Latest Assembly Line Technical Articles

Categories

Maintenance and Troubleshooting for 6-Axis Robot Arms

Maintenance and Troubleshooting for 6-Axis Robot Arms

Across every make and model of articulated robot, certain maintenance procedures must be followed as motion occurs. Failure to do so can often result in warnings, alarms, and even failure.


How To Read Ladder Logic in PLC and Relay Controls, Part 1: Inputs

How To Read Ladder Logic in PLC and Relay Controls, Part 1: Inputs

Ladder logic is an industrial control systems legend stemming from electrical line diagrams before the days of PLCs. Although logical, they are difficult to interpret.


Behind the Scenes: The Making of SICK Sensor Technology

Behind the Scenes: The Making of SICK Sensor Technology

Every element of your life–your food, your car, your house–everything is made with processes that use sensors. Join us as we visit the SICK facility, where many of these sensing products are made.


Reversing the Rotation of an Industrial 3-Phase Motor

Reversing the Rotation of an Industrial 3-Phase Motor

Many online sources explain how to reverse a 3-phase motor; this article will discuss the electrical principles that define why it works and how the phase relationships determine the rotation direction.


Understanding Hairpin Stators in High-Efficiency Motors

Understanding Hairpin Stators in High-Efficiency Motors

Hairpin motors are becoming popular with electric vehicle manufacturers, but what sets them apart from traditional electric motors? And, if they are so great, why not use them in all applications?


All About PLCs: The CPU

All About PLCs: The CPU

Learn all about the central processing unit (CPU): the built-in module inside the PLC responsible for executing the program and communicating with external devices.


Touching on Touchscreens | Capacitive vs. Resistive Technologies

Touching on Touchscreens | Capacitive vs. Resistive Technologies

Two primary technologies are used for creating touchscreens. For industrial HMIs, resistive and capacitive methods both contain certain advantages for various applications.


Here’s One for Teachers: How Industry and Education Build Pipelines for the Future

Here’s One for Teachers: How Industry and Education Build Pipelines for the Future

Join Control Automation as we visit Central CA colleges to help install robotic equipment and learn how local industries partner with schools to create exciting opportunities for students.


Shocking Solutions: Safeguarding Your Devices from Electrical Faults

Shocking Solutions: Safeguarding Your Devices from Electrical Faults

Protection against faults is crucial for any electrical system. This article examines various protective devices, highlighting their roles and best use cases to ensure system integrity and longevity.


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.


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.


The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Testing, Commissioning, and Debugging

The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Testing, Commissioning, and Debugging

When setting up a system for the first time, the process can seem complex and daunting. However, there are tools available to make the job much easier before commissioning.


Mitsubishi HMI Programming Tutorial: Controlling On/Off Bits

Mitsubishi HMI Programming Tutorial: Controlling On/Off Bits

Learn how to use GT Designer 3 to create an interactive control system on Mitsubishi HMIs. With practical examples of simple on/off bits, gain some understanding of HMI designing and programming.


FANUC Robot Ethernet Tutorial: Setting Up PLC I/O Communication

FANUC Robot Ethernet Tutorial: Setting Up PLC I/O Communication

Learn how to set up Ethernet/IP communications, including steps for both the FANUC controller and the Studio 5000 environment for a Rockwell PLC.


The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Making Sense of Prox Sensors

The Beginner’s Guide to Automation: Making Sense of Prox Sensors

Detecting objects is the first field-level task that must be considered before any feedback-based control can happen. Choosing from among the nearly unlimited proximity sensors can be challenging!


How-to: Programming Discrete I/O With a Koyo DirectLOGIC PLC

How-to: Programming Discrete I/O With a Koyo DirectLOGIC PLC

Learn how to use DirectSOFT6 to program discrete I/O functions in a Koyo DirectLOGIC PLC. Although these PLCs are older, they are found in many existing automation installations.


Setting IP Address and Networking Parameters on a PowerFlex VFD

Setting IP Address and Networking Parameters on a PowerFlex VFD

Parameters control the operation and command sources for VFDs. The PowerFlex series from Rockwell Automation is no exception. Learn how to adjust the parameters for networking and IP configuration.


Robot-To-PLC Handshaking

Robot-To-PLC Handshaking

Controlling an industrial robot can be done through the use of well-crafted signal handshakes. Follow along as we dive into several robot-to-PLC communication strategies.


Take a Look Inside a Research and Demo Lab at Epson Robotics

Take a Look Inside a Research and Demo Lab at Epson Robotics

Recently, the Control.com engineering team had the opportunity to visit the R&D demo lab facility for the robotics division of Epson, located in Los Alamitos, CA. Come learn how the magic happens!


Understanding Industrial Ethernet Connections: RJ45, Fiber, M12, and SFP

Understanding Industrial Ethernet Connections: RJ45, Fiber, M12, and SFP

Ethernet switches can use four different types of connections: RJ45, fiber, M12, and SFP. Understanding the difference can help with network troubleshooting, design, or alteration.