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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AC Drive Applications
When powering AC motors, the electrical supply can be at full power to run at full speed, or at variable power to run at variable speed. Applications with fluctuating loads benefit from the variable speed provided by an AC drive because less power is used at lower loads and speeds, and this article explains how … Read More
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What are Pilot Devices?
“Pilot devices” is an industry term given to products such as pushbuttons, indicating lights, selector switches and various types of switches and visual and/or audible signaling devices. All these devices are used for a system, control panel or as an integral part of most automated processes to provide control and condition monitoring of all types … Read More
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Safety First! A Look at the Importance of Industrial Safety Devices
There are safety related features in practically every device we use, industrial and non-industrial. Electrical devices and appliances have housings that protect consumers from electrical hazards. Motorized devices have housings intended to prevent any possible injury to users from dangerous moving parts and/or electrical components. Industrial facilities have many safety features including safety signs that … Read More
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What is a Laser Sensor?
A better understanding of laser distance sensors helps when applying these rangefinders in material handling and industrial measurement applications. By Andrew Waugh, Product Manager for Sensor and Safety Products at AutomationDirect What is a Laser Sensor? Laser sensors come in several configurations, with some detecting presence and others measuring distance. A proximity type laser sensor, … Read More
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Providing Circuit Protection for Safety
Most engineers, technicians and factory workers have a story about industrial injuries—such as shock or burns—that occurred on the plant floor. While most incidents happen during construction, maintenance or testing, they can occur during normal operations as well. Most can be prevented by using best design practices, and by following safe operating procedures and regulations. … Read More
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AutomationDirect adds Remote I/O to BRX Micro PLCs
AutomationDirect has added remote I/O capabilities to its BRX Micro PLC product line. BRX Remote I/O controllers allow thousands of additional I/O to be added to the BRX PLC system. Each remote controller unit can be expanded with up to eight I/O expansion modules providing up to 256 I/O points per remote rack. Six controller … Read More
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More BRX PLC I/O Expansion Modules from AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added more I/O expansion modules to its BRX Micro PLC product line. BRX I/O expansion modules add digital and analog I/O as needed to expand machine and process control applications. BRX expansion modules easily snap onto the side of any BRX Micro PLC Unit (MPU) or the new BRX Remote I/O controller. Three … Read More
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Surge Protection: A Small Investment That Can Save You Thousands
What is Surge Protection? Surge protection is one of those terms we’ve heard throughout our lives. From cheap wall surge adapters, the very common outlet strip with surge protection, to higher priced outlet strips that promise to protect your valuable electronics from the evils of a power surge caused by lightning storms or voltage fluctuations. … Read More
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Newsletter Volume 20, Issue 5
Our May newsletter is out and ready to be enjoyed! As always we have our newest products featured such as cut-to-length VFD cable and WDP Definite Purpose Contactors. We also have some of our favorite content from this past month including a new White Paper on micro PLCs and a case study involving roller coasters! … Read More
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What is a Photoelectric Sensor?
A better understanding of photoelectric sensors helps when applying these versatile, non-contact presence sensing devices in industrial machine, conveyor and other applications By Andrew Waugh, Product Manager for Sensor and Safety Products at AutomationDirect What is a Photoelectric Sensor? A photoelectric sensor, often called a photo eye, uses light to detect the presence of an … Read More