New Spherical Optics Technology for Sensing in Small Areas
ApplicationAutomation NotebookDiscrete SensingFYIIssue 3 – 2005Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTest and Measurement

New Spherical Optics Technology for Sensing in Small Areas

The Challenge Diffuse sensors enjoy great popularity with users. With diffuse sensors, pulsed light from an emitting diode falls on an object of any shape or color and is reflected in a diffuse manner to a light-receiver, which is located in the same device (fig.1). If the intensity of the received light is sufficient, the…
Controlling Nature's Way of Cooling
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookEnergy/UtilitiesFacilitiesIndustryIssue 3 – 2005Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlUser Solutions

Controlling Nature's Way of Cooling

When conventional air conditioning systems were no longer adequate to cool General Tool Company’s (GTC) facility in Cincinnati, OH, the company began looking for an alternative solution. A roof mist sprinkling system from Sprinkool™ Systems International, Inc. in Killen, AL, would provide evaporative cooling of the roof and ceiling zone of the plant to reduce…
Business Notes – Issue 3, 2005
ApplicationAutomation NotebookBusiness NotesIssue 3 – 2005Learning ResourcesManufacturingNotebook Issue

Business Notes – Issue 3, 2005

2005 Manufacturing Sector Outlook  According to its press release in November, the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI (www.mapi.net) projects solid growth in the next two years for the U.S. economy and expects the manufacturing sector to continue to outpace the overall economy. But the pace of growth is likely to decelerate, in relation to 2004, at least in…
A Condensed Guide to Automation Control System Part 3: Design
+Tech TopicsApplicationAutomation NotebookEnclosures & AccessoriesIssue 5 – 2005Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueProductProgrammable ControlTechnical ReviewTerminal Blocks & Wiring

A Condensed Guide to Automation Control System Part 3: Design

In Part 2 (Spring 2005 Issue 4), we covered how to specify the various devices required for interfacing and controlling the electrical equipment in an automated control system. In Part 3, we will cover the steps needed to design our automated control system. The design topics will include planning by defining our sequence of operation,…
Downtime Monitoring With PLC Technology
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData CollectionData System MonitoringIndustryIssue 5 – 2005Learning ResourcesManufacturingNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlUser Solutions

Downtime Monitoring With PLC Technology

When our company set out to design a basic system for monitoring downtime on customers’ factory machines, we were new to using PLCs and related technology. Four years later, by incorporating products from AutomationDirect, we are now able to offer our customers a comprehensive system for tracking uptime, downtime, production, efficiency, and more. Comprehensive Tracking…
2005 DARPA Grand Challenge
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFeature StoryIssue 5 – 2005Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable Control

2005 DARPA Grand Challenge

“After preliminary testing of our vehicle, and the subsequent breaking of a couple of welds, we’ve come to a few conclusions. First, our steering actuator has a lot more power than we really need! Second, we never should have attempted to test the steering system without the use of the encoder feedback. And third, we…
AC Drives Focused on Energy Conservation
+Tech TopicsAC Motors and ControlsApplicationAutomation NotebookCover StoriesEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 4 – 2005Learning ResourcesManufacturingNotebook IssueProductVariable Speed Drives

AC Drives Focused on Energy Conservation

Today, energy conservation and cost-cutting solutions have become a major focus in the manufacturing sector. Energy costs continue to increase and the extreme growth in China is contributing to rising costs in other areas of goods, including steel and coal. Managers of manufacturing facilities are faced with many questions regarding energy conservation and efficiency. They…
Strides in Motor Technology
ApplicationAutomation NotebookFeature StoryIssue 2 – 2004Learning ResourcesManufacturingMotorsNotebook IssueProduct

Strides in Motor Technology

When AutomationDirect was looking to provide customers with a high-performance, cost effective drive/motor package to complement their growing line of AC variable speed drives, they turned to Marathon Electric – a well-recognized, well-respected name in the industry. Marathon manufactures a full line of general purpose, inverter-duty, vector-duty and NEMA premium efficiency motors to meet the…
How Secure Is Your Control System?
ApplicationAutomation NotebookData System MonitoringIssue 2 – 2004Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueTechnology Brief

How Secure Is Your Control System?

-Maroochydore, Australia, April 2000- Fired by the contractor who installed the control system at the local water treatment plant, engineer Vitek Boden was then rejected for a job by city council. Laid off and ticked off, Boden sought his foul revenge. Using a stolen laptop and two-way radio, he connected wirelessly to the plant’s control…