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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.


Using a PLC to Track Data Within Automated Equipment

Using a PLC to Track Data Within Automated Equipment

There are a few options when it comes to tracking part data throughout a process or assembly of a machine. Follow along as we explain just a few of the more common methods.


Accelerating Pulp and Paper Processing with Advanced Process Control

Accelerating Pulp and Paper Processing with Advanced Process Control

Innovative pulp and paper operators are turning advanced process control, automated testing, and quality control system data into actionable business insights that improve operational efficiency all along the value chain.


DCS vs. SCADA: What’s the Difference?

DCS vs. SCADA: What’s the Difference?

Controlling and optimizing plant processes is the goal of most control systems. It can be a challenge to distinguish between different types of control: a DCS or a high-level SCADA system?


Tutorial: Analog I/O Programming for AutomationDirect Productivity PLCs

Tutorial: Analog I/O Programming for AutomationDirect Productivity PLCs

Learn how to use analog I/O devices with AutomationDirect’s Productivity series of PLCs and Productivity Suite software. Wiring, configuring I/O, and programming will be a part of this tutorial.


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.


How Is Your Code Backed Up? Maximizing DevOps in Industrial Automation

How Is Your Code Backed Up? Maximizing DevOps in Industrial Automation

Shifting from manual code backup processes to more modern, automated solutions can provide more benefits to manufacturers, far above simply the time saved compared to manual techniques.


Using Virtualization Technology to Enhance Industrial Control System

Using Virtualization Technology to Enhance Industrial Control System

Automated control systems incorporate virtualization technology to reduce physical hardware, automatically minimizing the cost of IT/OT equipment, installations, and maintenance efforts.


What is a Safety PLC?

What is a Safety PLC?

This article investigates the basic qualities that make up a safety PLC, what distinguishes a safety PLC from a standard model, and the reasons for which a safety PLC may be critical.


Electrical Drawings, Schematics, and Wiring Diagrams: How to Read Them

Electrical Drawings, Schematics, and Wiring Diagrams: How to Read Them

In order to trace control system problems to the core, the ability to read and interpret various resources, from facility-level diagrams to machine-level wiring layouts, is critical.


Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 6: Refined Data Presentation

Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 6: Refined Data Presentation

We conclude the data flow project with the step of developing a business intelligence dashboard to present machine data, at a reliable schedule, to a leadership or maintenance team.


Understanding the JSON Data Format for Industrial Control Architecture

Understanding the JSON Data Format for Industrial Control Architecture

It is important to have some baseline understanding of JavaScript Object Notation, or JSON, one of the most common data exchange formats used in the connected industrial world today.


Understanding the 17xx | Your Rockwell/Allen-Bradley Hardware Encyclopedia

Understanding the 17xx | Your Rockwell/Allen-Bradley Hardware Encyclopedia

Rockwell Automation’s Allen-Bradley control hardware catalog has long included many series that start with 17xx, but what are these lineups, and what function do they serve?


9 Critical Steps to Building a Digital Twin for Your Factory

9 Critical Steps to Building a Digital Twin for Your Factory

Digital twins are a virtual process representation merging the simulation and real worlds to increase efficiency, optimize parameters, and predict successful operations for a variety of industries.


Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 4: PostgreSQL Database

Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 4: PostgreSQL Database

To transfer data from a local spreadsheet to a database to create visual dashboards, we must now define the outbound integration to the PostgreSQL database through the mage.ai editor.


Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 3: Connecting to Google Sheets

Data Flow Tutorial With Mage.ai | Part 3: Connecting to Google Sheets

In this article, we will explore the inbound integration to the mage.ai pipeline, connecting to the spreadsheet data source using the Google Sheets API through a JSON credentials file.


STEP RIGHT UP, Get Your IP Address Here! Understanding BOOTP vs. DHCP

STEP RIGHT UP, Get Your IP Address Here! Understanding BOOTP vs. DHCP

When IT and OT converge on the shop floor, it’s important to understand how and when to let a computer control the assignment of network addresses, or when you would rather keep it under control.


Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 8: Final - Data Dashboard

Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 8: Final - Data Dashboard

In this final installment of the IIoT tech stack project, learn how to design the customer-facing dashboard or observability platform using the data acquired from the MQTT client device.


Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 7: Integrating Data With Database

Create Your Own IIoT Tech Stack Project | Part 7: Integrating Data With Database

As we approach the conclusion of this IIoT project, we’ll explore the integration of the Mosquitto MQTT broker, Node-RED, and InfluxDB, leaving only the data dashboard setup for the final step.


Industrial Computing Tackles the Challenge of Long Rebooting Time

Industrial Computing Tackles the Challenge of Long Rebooting Time

Rebooting industrial controllers and computers incurs costs, not only from the downtime but also from cascading effects of communication with up/downstream controllers. How can this downtime be managed?