Student Spotlight: Droid Names, Faraway Galaxies or Automation Components?
2018AutomationDirect SpotlightIssue 39Issue 39 - 2018ProductStudent SpotlightVariable Speed Drives

Student Spotlight: Droid Names, Faraway Galaxies or Automation Components?

VFDs, RS485, PLCs — these terms may seem like names of droids or faraway galaxies and planets in a “Star Wars” movie. However, they really refer to earthly based components that Vermont Technical College engineering student Dan Rapoza learned about when he set out to help a dairy farmer save time and money by automating…
Arduino versus BRX PLC in Industrial Automation Applications
+Tech TopicsIssue 38 - 2017Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductProgrammable Control

Arduino versus BRX PLC in Industrial Automation Applications

In the world of garage or basement automation and robot builders, numerous low-cost microcontrollers and related software are used for real-time control. Arduino and Raspberry Pi are perhaps two of the most popular out of dozens of options (Figure 1). These open-source controllers are available from several suppliers, but using them in a real-time industrial…
Efficient PLC Programming Driven by Programming Software
Issue 38 - 2017Notebook IssueProductProgrammable Control

Efficient PLC Programming Driven by Programming Software

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are available in a variety of sizes for applications big and small.  While the application’s hardware requirements often drive the PLC selection, the programming software’s capabilities should also be considered as it has a significant effect on program development. Some programmers may open the PLC programming software, create a new project…
PLCs Improve Controls of Radio Broadcasts
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookEntertainmentIndustryIssue 38 - 2017Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable Control

PLCs Improve Controls of Radio Broadcasts

Broadcasting is a high tech industry and much of it is cutting edge, such as Ethernet-based audio over IP. Our industry employs the latest technology in many areas, such as the use of coding algorithms for bit rate reduction and remote broadcasting. But when it comes to controlling the radio signals sent out by the…
Copley High School's Automation Success
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomationDirect SpotlightEducation/DIYIndustryIssue 38 - 2017Machine ControlNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlSimple PLCStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Copley High School's Automation Success

The Innovator team at Copley High School in Akron, Ohio needed to design a piece of equipment to snap caps together for Weaver Industries ProPak, a company that has been employing people with disabilities for about 40 years. With the existing assembly method, Weaver was struggling to meet production and contract requirements for component assembly.
Robotics Is So Much More Than Robots
AutomationDirect SpotlightCompany TopicsIssue 38 - 2017Learning ResourcesNewsNotebook IssueOnline BlogOnline OnlyStudent Spotlight

Robotics Is So Much More Than Robots

If you subscribe to any of our media channels then I’m sure you know about our involvement with after-school robotics programs in our community. These programs prepare students for careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields by getting them excited and engaged when it comes to not only learning new skills, but…
Product Snapshots
Automation NotebookIssue 37 - 2017Learning ResourcesNotebook Issue

Product Snapshots

This issue of Automation Notebook gives you snapshots of some of our latest products. Some of the products you’ll find include Flexible Portable Cord, ACME 3-Phase Encapsulated Transformers, Smaller Size Timing Belts and Pulleys, and IP69K Rated Pushbuttons. You’ll also find more Discrete and Analog I/O Modules For Productivity2000 PLCs, Thermistor Input Module for Terminator Field I/O and…