Latest PLCs Articles

Categories

Full-Metal Jacket: Long-Range Inductive Sensors From Autonics

Full-Metal Jacket: Long-Range Inductive Sensors From Autonics

Autonics’ PRFD sensors bring high-visibility indicators, rugged housings, and long-distance sensing to the automotive, chemical, metalworking, and food and beverage industries.


News Jul 09, 2024 by Seth Price
ControlByWeb Adds New Cellular Connection to I/O Controllers

ControlByWeb Adds New Cellular Connection to I/O Controllers

Adding wireless to PLC projects poses challenges, namely security and project complexity. ControlByWeb seeks to overcome those barriers and add cellular data to the newest controller versions.


News Jul 08, 2024 by David Peterson
How To: Use ControlByWeb’s I/O Controller for Web-Based Logic

How To: Use ControlByWeb’s I/O Controller for Web-Based Logic

Logic is critical for industrial control, and it usually looks like ladders, function blocks, or structured text. I/O controllers are designed to automate simple logic tasks and data functions.


Seal-In Ladder Logic vs. Latching/Unlatching PLC Commands

Seal-In Ladder Logic vs. Latching/Unlatching PLC Commands

An age-old debate in PLC programming: investigating the uses and caveats of latching software commands versus seal-in ladder logic for industrial control applications.


CIMON Announces Updates to Canvas 4.0 HMI Dev Platform

CIMON Announces Updates to Canvas 4.0 HMI Dev Platform

The new eXT and nXT series of Xpanel HMI displays from CIMON have been given an upgrade with the release of Canvas 4.0, providing access to new features for HMI project development.


News Jul 01, 2024 by David Peterson
Licensing Your New Software in the Modern Industrial Landscape

Licensing Your New Software in the Modern Industrial Landscape

As commercial and industrial software migrates to ‘cloud-based’ and ‘subscription’ models, what does it mean? How does it affect the usability and security of critical parts of control infrastructure?


Mitsubishi Electric Increases Investment in Realtime Robotics

Mitsubishi Electric Increases Investment in Realtime Robotics

Mitsubishi Electric has increased its existing investment in Realtime Robotics. The company is focused on strengthening its factory automation solutions with Realtime Robotics' motion planning technology.


News Jun 25, 2024 by Shawn Dietrich
Aerotech Enhances Automation1 Motion Control Platform With Version 2.7

Aerotech Enhances Automation1 Motion Control Platform With Version 2.7

The latest update to Aerotech's Automation1 platform delivers enhanced support for laser scan heads and drives, with key updates including tools for faster development, 3D data visualization, and enhanced scanner control.


News Jun 23, 2024 by Austin Futrell
Tutorial: Analog Signals with Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext Platform

Tutorial: Analog Signals with Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext Platform

Learn how to connect analog inputs, either voltage or current, to the Phoenix Contact’s IIoT PLC platform and design simple data processing programs with the PLCnext Engineer IDE.


Networking Woes | How and Why To Change the IP Address of My Computer?

Networking Woes | How and Why To Change the IP Address of My Computer?

Every method of connecting to an industrial device—USB, serial, or Ethernet—poses challenges. For Ethernet, we often must adjust the IP address of our PC, not only the device itself.


I Can See the Light! Introducing Banner’s New GS60 Guide Spotlight

I Can See the Light! Introducing Banner’s New GS60 Guide Spotlight

Object detection and operator interfaces can be simplified with the new dedicated, high-intensity light indicator with configurable colors for a wide range of optical applications.


News Jun 11, 2024 by Austin Futrell
Tutorial: First Program With Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext Platform

Tutorial: First Program With Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext Platform

Learn how to get started with Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext and Engineer software, a platform that ultimately provides a PLC environment for plant control as well as an OS for more advanced IIoT projects.


Logic at the Sensor Level: Can it Simplify Automation?

Logic at the Sensor Level: Can it Simplify Automation?

Sensor networks with built-in logic functions can save cost and program execution speed, but what are those various logic functions, and when might they be preferred over normal PLC ladder logic?


The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Adding Control to the System

The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Adding Control to the System

Every automated cell requires a ‘brain’ in order to achieve the required tasks. How do you determine the necessary I/O, communication protocols, and processor necessary for controlling your system?


Mitsubishi PLC Tutorial: Program and Display Strings In Ladder Logic

Mitsubishi PLC Tutorial: Program and Display Strings In Ladder Logic

Learn how to write a ladder logic program to assign a string value to a data register and share that register with any HMI compatible with Mitsubishi’s MELSEC PLC series.


Enhanced Analog Sensing With New Compact 5000 HART I/O Modules

Enhanced Analog Sensing With New Compact 5000 HART I/O Modules

Rockwell PLC users can more easily integrate field-level analog HART devices with two new modules designed for the popular 5380 CompactLogix platform.


News Jun 03, 2024 by Austin Futrell
ABB, Rockwell Automation, and Others Launch Edge Interoperability Initiative for Automation Ecosystems

ABB, Rockwell Automation, and Others Launch Edge Interoperability Initiative for Automation Ecosystems

ABB, Rockwell Automation, and other top industrial automation companies have come together to develop an open standard for interoperability between hardware and software in the industrial space.


News May 31, 2024 by Shawn Dietrich
Understanding Sensors with Timer Functions: Applications and Advantages

Understanding Sensors with Timer Functions: Applications and Advantages

Sensors with timer functions advance modern automation systems, enhancing the precision and flexibility of in-process controls to ease the strict requirement for an external, clock-based logic CPU.


New I/O Modules for AutomationDirect’s Productivity PLC Series

New I/O Modules for AutomationDirect’s Productivity PLC Series

The new additions include a high-current relay output for the Productivity1000 and 2000 series and a TTL input and output for the Productivity2000, allowing interface with systems of varying voltages.


News May 27, 2024 by David Peterson
Comau Showcases the “Power of Automation” at Automate 2024

Comau Showcases the “Power of Automation” at Automate 2024

At Automate 2024, Comau unveiled its latest innovations in hardware and software that promote sustainability, productivity, and enhanced worker safety in industrial environments.


News May 17, 2024 by Stephanie Leonida