Latest Aerospace Technical Articles

This article investigates the basic components and wiring conventions for common three-phase motor starter…

This article investigates the basic components and wiring conventions for common three-phase motor starter configurations, including direct online, reversing, and star-delta.

Electrical and mechanical measurements are often labeled with "RMS" and "True RMS." Aside from the simple math…

Electrical and mechanical measurements are often labeled with "RMS" and "True RMS." Aside from the simple math definitions we learned in electronics class, why is this distinction actually important?

Have you ever heard of a relay? Of course you have. There are many different kinds, plus hundreds of different trade…

Have you ever heard of a relay? Of course you have. There are many different kinds, plus hundreds of different trade lingo names. What are some of the most common, and how do we use them?

Within motors, two very different types of resistance are evident. The resistance of the windings is measured with a…

Within motors, two very different types of resistance are evident. The resistance of the windings is measured with a normal multimeter. But what is insulation resistance, and how is it measured?

In order to trace control system problems to the core, the ability to read and interpret various resources, from…

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.

Digital controls like VFDs and soft starts have advantages by elongating start time, but simple strategies for starting…

Digital controls like VFDs and soft starts have advantages by elongating start time, but simple strategies for starting motors with a reduced current draw, like star-delta (or wye-delta) are common.

In this article, we will explore real-world considerations for strain gauge performance and typical applications. We’ll…

In this article, we will explore real-world considerations for strain gauge performance and typical applications. We’ll be talking about foil and wire strain gauges, but ignoring semiconductors.

Pressures are always rising and falling in fluid systems. Sometimes the changes are extreme and lead to damage. What…

Pressures are always rising and falling in fluid systems. Sometimes the changes are extreme and lead to damage. What causes problematic pressure changes, and how can you trace them to their source?

PyGWalker is an open-source data visualization tool for developing dashboards and analytics. To get you started down the…

PyGWalker is an open-source data visualization tool for developing dashboards and analytics. To get you started down the right path here's a hands-on guide on how to use PyGWalker to visualize a pseudo-milling dataset.

Control.com’s Director of Engineering got to explore IO-Link sensors and what he found might surprise you! Although…

Control.com’s Director of Engineering got to explore IO-Link sensors and what he found might surprise you! Although still considered an “emerging” technology, it’s clear IO-Link technology boasts several bonafide benefits over traditional sensors.

Understanding the building blocks of s-domain analysis and magnitude response theory can go a long way in helping…

Understanding the building blocks of s-domain analysis and magnitude response theory can go a long way in helping engineers predict how and why some system design choices are made over others.

Some workplaces are more dangerous than others, not because of the practices, but rather the products. Where do…

Some workplaces are more dangerous than others, not because of the practices, but rather the products. Where do explosions occur, and what practices exist to reduce such risk for equipment and workforce?

User-defined data types (UDTs) are a powerful and useful tool when applied to their full advantage. However, misused,…

User-defined data types (UDTs) are a powerful and useful tool when applied to their full advantage. However, misused, they can become problematic and introduce roadblocks to troubleshooting and upgrading PLC programs.

Triggering a machine by an external event often requires a pulse timer for OpenPLC Pulse Timer control. Here’s a brief…

Triggering a machine by an external event often requires a pulse timer for OpenPLC Pulse Timer control. Here’s a brief tutorial on how an M5Stack Core can offer a simple, effective low-cost Arduino OpenPLC HMI solution.

Programmable encoders provide engineers real flexibility to adjust process parameters. From operating theory to…

Programmable encoders provide engineers real flexibility to adjust process parameters. From operating theory to programming methods, here’s everything you need to know to begin leveraging these handy devices.

Additive manufacturing includes, but is not limited to, printing parts in 3D. Creating these parts in metal presents…

Additive manufacturing includes, but is not limited to, printing parts in 3D. Creating these parts in metal presents unique challenges and requires some rather innovative additive technologies.

Driving motors is one of the most fundamental automation tasks, but understanding and selecting the proper motor soft…

Driving motors is one of the most fundamental automation tasks, but understanding and selecting the proper motor soft starter for your application may require more investigation than you thought.

Many articles address the wiring and implementation of analog control signals, but where are they used, and what might…

Many articles address the wiring and implementation of analog control signals, but where are they used, and what might make them a better (or perhaps worse) decision than digital input/output devices?

Using the right motor for the right task is critical - but what happens if the motor is connected to the wrong supply? It…

Using the right motor for the right task is critical - but what happens if the motor is connected to the wrong supply? It is never recommended, but important to quickly understand symptoms of incorrect wiring.