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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
Scaling Values: Linear Versus Non-Linear Changes

Scaling Values: Linear Versus Non-Linear Changes

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.


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
Power for Control Circuits: It’s Not Just Power Supplies

Power for Control Circuits: It’s Not Just Power Supplies

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.


Festo Releases the First Pneumatic Collaborative Robot

Festo Releases the First Pneumatic Collaborative Robot

Festo has recently announced a new product, the first pneumatic collaborative robot, with the hopes of bringing automation to a wider range of customers and application scenarios.


News May 25, 2022 by Damond Goodwin
Acoustic Monitoring to Detect Hidden Machine Failures

Acoustic Monitoring to Detect Hidden Machine Failures

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


Controlling Hydraulic Devices with Open and Closed Loop Systems

Controlling Hydraulic Devices with Open and Closed Loop Systems

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.


FANUC Corporation Europe Introduces New 35 kg Payload Cobot

FANUC Corporation Europe Introduces New 35 kg Payload Cobot

FANUC announces the release of its latest CR Series cobot, the CR-35iB, stronger and lighter for improved functionality and portability and faster installation.


News May 23, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida
New LEG Series from SMC: Electric Actuator with Battery-less Encoder

New LEG Series from SMC: Electric Actuator with Battery-less Encoder

SMC announces a new electric actuator series with high-rigidity guide rods, equipped with a battery-less encoder, driven by stepper motor and matching drive compatible with multiple networks.


News May 21, 2022 by David Peterson
Variable Frequency Drives: Managing Network Outage Responses

Variable Frequency Drives: Managing Network Outage Responses

Even with the most reliable networks, network outages are inevitable for a host of reasons, and managing these outages in VFD systems becomes critically important.


Control.com Announces Control Automation Day 2022!

Control.com Announces Control Automation Day 2022!

Control Automation Day 2022 will be on June 21st, focusing on PLC systems, packed with keynote addresses, educational live sessions, and exciting giveaways from your favorite manufacturers!


News May 18, 2022 by David Peterson
How-To: Implementing a Data Highway Plus (DH+) System

How-To: Implementing a Data Highway Plus (DH+) System

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.


Visualizing Noise with Seven Bel’s Sound Scanner P132

Visualizing Noise with Seven Bel’s Sound Scanner P132

Seven Bel’s “sound camera” visualizes sources of physical sound to detect and isolate problems within industrial equipment, pinpointing and identifying trouble spots for predictive maintenance solutions.


News May 17, 2022 by Seth Price
Contactors versus Relays - Differences and Applications

Contactors versus Relays - Differences and Applications

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.


Robots and CNC Machines - An Assembly Configuration Made in Heaven

Robots and CNC Machines - An Assembly Configuration Made in Heaven

Our own Control Automation engineering staff had the opportunity to visit VersaBuilt, a CNC robotic integration shop offering an application system from the Universal Robots UR+ series.


Adlink Releases EOS-JNX Series AI-Capable Camera System

Adlink Releases EOS-JNX Series AI-Capable Camera System

Adlink’s new EOS-JNX Series vision systems are equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capability and offer new possibilities in security and plant monitoring.


News May 11, 2022 by Seth Price
The Cat’s Out of the Bag - Demystifying Network Cables

The Cat’s Out of the Bag - Demystifying Network Cables

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.


Launcher’s 3D-Printed E-2 Engine Successfully Completes Test Fire

Launcher’s 3D-Printed E-2 Engine Successfully Completes Test Fire

Pioneering space vehicle developer, Launcher, announces a testing milestone as its 3D-printed E-2 engine achieves full thrust at the NASA Stennis Space Center.


News May 09, 2022 by Stephanie Leonida