AutomationDirect’s Productivity1000 PLC was selected for its ability to provide cost-effective control of machines and processes. AutomationDirect’s Productivity1000 PLC was announced as a Plant Engineering 2018 Engineers’ Choice Awards Bronze Winner for the Automation & Control category. You can find more info on the Productivity1000 PLC here and explore if it would be a good…
Learning ResourcesMachine ControlMotor ControlsOnline BlogProductProgrammable ControlVariable Speed Drives
Programming and Setup Considerations for VFDs with Integrated PLCs
Control capability built-in to VFDs are moving machine intelligence to the edge. Jeff Payne, Product Manager for AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the March 2019 issue of Design World, titled VFDs with integrated PLCs for motion and machine controls: Programming and setup considerations. Payne explains how AC drives can be controlled by either an external…
J.R.R. Tolkien’s highly acclaimed fantasy novel “The Hobbit” was published in the United Kingdom in 1937. That same year, Trumeter was founded in Manchester, U.K. to provide mechanical-based length measuring equipment for the textile industry. That year was a good start for Tolkien and Trumeter, as both the book and the company have earned enduring…
Available in many combinations, filters and regulators are a must-have on any machine. Other devices to perform functions such as energy isolation, lockout tagout and lubrication should also be considered. Chip McDaniel, technical marketer for AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the January 2019 issue of Design World magazine, titled Proper Air Preparation for Automated Machines….
When asked what comes to mind when someone mentions ‘Italy’, people often think of the country’s delicious pasta and food, fast cars, breath-taking landscapes and stunning architecture. Italy is certainly known for these remarkable things and much more. It is also home to this month’s supplier profile ReeR, a 60-year old company founded in Turin…
Safety Controllers are often a better option than multiple safety relays, especially for more complex applications. Larry Reynolds, product engineer for sensor and safety products at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the February 2019 issue of IMPO titled Safety Controllers Simplify Systems. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text. Reynolds…
PLCs are typically programmed with PC-based software, and selecting the right platform is critical to project success and ongoing operations. Bill Dehner, technical marketing engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the February 2019 issue of NASA Tech Briefs titled Selecting a Software Programming Platform, here’s a summary. Dehner says software development and testing is…
+Tech TopicsDiscrete SensingLearning ResourcesProcess Sensing & ControlProductProgrammable ControlSensors Automation
Basic Sensors - PLC Fundamentals
For a PLC to monitor and in turn control its application variables, there must be a way for it to sense its surroundings. In today’s industrial realm, there are a huge variety of electrical sensors that provide the input data (position, distance, level, flow, etc.) that control systems need. These basic sensors can be broken…
There are several ways to perform IIoT remote monitoring of PLCs and HMIs, with VPN connections providing the highest level of security. Bill Dehner, Technical Marketing Engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the Jan/Feb 2019 issue of InTech magazine titled IIoT Remote Monitoring. A summary is below, please click here for the full text….
As Acme Electric enters into its second centennial of continuous operation, the company renews its commitment to the transformer industry by supporting new technology, providing products to support customers around the planet, and retaining its leadership position in the areas of efficiency and inventiveness. In fact, this 100+ year-old company innovates like a start-up but…