Industrial Ethernet Basics
+Tech TopicsLearning ResourcesOnline Blog

Industrial Ethernet Basics

Ethernet is the most widely used network in industrial plants and facilities. Here’s a primer covering its foundational concepts. Bill Dehner, technical marketing engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the October 2018 issue of IMPO titled Ethernet Basics for Facilities. Here’s a summary, please click on the link above for the full text. Industrial…
Bulk Multi-Conductor Cable FAQ
+Tech TopicsFAQIssue 41 - 2019Notebook Issue

Bulk Multi-Conductor Cable FAQ

Bulk multi-conductor cable is a convenient way to connect electrical power and signals. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about bulk multi-conductor cable: Why use a shielded cable? What is the difference between cord and cable? Why use VFD cable? What does ‘Exposed Run’ mean? What is the difference between…
Mastering Machine Maintenance
+Tech TopicsApplicationAutomationDirect SpotlightIssue 41 - 2019Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueSystem Integrators

Mastering Machine Maintenance

Machine builders, robot builders and system integrators offer advice for maintaining industrial machines. In the May 2019 issue of Control Design magazine, the cover story focus was machine maintenance. The story, titled Machine design with maintenance in mind, discussed best practices for maintaining machines, with input from numerous sources including machine builders, robot builders and…
Data-Driven Trends
+Tech TopicsApplicationData CollectionLearning Resources

Data-Driven Trends

The tried and true industrial data collection methods of the last several decades will expand into the future as Big Data and IIoT technology developments lead to more data, analytics and related benefits. Bill Dehner, Technical Marketing Engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the September-October issue of IEN titled Data-Driven Trends. Dehner says many…
Copley High School Student Project and Update
Automation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightIssue 41 - 2019Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueStudent Spotlight

Copley High School Student Project and Update

We’ve covered the engineering students at Copley High School twice in recent years here in the Student Spotlight. Copley HS is a suburban, public high school just west of Akron, Ohio.  The school’s engineering program works closely with local industry and with their disabled employees to help automate various processes to achieve additional productivity for…
Vote for AutomationDirect Products in the Engineers’ Choice Awards
Company TopicsLearning ResourcesNewsOnline Blog

Vote for AutomationDirect Products in the Engineers’ Choice Awards

Control Engineering’s Engineers’ Choice Awards has opened! We would love your vote for the Productivity1000 and 3-inch C-more HMI products under their specific category. Voting closes December 21, 2018, with winners announced online on February 14, 2019 and featured in the February 2019 issue of Control Engineering. To view Engineers’ Choice finalists and vote, please click on this…
Choosing the Right Industrial Automation Controller
+Tech TopicsLearning ResourcesProductProgrammable ControlUncategorized

Choosing the Right Industrial Automation Controller

When selecting a controller, current and future needs should be considered to ensure flexibility. Winn Paulk is the Automation Controls Group Product Manager at AutomationDirect, and he wrote an article appearing in the September-October 2018 issue of IMPO titled Choosing the Right Controller for Your Industrial Automation Application. Here’s a summary, please click on the…
Cut-to-length Multi-Conductor Cables
+Tech TopicsLearning Resources

Cut-to-length Multi-Conductor Cables

Industrial automation cables in any lengths you choose Low price per foot – with NO cut charges All cable from Automation Direct is now available in your specified lengths, so you can eliminate waste and purchase only as much cable as you need. We offer one low price per foot for each cable type, low minimum lengths, and…
Wide and Narrow Views of Position Sensors
+Tech TopicsDiscrete SensingLearning ResourcesProductSensors Automation

Wide and Narrow Views of Position Sensors

Andrew Waugh, Product Manager, Sensor and Safety Products at AutomationDirect.com, wrote an article for the September 2018 issue of Design World titled Wide and Narrow Views of Position Sensors, here’s a summary.  Limit switches, photoelectric switches and laser sensors all provide position sensing, but depending on the application some shine and reflect better. Waugh points…