So you found a task that you’d like to automate but you need a way to sort out what pieces are needed and how they fit together. At this phase of development, organization is key. When specifying a project, staying organized can keep you on track and help you see the big picture. Flow charts,…
No single discovery has affected our lives, our culture and our survival more than electricity. Electricity is everywhere; it lights our way, cooks our food and can even brush your teeth. For an example, imagine where the medical field would be without electricity and in that sense how many lives have been saved due to…
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Machine Maintenance Checklist
It is important to develop a routine maintenance schedule for your automated control system. Having a routine schedule for checking critical components and devices in the system will increase the longevity of the system and more importantly, it will help reduce future problems. Set up the schedule based on a monthly or quarterly time period,…
There are four basic motor control options available: Basic contactors, traditional starters, manual motor starters, or combination starters. A basic contactor is a special purpose relay that is used to control large electrical currents. Similarly, a traditional starter utilizes overload relays, auxiliary and alarm contacts, and mechanical interlocks to create a reversing unit. On the other…
There are many different styles of photoelectric sensors, but really only four basic technologies: through-beam, reflective, diffuse, and background suppression. The chart describes some advantages and disadvantages of each technology. To learn more about AutomationDirect’s photoelectric sensors visits www.AutomationDirect.com/photoelectric. Through-beam Advantages: Disadvantages: Reflective Advantages: Disadvantages: Diffuse Advantages: Disadvantages: Background Suppression Advantages: Disadvantages: To read more articles…
Proximity sensors allow non-contact detection of objects. Therefore, they are used in many industries, including manufacturing, robotics, semiconductor, and many more. Inductive sensors detect metallic objects while capacitive sensors detect all other materials. Ultrasonic sensors detect all materials by using sound wave reflections to determine presence. All applications have certain specific needs, but, in general, the…
You need to cool down – Heat inside an enclosure can decrease the life expectancy of controlling units such as your PLC, HMI, AC drives and other items. Excessive heat can cause nuisance faults from your electrical and electronic components: for example, overloads tripping unexpectedly. Heat will also change the expected performance of circuit breakers and fuses, which can cause whole…
Heat inside an enclosure can decrease the life expectancy of controlling units such as your PLC, HMI, AC drives and other items. Excessive heat can cause nuisance faults from your electrical and electronic components. Heat will also change the expected performance of circuit breakers and fuses, which can cause whole systems to shut down unexpectedly.
The following How-to video covers the proper installation for the Dynapar HS35 heavy-duty hollow shaft encoder on a Marathon motor in six easy steps. Before you get started make sure to inspect all the parts and locate all the tools required for this installation. Luckily, AutomationDirect.com has created these Marathon Replacement Encoder Kits to come with…
A trapped key system uses a series of mechanical locks and keys to control the access of gates or doors to active equipment or machines, ensuring safe access to those machines. Systems are set up in a predefined sequence, or key transfer plan, preventing accidental access to equipment. A mechanical solution provides