Top 10 Tips: Specifying VFDs (Part One of a Two-Part Series)
+Tech TopicsApplicationAutomation NotebookEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 20 – 2011Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueProductProgrammable ControlTechnology BriefVariable Speed Drives

Top 10 Tips: Specifying VFDs (Part One of a Two-Part Series)

This is part one of a two-part series on variable frequency drives. VFDs can reduce energy consumption, improve real-time control, and lengthen motor life; selecting the right one for your application requires asking the correct questions. Here are some expert tips to consider. Determine if a VFD is right for your application. The primary function of…
Upgrading Pump Stations with PLCs
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFeature StoryIssue 20 – 2011Learning ResourcesMotor ControlsNotebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable Control

Upgrading Pump Stations with PLCs

When relays and timer circuits get old, they cause problems. Replacing them with PLCs keeps pumps running smoothly. One of the most important jobs of a water distribution system is to reliably deliver water to its customers. At our water district in California, we had pumping stations (Figure 1) with relay-based controls that were more…
Racing as Field Lab for Automotive Design
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightData CollectionDiscrete SensingEducation/DIYIndustryIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueProductStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Racing as Field Lab for Automotive Design

The University of Wisconsin Formula SAE team competes against over 130 universities from around the world in an annual competition held at Michigan International Speedway. The competition is based on the design and manufacture of a small scale open wheel, open cockpit racecar. Teams are usually comprised of engineering students who, in the fall semester,…
M.M. & I., Inc Provides Production Information 24/7 To Pratt Industries
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData CollectionDistribution/LogisticsIndustryIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesManufacturingNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlUser Solutions

M.M. & I., Inc Provides Production Information 24/7 To Pratt Industries

Michael Miles and Investors (M.M. & I.) has been in the commercial and industrial electrical markets since 1986. The company began by offering Web-based database and Visual Basic applications supporting school systems. In 1994, we ventured into the computer market, becoming proficient in information technologies and high level programming. In 2002, we saw a need…
Evolution of the ChemFreePro® Ion Generator
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData CollectionIndustryIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlWater/Wastewater

Evolution of the ChemFreePro® Ion Generator

In the 1960s, NASA conducted a research program to develop a small lightweight water purifier. The purifier was for use in the Apollo spacecraft, so low power usage and minimal maintenance were a must. The 9-ounce purifier, slightly larger than a cigarette pack and completely chlorine-free, was designed to dispense silver ions into the spacecraft’s…
Upgrading From Batch to Continuous Processes Requires High Level Automation
+Tech TopicsApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFeature StoryFood and BeverageIndustryIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable Control

Upgrading From Batch to Continuous Processes Requires High Level Automation

Many process plants use batch operations for all or part of their production operations. Some processes are inherently batch oriented, but many others can be converted to continuous. Converting a batch process to a continuous operation has many advantages including, but not limited to, better quality, more throughput and less energy use (see Table 1). These…
DG Controls
ApplicationAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable ControlSIDirectSystem Integrators

DG Controls

In this issue of Automation Notebook, we introduce you to Dan Gulley of DG Controls in York, Alabama. With over 30 years of designing and troubleshooting industrial machine controls and system integration, they are experts when it comes to custom control panels and retrofitting equipment. How did you get started in your Controls/Engineering career? My…
Machine Automation 2010: What’s Hot and What’s Not
+Tech TopicsApplicationAutomation NotebookCover StoriesIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueProductProgrammable Control

Machine Automation 2010: What’s Hot and What’s Not

Machine and Robot Builders Look Ahead to the New Decade As a new decade dawns, machine and robot builder OEMs are looking to embrace new trends and put the past behind them. Recent economic travails seem to be lessening, especially in the developing world. The hope is for continued improvement in the world economy, spurring…
Sam Flournoy - Biodiesel Entrepreneur
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightData CollectionEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 18 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProcess Sensing & ControlProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Sam Flournoy - Biodiesel Entrepreneur

Sam Flournoy first contacted Automation Direct in February of 2009. As a 14-year old who had just finished building a biodiesel processor in his garage, he now wanted to automate the process. We immediately began looking around for the candid camera! But it turns out he was serious, as he was producing about 180 gallons…
Maintaining Machine Quality While Reducing Time to Market
ApplicationAutomation NotebookFeature StoryIssue 18 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlManufacturingNotebook Issue

Maintaining Machine Quality While Reducing Time to Market

Machine and robot builder OEMs and their end user customers face similar challenges. For OEMs in a highly competitive market, quick machine delivery can make the difference between getting the order and losing it to a competitor. In a challenging economy, end users tend to take more time making machine upgrade or purchasing decisions. However,…