PLC or Open-Source Controller?
+Tech TopicsLearning ResourcesProgrammable Control

PLC or Open-Source Controller?

Deciding between a PLC or Industrialized Open Source Controller can be difficult. These two control platforms are often compared against one another in the battle for which is better. Saying that one platform is better than the other is impractical. Both platforms have advantages and disadvantages dependent on the environments that they will be used…
Choosing VFD Control Modes
ProductVariable Speed Drives

Choosing VFD Control Modes

Modern variable frequency drives incorporate several control modes to help users fine-tune operation for various applications. Kevin Kakascik, Technical Marketing Engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the June 2020 issue of Processing titled Choosing VFD Control Modes. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text. Variable frequency drives (VFDs) always…
PLCs Help the Show Go On
Application StoriesPLCProductProgrammable Control

PLCs Help the Show Go On

How industrial automation plays a leading role in show-biz scenery. In February 2020, Control Design posted a website article by Ryan Poethke of Showman Fabricators, titled Motor Control When Hanging From The Ceiling. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text. Industrial automation can play a role in many situations beyond…
Pneumatic Fitting Tips
PneumaticsProduct

Pneumatic Fitting Tips

Properly identifying pneumatic fitting and component sizes, especially on older equipment, is easier with these tips. Kevin Kakascik, Technical Marketing Engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the June 2020 issue of Fluid Power World titled Cracking the Code on Existing Pneumatic Fittings. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text….
CUI Devices Builds on Company History of Manufacturing Industry-Leading Electronic Components
AutomationDirect SpotlightSupplier Profiles

CUI Devices Builds on Company History of Manufacturing Industry-Leading Electronic Components

Many companies are taking on new initiatives and policies for their clients and employees in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and CUI Devices is among them. The company is supporting clients that produce key medical equipment like ventilators, test equipment, and patient monitors by prioritizing and expediting free product samples. CUI Devices is also…
Safety Standards Update Summer 2020
ProductSafety

Safety Standards Update Summer 2020

Safety standards are vitally important to follow, understand, and implement to eliminate and avoid injuries to personnel from machinery. This is our biennial update as to major changes to American National Standards Institute or ANSI code, and most specifically the B11.0 dedicated to “Safety of Machinery”. Since 1922, the B11 standards for machine safety were…
VFDs Expand Process Control Options
ProductVariable Speed Drives

VFDs Expand Process Control Options

Improved performance, ease of use, and energy savings combined with IIoT capabilities make VFDs the right choice for many process industry motor applications. Bryan Sisler, Product Manager for Drives and Motors at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the May 2020 issue of Processing titled Beyond Process Control with VFDs. Here’s a summary, click on the…
Keep Industrial Electrical Safety First
ProductSafety

Keep Industrial Electrical Safety First

For industrial machinery and systems, designers must apply the right products for physical, electrical power, and automation safety. Kevin Kakascik, Technical Marketing Engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the May 2020 issue of Machine Design titled Electrical Safety on the Factory Floor. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text….
The Pneumatic Efficiency Big Picture
PneumaticsProduct

The Pneumatic Efficiency Big Picture

Although electrical systems can beat pneumatics for operating efficiency, pneumatics are often more cost-effective over the long haul. Kevin Kakascik, Technical Marketing Engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the May 2020 issue of Hydraulics & Pneumatics titled Pneumatic Efficiency: The Big Picture. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text….
Headless HMIs Offer Added Features
CommunicationsProduct

Headless HMIs Offer Added Features

New headless HMIs support mobile visualization and large-format displays, giving designers more options. Bill Dehner, technical marketing engineer for AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the May 2020 issue of Design World titled Headless HMIs: Less is More. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text. Traditional all-in-one, panel-mount, human-machine interface (HMI)…