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…
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.
Most grippers are powered by either air or electricity. Learn about the questions and factors an engineer should consider…
Most grippers are powered by either air or electricity. Learn about the questions and factors an engineer should consider to make the best decisions while selecting a gripper to use for unique applications.
Hydraulic pumps take energy from a source, usually an electric motor or combustion engine, and turn it into a usable…
Hydraulic pumps take energy from a source, usually an electric motor or combustion engine, and turn it into a usable force to complete work. What kind of hydraulic pumps exist, and how do they work?
Transfer functions allow systems to be converted from non-algebraic time measurement units into equations that can be…
Transfer functions allow systems to be converted from non-algebraic time measurement units into equations that can be solved, but how do these functions work, and why do we use them?
The second day of Automate 2023 in Detroit was a huge success! The Control Automation engineering and sales team met with…
The second day of Automate 2023 in Detroit was a huge success! The Control Automation engineering and sales team met with a number of companies to discuss and explore the exciting, innovative demonstrations.
Engineers face a common challenge of moving objects from one point to another, especially in a production line. This…
Engineers face a common challenge of moving objects from one point to another, especially in a production line. This article will introduce the pneumatic cylinder as used in industrial automation.
We usually think of joysticks in terms of video game controllers, but they exist in all kinds of industrial systems:…
We usually think of joysticks in terms of video game controllers, but they exist in all kinds of industrial systems: heavy equipment, overhead cranes, and even some robotic controls. But how do they work?
Honeywell has announced plans to expand its controls portfolio through the acquisition of Compressor Controls…
Honeywell has announced plans to expand its controls portfolio through the acquisition of Compressor Controls Corporation, accessing inroads to the petrochemical industry and speeding up carbon capture research.
Hydraulic systems suffer from pressure drops and energy loss whenever any fluid is in motion. Learn about these devices…
Hydraulic systems suffer from pressure drops and energy loss whenever any fluid is in motion. Learn about these devices called ‘accumulators’. What are they, how do they work, and why do we need them?
Fluid flow control is often crucial to control systems and can be achieved by incorporating control valves. In this…
Fluid flow control is often crucial to control systems and can be achieved by incorporating control valves. In this article, we will look at the sequence valve and its use in systems to automate fluid flow.
COVAL has launched a new series of intelligent vacuum grippers capable of use in Industry 4.0-capable facilities, giving…
COVAL has launched a new series of intelligent vacuum grippers capable of use in Industry 4.0-capable facilities, giving manufacturers more versatile gripping solutions.
Pressure sensors are essential tools in industrial applications, required wherever there is a hydraulic or pneumatic…
Pressure sensors are essential tools in industrial applications, required wherever there is a hydraulic or pneumatic system to keep pressure quantities under control.
SMC has added to its CXS product family with the CXS2 series of pneumatic actuators. The new series of dual rod cylinders…
SMC has added to its CXS product family with the CXS2 series of pneumatic actuators. The new series of dual rod cylinders is faster and has a higher kinetic energy capacity than SMC's previous offerings.
There are many different kinds of electric motors used for industrial power transfer, but there are also hydraulic and…
There are many different kinds of electric motors used for industrial power transfer, but there are also hydraulic and pneumatic motors that can lend advantages in some situations.
Emerson aims to increase efficiency in the process industry via its new line of aluminum filter regulators that come as…
Emerson aims to increase efficiency in the process industry via its new line of aluminum filter regulators that come as part of a single-source supply for valve piloting systems.
Safety is a concern in any system containing potential energy, whether electrical, chemical, or fluid. Each has methods…
Safety is a concern in any system containing potential energy, whether electrical, chemical, or fluid. Each has methods of protection, and for fluid systems, certain shutoff valves are used in situations when excess pressure can be a problem.
Large motors require a circuit to turn on and off. This may be as simple as a single on/off drum-type switch or as…
Large motors require a circuit to turn on and off. This may be as simple as a single on/off drum-type switch or as elaborate as a VFD unit. Learn about some common control circuit designs for typical three-phase motor requirements.
This article discusses the meaning and effects of proportional gain in a controlled system such as motion, temperature,…
This article discusses the meaning and effects of proportional gain in a controlled system such as motion, temperature, and fluid flow.
Air motors are common in process industries, mainly used in hazardous areas. This article introduces the features and…
Air motors are common in process industries, mainly used in hazardous areas. This article introduces the features and working principles of air motors and the differences between air and electrical motors.
IIoT is a daunting topic due to ambiguous interactions of hardware and software. This article outlines the basic steps to…
IIoT is a daunting topic due to ambiguous interactions of hardware and software. This article outlines the basic steps to use an MQTT broker to collect the number of cycles from a pneumatic cylinder for PM software.