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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.


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.


Tutorial: Arduino and AutomationDirect Merged in the ProOpen PLC

Tutorial: Arduino and AutomationDirect Merged in the ProOpen PLC

Having separately covered Arduino’s microcontroller platforms and AutomationDirect Productivity PLCs, it’s time to take the wheel of the ProOpen, a PLC that combines modularity with C++ programming.


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.


Techniques for I/O Mapping in PLC Programs

Techniques for I/O Mapping in PLC Programs

I/O mapping is the process of converting raw input and output data into specific tags, but how can we find a method for mapping I/O that is both efficient and scalable?


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.


Temp Sensing With RTDs: Wiring Connection and Transmitter Setup

Temp Sensing With RTDs: Wiring Connection and Transmitter Setup

Learn how to measure temperature using an RTD and a temperature transmitter to convert resistance into common analog voltage or current values for process control.


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.


Designing a Custom Machine Alarm System: From PLC to HMI

Designing a Custom Machine Alarm System: From PLC to HMI

Creating custom alarm systems can be complicated and overwhelming, but they can also be very beneficial for equipment builders and integrators. Follow along as we build a custom alarm handling system.


Case Study: How One Company Saved Hours on Code Review With Version Control Software

Case Study: How One Company Saved Hours on Code Review With Version Control Software

Version control software allows manufacturers to automatically save code revisions across teams. Learn how Automation NTH leveraged this strategy to save countless hours and increase reliability.


Turn a Raspberry Pi Into a PLC Using OpenPLC

Turn a Raspberry Pi Into a PLC Using OpenPLC

Using a Raspberry Pi and the OpenPLC software platform, create a simple PLC that can be programmed in ladder diagrams with remote access and I/O monitoring dashboards.


Accelerometers and Gyroscopes: Understanding The Metrics of Motion

Accelerometers and Gyroscopes: Understanding The Metrics of Motion

Many sensors, like prox, optical, and ultrasonic, are familiar to control engineers. More and more modern devices are incorporating advanced motion profiles requiring motion sensing in many axes.


Motor Starter Wiring Infographic

Motor Starter Wiring Infographic

Complete wiring guide for 3-phase motor starters with and without overload (OL) relays.


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.


How to Convert Numbers: Binary, Decimal, and Hex Systems

How to Convert Numbers: Binary, Decimal, and Hex Systems

Converting different numbering systems is quite common in PLCs and structured text codes. Why? Because people read decimals. Computers read binary. Processors read sets of bits. Not so simple.


PLC and I/O Module Wiring Diagram Infographic

PLC and I/O Module Wiring Diagram Infographic

A complete diagram for wiring nearly any kind of discrete I/O module, including digital, AC, or relay, including both sourcing and sinking varieties.


PLC Naming Conventions: How Should I Write My Tag Labels?

PLC Naming Conventions: How Should I Write My Tag Labels?

It’s important to consider your PLC tag naming convention when using different styles. Learn when and why you might even use more than one, depending on the circumstances and scope of your project.


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?