Illinois Institute of Technology Competes in Hybrid Racing
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightEducation/DIYEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 25 – 2013Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Illinois Institute of Technology Competes in Hybrid Racing

A student team, lead by Donald Ruffatto, from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) SAE International chapter contacted AutomationDirect in late 2011, asking detailed questions about our Productivity3000 Programmable Automation Controller (PAC). They were planning to use it to control an electric car that they were building for the Formula Hybrid International Competition, hosted by…
Gas Turbine Repurposed With PLCs
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightData CollectionData System MonitoringEducation/DIYEnergy/UtilitiesHMIIndustryIssue 24 - 2012Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Gas Turbine Repurposed With PLCs

The Midwest Propulsion Group is a jet engine club dedicated to increasing the engineering knowledge and experience base of students by providing real-world engineering tasks related to gas turbine restoration and performance analysis, as well as finding vehicular applications for such engines.
Automated Volleyball Server
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightDrivesEducation/DIYEntertainmentHMIIndustryIssue 19 – 2011Learning ResourcesMachine ControlMotorsNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCPLC eBookProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent SpotlightVariable Speed Drives

Automated Volleyball Server

Larry May, a student at Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU), contacted AutomationDirect and outlined his goal of building a volleyball setting and serving machine for his senior design project. Larry is active as a recreational volleyball player and is the father and coach of a competitive high school player. Larry is also a long time…
Southern Polytechnic Students Produce Pad Printing Machine
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightEducation/DIYIndustryIssue 21 – 2011Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssuePLCPneumaticsProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Southern Polytechnic Students Produce Pad Printing Machine

Students Sergio Acevedo and Randle Johnson are two of the first students to complete their degrees in Mechatronics Engineering at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, GA. The Mechatronics program at SPSU is a recent four-year degree offering, begun in 2007, which combines topics from Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to prepare graduates…
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,…
DL06 PLC Puts Heaters To The Test
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookEducation/DIYHMIIndustryIssue 13 – 2009Learning ResourcesMachine ToolNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable ControlTest and MeasurementUser Solutions

DL06 PLC Puts Heaters To The Test

Pyromatics Automation Systems of Crystal Lake, IL, was contracted by Durex Industries of Cary, IL, to develop a Life Cycle Test Station for its electric heating elements. After extensive research, Pyromatics chose AutomationDirect as the primary supplier of hardware and software for the project. This test station needed a user-friendly graphical interface to give operators…
Urban Challenge 2007
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookEducation/DIYIndustryIssue 10 – 2008Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlTechnical Review

Urban Challenge 2007

AutomationDirect was pleased to help support two vehicles hoping to compete in the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge. Team Mojavaton, with their “White Knight” (a modified Nissan Xterra), and Insight Racing (fielding a Lotus Elise dubbed the “Lone Wolf”) were both invited to the National Qualification Event held in Victorville, CA, at the end of October…
Teaching an Old Dog Some New Tricks
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookDrivesEducation/DIYIndustryIssue 11 – 2008Learning ResourcesMachine ToolNotebook IssueProductTech ThreadVariable Speed Drives

Teaching an Old Dog Some New Tricks

Modernizing The Speed Controls Of Hardinge Turret Lathes Using AutomationDirect GS2 Variable Frequency Drives Just about every machinist in the U.S. has encountered a Hardinge turret lathe during the course of their career. These little machines, commonly referred to as “second operation lathes”, are astoundingly productive pieces of equipment which still have great value in…
Team Mojavaton Tackles DARPA’s Latest “Urban Challenge”
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookEducation/DIYIndustryIssue 8 – 2007Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlTechnology Brief

Team Mojavaton Tackles DARPA’s Latest “Urban Challenge”

The 2007 Urban Challenge, held by DARPA, is the third in a series of races for unmanned vehicles. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense (DOD). DARPA is using the series of races to foster advances in technology for autonomous vehicles to meet…