A new set of connector, valve, and cylinder products released by SMC promises to reduce downtime, save space, and provide more cost-effective maintenance operations.
A new set of connector, valve, and cylinder products released by SMC promises to reduce downtime, save space, and provide more cost-effective maintenance operations.
Directional control valves (DCVs) come in many shapes and sizes for pneumatic and hydraulic applications. Learn to…
Directional control valves (DCVs) come in many shapes and sizes for pneumatic and hydraulic applications. Learn to distinguish the different configurations and the meaning of external markings.
Schmalz has developed a lightweight, extra-thin gripper for use in tight spaces, such as screen handling and other…
Schmalz has developed a lightweight, extra-thin gripper for use in tight spaces, such as screen handling and other applications where vertical vacuum gripper height is a concern for end users.
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.
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?
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.
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.
We are taught that parallel circuits maintain equal voltage across all branch resistors, equally sharing the source…
We are taught that parallel circuits maintain equal voltage across all branch resistors, equally sharing the source voltage. But reality is often far from ideal, and individual devices certainly impact the rest of the circuit.
Programmable Logic Controllers, or PLCs, are designed to receive signals and influence load devices automatically. Learn…
Programmable Logic Controllers, or PLCs, are designed to receive signals and influence load devices automatically. Learn how to connect and program discrete output devices like solenoids, relays, and lights.
Air power drives a lot of modern equipment. Robot grippers, ejectors, actuators, and rotary tables are just a few of the…
Air power drives a lot of modern equipment. Robot grippers, ejectors, actuators, and rotary tables are just a few of the devices controlled by air. What’s inside those banks of solenoid valves, and how do they work?
Parker Hannifin has recently designed and released the new VA series valve control system for use in the mobile equipment…
Parker Hannifin has recently designed and released the new VA series valve control system for use in the mobile equipment industry. The new series is capable of increased versatility and efficiency over their older valve systems.
Programmable Logic Control (PLC) systems are the core of most industrial control systems that drive modern manufacturing.…
Programmable Logic Control (PLC) systems are the core of most industrial control systems that drive modern manufacturing. In this Control Automation video, we discuss the wiring process for buttons, switches, and discrete sensors, applicable to virtually every PLC.
Learn about proportional gain and proportional band, two key proportional control concepts, to better understand the most…
Learn about proportional gain and proportional band, two key proportional control concepts, to better understand the most popular control system method in industrial automation.
Control Automation is proud to announce updates to several chapters of our popular online textbook. Check out the…
Control Automation is proud to announce updates to several chapters of our popular online textbook. Check out the improvements in the PLC, Feedback Control, and Power Generation sections.
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