, and individual devices certainly impact the rest of the circuit.


Exploring 4 Popular Machine Learning Algorithms for Industrial Applications

Exploring 4 Popular Machine Learning Algorithms for Industrial Applications

Machine learning is a subset of AI that allows a machine to learn using past data. Learn about the two categories of machine learning as well as four major machine learning models often used in industrial applications.


Introduction to Network Switches for Industrial Applications

Introduction to Network Switches for Industrial Applications

Industrial network switches connect automation equipment, controllers, and other such devices. Learn about unmanaged, managed, and PoE enabled switches, as well as the differences between switches, routers, and hubs.


Memory: A Challenge on the Road to Industry 4.0

Memory: A Challenge on the Road to Industry 4.0

Memory for data is among the most pressing challenges to Industry 4.0. Given the evolving nature of Industry 4.0 and associated memory solutions, however, some memory-based trends are becoming apparent.


What’s the Difference Between a Safety Contactor and a General Purpose Contactor?

What’s the Difference Between a Safety Contactor and a General Purpose Contactor?

Designing a system with motor motion always includes a consideration of safety. Incorporating safety contactors might be the correct prevention to protect equipment and users but may add additional challenges.


Types of Actuators: Comparing Pneumatic vs. Electric Actuators

Types of Actuators: Comparing Pneumatic vs. Electric Actuators

Actuators are used to control the motion of manufacturing devices and raw materials. This article will compare electric actuators and several types of fluid-power actuators.


Control System Process Data Archiving: Strategy and Methodology

Control System Process Data Archiving: Strategy and Methodology

Data stored in a historian server is useful for analysis and troubleshooting. Learn about data archiving techniques for control systems, as well as what type of data is stored and the tools to make it happen.


Arduino PLC IDE Tutorial 2: Analog I/O and External Devices

Arduino PLC IDE Tutorial 2: Analog I/O and External Devices

Previously, we described how to use the new Arduino PLC IDE to control discrete devices. This tutorial will describe how to connect various peripheral equipment (VFD and robot) using analog inputs and outputs.


 Reducing Downtime in Energy Management with Latest Industrial Gateways

Reducing Downtime in Energy Management with Latest Industrial Gateways

Moxa’s latest industrial gateways, the AIG-100 Series, aim to simplify remote data transfer between IIoT devices and are especially targeted for increasing communication efficiency in renewable energy systems.


News Jan 03, 2023 by Seth Price
Power Supplies: Understanding the Differences Between Linear and Switching

Power Supplies: Understanding the Differences Between Linear and Switching

Linear and switch-mode power supplies provide direct current to power control components and electrical devices. Learn about the differences between the two power supplies and which one is best for your control system.


Electronic Datasheet (EDS) Files: Why do We Use Them?

Electronic Datasheet (EDS) Files: Why do We Use Them?

Many control product manufacturers offer these downloadable ‘EDS files’ for peripheral equipment, but what exactly is an EDS, and how can they aid in the development of a project?


Teardown: What’s Inside a Timer Relay?

Teardown: What’s Inside a Timer Relay?

PLCs and microprocessors have largely replaced timing functions in control circuits. But these timer relays still hold many necessary tasks. What’s inside these devices might be more complex than you imagined!