Industrial Automation News for the Next Generation
Welcome to Library.AutomationDirect.com, where the stacks are filled with tons of industrial automation news & you don’t even need a library card! Here you can read articles from the Automation NOTEBOOK loaded with informative technical articles keeping you on top of what’s happening in the automation industry. Company news, press releases, application stories and more are right here at your fingertips!
Awesome stories of how the next generation is going to change the world are found in our Student Spotlight. You can also read about how our system integrators have designed innovative solutions that make your life better by fixing those nagging problems you face at work! Learn how our products have inspired new ways to improve or even reinvent automation control systems for businesses like bakeries, factories and even egg farms. Don’t miss our newsletter for the latest industrial automation news! Click here to visit AutomationDirect.com.
Recent Posts
Simplified Motion Control High-performance servo motion is now more affordable and accessible than ever due to integrated controllers, making the technology viable even for applications which could not formerly support the cost or complexity of traditional implementations. Learn more Turning Up the Heat on a Balky Boiler Applying commercial off-the-shelf automation products can provide the…
3-Axis Motion Made Simple in 3 Ways using CLICK PLUS PLCs | White Paper AutomationDirect CLICK PLUS PLCs, when combined with stepper motors, make advanced motion control and edge integration simple for smaller systems. Electric motors provide the motive force for many types of machinery and equipment. Sometimes standard AC and DC motors are operated…
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are a crucial component in industrial automation, providing precise control over a motor’s speed and torque. Numerous built-in protections and fault indications are provided with modern VFDs, including the commonly seen DC Bus Overvoltage Fault. This fault has several possible causes and this whitepaper explores each one, offering solutions to ensure…
December 4, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added more ACCU-Torq motors from Nidec U.S. Motors. The ACCU-Torq motors are high-performance inverter duty motors and are an excellent cost-effective solution for applications that require 100% torque down to zero speed. They are available in 230/460 VAC and are now offered in sizes up to 20 hp at…
Everyone knows that motors are the workhorses of industry. They move machinery, fans, pumps, compressors, conveyors, elevators, etc. How are they controlled? The simple way is by using across-the-line control and turning them on and off. This works great in most cases, but what if you need to vary the speed of the motor? Control…
Welcome to the fall issue of AutomationDirect’s NOTEBOOK, your guide to practical products, technologies, and applications! This fall season has been difficult for many of us in the direct path of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Our thoughts are with everyone personally impacted. From a business standpoint, AutomationDirect is paying close attention to the supply chain…
Process-enabled motion controllers and motion-enabled PLCs give OEMs the flexibility to optimize design and performance. By: Kevin McClelion and Joe Scoccimaro, AutomationDirect There was a time when designing machines that included motion control followed a standard architecture. The PLC handled basic machine control and a dedicated motion controller managed the motion axes. Today, the trend…
Application StoriesDistribution/LogisticsHMIIndustryOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable Control
Automating a Luxury Bus
Industrial automation products are useful for much more than traditional applications, as PLCs and HMIs can be used in all sorts of unique commercial markets. Byline: Mark McHenry, Systems & Controls Other than being large and generally rectangular-shaped, a modern custom bus—the type frequented by touring music stars, mobile multi-millionaires, and campaigning politicians—bears little resemblance…
The EtherCAT protocol is a high-performance and cost-effective Ethernet networking technology, providing a versatile solution when EtherNet/IP and PROFINET simply aren’t fast enough. By Joe Kimbrell, AutomationDirect Ethernet rapidly expanded into and throughout commercial information technology (IT) networking connectivity environments beginning in the 1980s, and it has experienced rapid performance advancements and adoption since then…
Press Releases
December 18, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added Advantech serial-to-Ethernet Modbus gateways allowing connections of isolated serial devices to the Internet for centralized machine communication management. Advantech Modbus gateways provide easy integration of Modbus TCP and Modbus RTU/ASCII networks and offer two 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports for LAN redundancy. These gateways can be set up and…
December 18, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added Endress+Hauser Soliphant vibration rod level switches to detect fine- or coarse-grained, non-fluidized bulk solids in silos, hoppers, and bins. They can even detect solids underwater, such as sediment buildup in a tank. These robust switches are insensitive to buildup, providing maintenance-free operation and easy setup with no calibration required….
December 18, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added more Captron capacitive pushbuttons that utilize touch control and are activated without pressure when a hand or body part nears the device’s surface. They feature a robust IP69K design, wear-free operation, resistance to water, oil, and harsh environments, and are available in various mounting/operator sizes. Caneo Series10 additions…
December 18, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added four new series of Lika Electronic rotary encoders each with unique features or applications. Linear measuring wheel encoders are also now available. The new A41 series are compact (41mm diameter body) medium duty encoders with hollow or solid shafts and resolutions from 100 to 3600 PPR. A50 series…
December 11, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added Teknokol Eco series HMI enclosures and suspension arm systems which are designed to work together to provide customized, adjustable HMI panels using a selection of components and cut-to-length arm profiles. These suspension systems allow the HMI to be relocated as needed for better HMI visibility and operator comfort. …
December 11, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added Murrelektronik Premium EtherCAT IO-Link master modules to their IO-Link product lineup. IO-Link masters provide standardized, point-to-point connections between smart devices and controllers. IO-Link functions similarly to traditional field I/O but adds the capability to collect diagnostic and operational data from IO-Link capable devices, helping pinpoint potential problems or…