UPDATE #2: You can now 1) drive a BLUE team lift bot (much easier to score), 2) Press buttons to load hatch panels and cargo in the human player loading stations and 3) preset the field with hatch panels and cargo (Start doesn’t reset the field anymore) **The New update is at the same link,…
Bulk multi-conductor cable is a convenient way to connect electrical power and signals. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about bulk multi-conductor cable: Why use a shielded cable? What is the difference between cord and cable? Why use VFD cable? What does ‘Exposed Run’ mean? What is the difference between…
Industrial automation cables in any lengths you choose Low price per foot – with NO cut charges All cable from Automation Direct is now available in your specified lengths, so you can eliminate waste and purchase only as much cable as you need. We offer one low price per foot for each cable type, low minimum lengths, and…
What is a Proximity Sensor? Proximity sensors allow non-contact detection of objects. In particular the presence of parts and/or machine elements for the purpose of counting, indexing, verification, end-of-stroke or travel, determining orientation, and many other common automation tasks. They are used in many industries, including manufacturing, robotics, semiconductor, etc. Selection Criteria There are several types of proximity…
Sponsored by AutomationDirect.com Congratulations to the winners of the first annual robotics 3D Printing Contest sponsored by AutomationDirect.com The Judges loved the attention to detail and were amazed at the effort put into making many of the mechanisms fully articulated! Some even added the electrical panel, CIM motors and batteries! Very cool. As promised we…
Sponsored by This award celebrates the art of digital animation and its close relationship to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). The award is offered to help encourage students to cultivate skills in design and creation of animation including, but not limited to, storytelling, creativity, use of computer software, and an understanding of different techniques…
Overview of Magnetic Proximity Sensors Magnetic proximity sensors are used for non-contact position detection beyond the normal limits of inductive sensors. In conjunction with a separate “damping” magnet, magnetic sensors offer very long sensing ranges from a small package size and can detect magnets through walls of non-ferrous metal, stainless steel, aluminum, plastic or wood. Depending on the orientation of the magnetic field the…
Sponsored by: We got a lot of requests for the source files for the VR Simulation we posted. AutomationDirect is a big supporter of open source projects – Did you know the FRC Game animation was created by an open source program called “Blender?” That’s what we use for all of our animation work here…
– GS2/GS3 Drives Component Shortage – Product: Some GS2 and GS3 drives Part Number(s): (see list below) Notes: Due to component shortages at the supplier, certain models of GS2 and GS3 drives will be out of stock (or will have very limited/sporadic availability) for the immediate future. A solution has been put in place at…
3D Printable, 1:20th Scale Model of the POWER UP Field AutomationDirect’s animation team converted the animation models into 3D printable models for you to play with. This is the “playing field” for the FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC) game for 2018. For more info about FIRST and the 2018 game: “POWER UP” – please visit the…