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!
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Recently Added to the Library
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What is a Contactor?
Contactors are a specialized form of relay capable of switching higher power loads such as motors, lighting and electric heaters. Turning large electrical power loads such as motors, lighting and heaters on and off is a common automation requirement. Applications are found in commercial buildings, industrial equipment and vehicles. The fundamental device for switching electrical … Read More
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Cable-Pull Safety Switches
Full coverage E-Stop protection around your machinery We all know the importance of having emergency stop devices near and around machinery. There are numerous regulations (ANIS, ISO, IEC) that define emergency stop device requirements. In short they all state that they are actuated by a “single human action”, should be used to de-energize equipment to … Read More
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Benefits of Connecting a PLC to the Internet
Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are now gaining information technology (IT) abilities to interact directly with the internet, creating new automation and information possibilities. Bill Dehner, a Technical Marketing Manager at AutomationDirect, authored an article for the July 2019 issue of Control Engineering titled Benefits of Connecting a PLC to the Internet. Here’s a summary, click … Read More
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Single-Phase Open Core Industrial Control Transformers from AutomationDirect
Hammond HPS Spartan® industrial open core control transformers offer an efficient and economical solution for applications where high inrush or machine tool duty are not necessary. These transformers are open style units in ratings from 50VA up to 5000VA. Units from 50VA to 3000VA (30 amps) include molded terminal blocks. Optional finger guards and a … Read More
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STRIDE Pocket Portal IoT Bridge Cloud Data Logger with IO from AutomationDirect
The “Internet of Things” for industrial applications (IIoT) allows greater visibility and access to machine and process data through cloud computing. The STRIDE Pocket Portal is a low-cost ($120.00) industrial wireless IoT end-to-end cloud data logger that connects industrial equipment and sensors to the cloud. The Pocket Portal has an RS-485/power port, input/output port, browser … Read More
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Pneumatics for Mechanical Motion
Pneumatics are often the best fit for executing mechanical motion in a reliable, simple, and cost-effective manner. Pat Phillips is the Product Manager for Fluid Power and Mechanical products at AutomationDirect, and he authored an article for the June 2019 issue of Tech Briefs titled Pneumatics for Mechanical Motion. Here’s a summary, click on the … Read More
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Locking Safety Interlock Switches
Most of us are familiar with safety interlock switches that can disable a safety circuit and notify us if a guard has been removed, the gate is open or something has been tampered with. There are many options to chose from including tongue interlock switches, hinge safety interlock switches and non-contact safety switches. Many of … Read More
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What is a Relay?
When used in electrical power and control circuits, relays allow lower power circuits to operate higher power circuits, while providing isolation. By Brent Purdy PE, Product Manager, Power & Circuit Protection at AutomationDirect Relays are a fundamental device for switching an electrical circuit on or off, much like a toggle switch or a limit switch. … Read More
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Choosing the Right HMI
Human-machine interfaces are available with many hardware and software features. Users should work backwards from the target application to make sure all needs are addressed. Bill Dehner, a Technical Marketing Manager at AutomationDirect, authored an article for the June 2019 issue of Control Engineering titled Choosing the Right HMI. Here’s a summary, click on the … Read More
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Newsletter Volume 21, Issue 6
Specifying Performance Instead of Parts Specifying performance instead of parts when purchasing machines and process skids cuts costs, reduces lead time and guarantees reliable operation. Many plants and facilities rely on pre-packaged machines and process skids purchased from original equipment manufacturer (OEM) suppliers. They want the components installed in this equipment to match what they … Read More