Latest Maritime Technical Articles

Learn how to make complex calculations for validating data easily with the STD instruction, and learn how to display…

Learn how to make complex calculations for validating data easily with the STD instruction, and learn how to display array sizes programmatically with the SIZE instruction.

Learn how to streamline your ladder logic by searching and sorting arrays with the FSC and SRT instructions in the…

Learn how to streamline your ladder logic by searching and sorting arrays with the FSC and SRT instructions in the Rockwell (Allen-Bradley) Studio 5000 programming software.

Connecting a new motor without knowing the phase rotation of the electrical supply can cause damage to expensive…

Connecting a new motor without knowing the phase rotation of the electrical supply can cause damage to expensive equipment. By using a 3-phase rotation meter, you can save yourself time and money.

With precise control abilities to manage speed, torque, and direction, variable frequency drives remain one of the most…

With precise control abilities to manage speed, torque, and direction, variable frequency drives remain one of the most common methods of driving 3-phase industrial motors. Below, we introduce a few leading VFD manufacturers.

Arrays can streamline data storage and math operations, but they can be difficult to understand for a beginning…

Arrays can streamline data storage and math operations, but they can be difficult to understand for a beginning programmer. Learn the background of array instructions in the Rockwell Studio 5000 software.

Functional safety is the safety of a system and is critical for industries such as medical devices, automotive, railways,…

Functional safety is the safety of a system and is critical for industries such as medical devices, automotive, railways, and machinery. This article will focus on functional safety for machinery and the standards that help its implementation.

Servers are vital to the flow of information in and around organizations, acting as a hub for information transfer and…

Servers are vital to the flow of information in and around organizations, acting as a hub for information transfer and storage. Learn about the role of servers in industry and the potential challenges that come with maintaining them.

With the first fuzzy logic-based controllers on the market in 1983, learn how the Japanese-born automation company,…

With the first fuzzy logic-based controllers on the market in 1983, learn how the Japanese-born automation company, Omron, adopted fuzzy logic as a basis for the design of its current PLCs.

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.

Protection systems are critical in today’s fast-paced industrial revolution for the safety of people and processes.…

Protection systems are critical in today’s fast-paced industrial revolution for the safety of people and processes. This article discusses electronic protective relay types and how they differ from standard relays.

Tracking the position of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is often accomplished at a basic precision level, detecting…

Tracking the position of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is often accomplished at a basic precision level, detecting only end stop limits with discrete digital values… But what methods accomplish this?

PLC and other automation project software can be easier and more efficient to update and maintain thanks to the…

PLC and other automation project software can be easier and more efficient to update and maintain thanks to the introduction of Git control, already a staple for typical programming of large-scale projects.

Light curtains serve as an invisible barrier, keeping workers out of harm's way and protecting machinery from damage.…

Light curtains serve as an invisible barrier, keeping workers out of harm's way and protecting machinery from damage. Learn about safety curtains, how they are installed, and their programmable functions.

In this article, we will take a look at the differences between synchronous and induction motors, as well as the two…

In this article, we will take a look at the differences between synchronous and induction motors, as well as the two types of induction motors: squirrel cage and wound rotor.

There are many distributed fieldbus capabilities for valve manifolds that can save on network overhead and wiring. In…

There are many distributed fieldbus capabilities for valve manifolds that can save on network overhead and wiring. In this article, we will look at PLC programming of fieldbus manifolds highlighting Festo's CPX layout.

Large DC and AC motor drives often provide terminals for installing a braking resistor. What are these resistors, and how…

Large DC and AC motor drives often provide terminals for installing a braking resistor. What are these resistors, and how do they slow down a machine? What hazards and cautions must be considered?

Redundancy and safety are often seen together in industrial safety systems. Safety relays monitor emergency devices to…

Redundancy and safety are often seen together in industrial safety systems. Safety relays monitor emergency devices to switch contacts based on status - but what makes them different from normal relays?

AC motors are common throughout industry - easily controlled by VFDs and without the maintenance that comes with DC…

AC motors are common throughout industry - easily controlled by VFDs and without the maintenance that comes with DC brushes. So then, why are DC motors still used in certain applications?

We've read about the capabilities of collaborative robots, but often, one question still remains - how do you program a…

We've read about the capabilities of collaborative robots, but often, one question still remains - how do you program a cobot? Last week, I got a chance to get my hands on a cobot for the first time.