Build Better Machines Faster Using Today’s Enhanced Motion Controllers and PLCs
Issue 53, 2024Motion ControlNotebook IssueProductProgrammable Control

Build Better Machines Faster Using Today’s Enhanced Motion Controllers and PLCs

Process-enabled motion controllers and motion-enabled PLCs give OEMs the flexibility to optimize design and performance. By: Kevin McClelion and Joe Scoccimaro, AutomationDirect There was a time when designing machines that included motion control followed a standard architecture. The PLC handled basic machine control and a dedicated motion controller managed the motion axes. Today, the trend…
Enhancing Automation System Performance with the EtherCAT Protocol
Issue 53, 2024Motion ControlNotebook IssueProductProgrammable Control

Enhancing Automation System Performance with the EtherCAT Protocol

The EtherCAT protocol is a high-performance and cost-effective Ethernet networking technology, providing a versatile solution when EtherNet/IP and PROFINET simply aren’t fast enough. By Joe Kimbrell, AutomationDirect Ethernet rapidly expanded into and throughout commercial information technology (IT) networking connectivity environments beginning in the 1980s, and it has experienced rapid performance advancements and adoption since then…
How Industrial Enterprises Can Address the “Grey Tsunami” Behind Today’s Growing Skills Shortage
Company TopicsIssue 53, 2024News

How Industrial Enterprises Can Address the “Grey Tsunami” Behind Today’s Growing Skills Shortage

By Chip McDaniel, Automation Expert & Education Specialist, AutomationDirect Human resources departments call the phenomenon the “grey tsunami.” They’re referencing an historic U.S. retirement surge of 4.1 million Americans a year. Manufacturing, in particular, is taking a big hit as industrial engineers, equipment operators, maintenance and repair technicians, plant managers, and others in supporting roles…
SIDirect: AutomationDirect’s Systems Integrator Program
Company TopicsIssue 53, 2024NewsNotebook Issue

SIDirect: AutomationDirect’s Systems Integrator Program

The SIDirect program connects end users of all sizes with systems integrators ready to support their automation needs, spanning a variety of technologies and processes. By: Jeff Payne, AutomationDirect Every manufacturing business must make choices about supporting their machines, production processes, and personnel. Careful application of the right automation technologies and skillsets in each of…
Industry Supports Rocket Science
AutomationDirect SpotlightIssue 53, 2024Notebook IssueStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Industry Supports Rocket Science

Industrial-grade products provide a path for this student organization to develop a space-capable rocket. Byline: Oleg Khalimonov, Space Concordia Many are familiar with the phrase “it isn’t rocket science.” But today more than ever, sometimes it is rocket science. SpaceX and other organizations have made rocket launches and space exploration commercially viable and almost commonplace,…
What is an Encoder?
Discrete SensingIssue 53, 2024Motion ControlNotebook IssueProcess Sensing & ControlProduct

What is an Encoder?

For determining the precise motion of industrial machinery and equipment elements, or servo motors, encoders provide a high-performance solution—but only if they are specified properly. By Joe Kimbrell, AutomationDirect Mechanical movement generated on automated machinery and equipment almost always needs to be monitored by sensors to provide a robust motion control solution. This is especially…
Brainteasers - Issue 53, 2024
Issue 53, 2024Notebook Issue

Brainteasers - Issue 53, 2024

Truffle Kerfuffle The factory’s robotic truffle picker is making gift boxes with a single row of seven unique types of truffles. The assortment includes three white chocolate truffles, while the other four are milk or dark chocolate. The placement of the seven truffles in the row is completely random.  What are the odds that a…
LS Electric XMC EtherCAT© Motion Controllers and EtherCAT Bus Coupler from AutomationDirect
Issue 53, 2024NewsNotebook IssuePress ReleasesPress Releases

LS Electric XMC EtherCAT© Motion Controllers and EtherCAT Bus Coupler from AutomationDirect

October 30, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added the powerful LS Electric XMC motion controller to provide full EtherCAT master motion control. With a blindingly fast processor (scan times as low as 5ns) and built-in support for 8 or 16 axes of EtherCAT-based motion control (depending on the model), the XMC controller can handle virtually any…
More ReeR MOSAIC Safety Controller Options from AutomationDirect
Issue 53, 2024NewsNotebook IssuePress ReleasesPress Releases

More ReeR MOSAIC Safety Controller Options from AutomationDirect

September 11, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added more options to the ReeR MOSAIC safety controller family. The MOSAIC-M1S-USBC has all the features of the enhanced MOSAIC-M1S master controller module, including embedded digital inputs, OSSD outputs, and expansion capabilities, but also offers a USB-C programming port. The new ReeR MOSAIC MZERO controllers are simple standalone safety…
Stride SE3 Series Media Converters, PoE++ Ethernet Switch, and PoE++ Injectors from AutomationDirect
Issue 53, 2024NewsNotebook IssuePress ReleasesPress Releases

Stride SE3 Series Media Converters, PoE++ Ethernet Switch, and PoE++ Injectors from AutomationDirect

August 21, 2024 – AutomationDirect has added the STRIDE SE3 series PoE++ Ethernet switch that provides both power and Ethernet communication to connected devices, allowing even more savings in your network design. This switch will auto-detect the presence of a PoE enabled device and provide up to 240W of DC power along with Fast or…