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System Dynamic and Frequency Response Analysis

System Dynamic and Frequency Response Analysis

Understanding the building blocks of s-domain analysis and magnitude response theory can go a long way in helping engineers predict how and why some system design choices are made over others.


Thinking Outside the Cabinet: Rockwell Introduces Direct-Mount Servo Drives

Thinking Outside the Cabinet: Rockwell Introduces Direct-Mount Servo Drives

Allen-Bradley and Rockwell Automation took their popular servo drive line and right-sized it for easy installation on machines in the field or directly mounting to servo motors.


News Aug 10, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Phoenix Contact’s Valueline 3: Newest Panel and Box IPC

Phoenix Contact’s Valueline 3: Newest Panel and Box IPC

Phoenix Contact adds to its product family of panel PCs and IPCs with the Valueline 3, available in a standalone box or ready to integrate into a robust touch panel for industrial environments.


News Aug 09, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
What Does ‘Explosion Proof’ Mean, and Who Should Care?

What Does ‘Explosion Proof’ Mean, and Who Should Care?

Some workplaces are more dangerous than others, not because of the practices, but rather the products. Where do explosions occur, and what practices exist to reduce such risk for equipment and workforce?


Creating a Low-Cost OpenPLC Pulse Timer Function Block HMI with an M5Stack Core

Creating a Low-Cost OpenPLC Pulse Timer Function Block HMI with an M5Stack Core

Triggering a machine by an external event often requires a pulse timer for OpenPLC Pulse Timer control. Here’s a brief tutorial on how an M5Stack Core can offer a simple, effective low-cost Arduino OpenPLC HMI solution.


Beginner’s Guide to Programmable Encoders

Beginner’s Guide to Programmable Encoders

Programmable encoders provide engineers real flexibility to adjust process parameters. From operating theory to programming methods, here’s everything you need to know to begin leveraging these handy devices.


What You Need to Know: Soft Starters for Industrial Motors

What You Need to Know: Soft Starters for Industrial Motors

Driving motors is one of the most fundamental automation tasks, but understanding and selecting the proper motor soft starter for your application may require more investigation than you thought.


Understanding the Automation Lingo: PLC, PAC, RTU, DCS, and SCADA

Understanding the Automation Lingo: PLC, PAC, RTU, DCS, and SCADA

What are these terms, PLC, PAC, RTU, DCS, SCADA? Why are they so important to industrial robotics and automation? Explore how each different piece functions to build a comprehensive automated system.


Temposonics Develops New Rod Sensor for Extreme Environments

Temposonics Develops New Rod Sensor for Extreme Environments

Sensors give IIoT the vital information it needs to better enhance plant connectivity, Tempsonics’ new R-SERIES V RM5 sensor expands sensing capabilities to even the most harsh environments.


News Jul 30, 2023 by Damond Goodwin
Saving Space: Bosch Rexroth Announces Vertical Spiral Transport System

Saving Space: Bosch Rexroth Announces Vertical Spiral Transport System

Bosch Rexroth has leveraged the popular modular VarioFlow conveyor system to create a new vertical, spiral conveyor for more efficient transport and buffer storage space.


News Jul 27, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
ADLINK Releases SuperCAT Series for Enhanced Automation Motion Control

ADLINK Releases SuperCAT Series for Enhanced Automation Motion Control

ADLINK brings its customers a software-defined EtherCAT motion controller, the SuperCAT series, for the optimization of multi-axis motion control for industrial automation processes.


News Jul 26, 2023 by Stephanie Leonida
Examples of Analog Signals in Control Systems

Examples of Analog Signals in Control Systems

Many articles address the wiring and implementation of analog control signals, but where are they used, and what might make them a better (or perhaps worse) decision than digital input/output devices?


Potential Problems Arising from Misuse of Motor Phase Wiring

Potential Problems Arising from Misuse of Motor Phase Wiring

Using the right motor for the right task is critical - but what happens if the motor is connected to the wrong supply? It is never recommended, but important to quickly understand symptoms of incorrect wiring.


Beckhoff Creates Power Supply Module for ‘Cabinetless’ Automation System

Beckhoff Creates Power Supply Module for ‘Cabinetless’ Automation System

Last year, Beckhoff created the MX-System for cabinetless automation control, and has recently updated the power supply modules to be compatible with drives, robotics, and conveyance devices.


News Jul 10, 2023 by Damond Goodwin
PID for Your PLC Using SP and PV. So Many Acronyms, So Little Time

PID for Your PLC Using SP and PV. So Many Acronyms, So Little Time

Implementing PID control in a PLC is far more complicated than textbooks would make it appear. There is more to the process than simply picking gain (k) values and calculating an output value.


What’s New? SICK Adds Sensor and Encoder Products to Catalog

What’s New? SICK Adds Sensor and Encoder Products to Catalog

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.


News Jun 15, 2023 by Seth Price
Siemens Expands The Popular SINUMERIK ONE Product Line for CNC Control

Siemens Expands The Popular SINUMERIK ONE Product Line for CNC Control

Siemens releases a new version of the SINUMERIK CNC product line and upgrades their digital twin simulation software, allowing users to increase productivity and reduce waste better than ever before.


News Jun 14, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
New Mitsubishi Electric Compact PLC: More I/O Power in a Smaller Size

New Mitsubishi Electric Compact PLC: More I/O Power in a Smaller Size

Mitsubishi Electric Automation expands the iQ-F series of compact PLCs with the powerful and affordable FX5S that uses familiar programming software while increasing the range of I/O and communication.


News Jun 11, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Siemens Releases a New Virtual PLC, the S7-1500V

Siemens Releases a New Virtual PLC, the S7-1500V

The SIMATIC S7-1500V is Siemens's newest PLC, but it looks completely different than any other PLC… Mainly because it doesn’t physically exist.


News Jun 08, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich
Closing the Loop: Feedback, Feedforward, and Adaptive Control

Closing the Loop: Feedback, Feedforward, and Adaptive Control

Process automation relies on precise control systems to operate production equipment for everything from lumber to pastries. Using control algorithms produces stable, accurate, and often delicious results.