Latest Distributed I/O Articles

Omron’s NX5 series PLC is designed with IIoT in mind, including standard OPC UA and direct connection to relational…

Omron’s NX5 series PLC is designed with IIoT in mind, including standard OPC UA and direct connection to relational databases such as SQL, all without the need for additional hardware or licensing.

Phoenix Contact adds to its product family of panel PCs and IPCs with the Valueline 3, available in a standalone box or…

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.

Refining and integrating a front-end HMI application to an API middle layer with real-time data display and historian…

Refining and integrating a front-end HMI application to an API middle layer with real-time data display and historian capabilities for short-term data visualization.

Learn the first steps in focusing on the integration of a front-end HMI application to an API middle layer.

Learn the first steps in focusing on the integration of a front-end HMI application to an API middle layer.

The middle layer, or API layer of a custom-built HMI project involves a server that can submit or receive data to and…

The middle layer, or API layer of a custom-built HMI project involves a server that can submit or receive data to and from a device, either to provide the user interface or interact with the machine.

Some workplaces are more dangerous than others, not because of the practices, but rather the products. Where do…

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?

ABB has added new products with enhanced capabilities to the XIO series of controllers with the aim of improving upstream…

ABB has added new products with enhanced capabilities to the XIO series of controllers with the aim of improving upstream efficiency in the oil and gas industries.

What are these terms, PLC, PAC, RTU, DCS, SCADA? Why are they so important to industrial robotics and automation? Explore…

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.

Many articles address the wiring and implementation of analog control signals, but where are they used, and what might…

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?

Digital signals hold a prominent position due to their compatibility with computers. But what are digital signals, and…

Digital signals hold a prominent position due to their compatibility with computers. But what are digital signals, and what are some examples of the various devices used with digital inputs and outputs?

Last year, Beckhoff created the MX-System for cabinetless automation control, and has recently updated the power supply…

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.

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.

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!

Tower lights can offer vital information about automated cell status from a distance via visual cues. Leuze has announced…

Tower lights can offer vital information about automated cell status from a distance via visual cues. Leuze has announced the TL 305 series of tower lights to provide robust, customizable indicator options.

Implementing PID control in a PLC is far more complicated than textbooks would make it appear. There is more to the…

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.

Recently, Banner released a new lineup of eight-port discrete converters, allowing input of up to 16 different digital…

Recently, Banner released a new lineup of eight-port discrete converters, allowing input of up to 16 different digital I/O devices and assigning them to pre-defined Modbus registers for ease of integration.

Mitsubishi Electric Automation expands the iQ-F series of compact PLCs with the powerful and affordable FX5S that uses…

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.

The SIMATIC S7-1500V is Siemens's newest PLC, but it looks completely different than any other PLC… Mainly because it…

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.

Setting and resetting a PLC output is essential in establishing a holding circuit for a transducer. Learn how to use…

Setting and resetting a PLC output is essential in establishing a holding circuit for a transducer. Learn how to use set/reset instructions in MELSOFT series GX Works2 to latch and release an output.