Using Commercial Off-the-Shelf Technologies in Industrial Controllers
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Using Commercial Off-the-Shelf Technologies in Industrial Controllers

Jeff Payne, the Automation Controls Group Product Manager at AutomationDirect, penned an article titled Product Design: Incorporating Commercial Technologies into Industrial Controllers for the February 2018 issue of Control Engineering. The article looked at some of the commercial off-the-shelf or COTS technologies used in industrial controllers. These technologies include Ethernet, FPGAs, USB, MicroSD and others….
Overview of AC Motor Control Options
AC Motors and ControlsMotor ControlsMotorsProduct

Overview of AC Motor Control Options

Most automatic controls involve AC motor control in some way, especially in factory automation. Applications such as pumps, fans, robotics, and conveyors use motors. Whether general-purpose 3-phase ac motors, which are great for simple on/off systems, or the inverter-duty motors specifically designed for operation with variable frequency drives (VFDs), one could say that motors are ubiquitous…
Setting Internal Standards for Industrial Automation
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Setting Internal Standards for Industrial Automation

In addition to following industry regulations, internal company standards should be created and adhered to so existing and new plant automation system designs are consistent. These internal standards should help define best practices and provide clear guidelines for system design, and for hardware and software used on the factory floor. If not, you may have…
BRX PLCs – Fortified with American Pride
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BRX PLCs – Fortified with American Pride

What does “Made in the U.S.A.” mean to you? With so many consumer products – iPhones, laptops, toys, clothes, etc. – coming from overseas, does “Made in the U.S.A.” mean anything anymore? Well, companies like HOST Engineering sure think it does. Understanding that manufacturing products in the U.S. is far more than just an advertising…