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…
Understanding the Advanced Recipe Function of the C-more® Touch Panel
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 10 – 2008Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductTech ThreadWhy HMI

Understanding the Advanced Recipe Function of the C-more® Touch Panel

Recipes are used in a multitude of control applications including batch processing for the food, beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as complex applications such as robotics. Recipes, when used with an HMI, provide a simple and effective way to change the data in a large number of tags with the push of a…
Future Adjustable Speed Motor Technology
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookFeature StoryIssue 10 – 2008Learning ResourcesMotorsNotebook IssueProduct

Future Adjustable Speed Motor Technology

High pole count motors have existed for years, and are in use today in some specialty industrial applications. They typically provide slower operation (without a drive), but the horsepower is reduced as the pole count increases. A new concept for high pole count motors has recently been patented by DynaMotors, Inc of Cleveland, OH. The…
The Ups And Downs Of The Economy
Automation NotebookBusiness NotesIssue 10 – 2008Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOnline Blog

The Ups And Downs Of The Economy

According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), industrial control shipments continued to grow throughout 2007. Although measures of confidence among manufacturers slipped in the second half of the year, indicators of the industrial sector’s performance remained in solid shape. Looking ahead, reports from the Manufacturers Alliance (MAPI) indicate that the combination of the credit…
Product Snapshots - Issue 10, 2008
Automation NotebookIssue 10 – 2008Learning ResourcesNotebook Issue

Product Snapshots - Issue 10, 2008

We have added several exciting products since our last edition of the Automation Notebook. Here are some highlights about some of those new products including: Industrial Ethernet Switches, General purpose electrical wire, Fuse Holders now available in single packs, New generation of Industrial LCD Monitors, Expanded PLC protocol support for C-more® Micro-graphic panels, Disconnect enclosures,…
Ethernet Drivers Added to C-more® Operator Interface Panels
Automation NotebookIssue 10 – 2008Learning ResourcesNotebook Issue

Ethernet Drivers Added to C-more® Operator Interface Panels

AutomationDirect’s C-more touch panels now support several additional protocols for the Allen-Bradley® PLC brand. New Allen-Bradley Ethernet drivers allow simple connection of multiple panels and/or multiple Allen-Bradley PLCs. ControlLogix® Ethernet/IP Tag Messaging support simplifies tag database migration since no mapping or translation is required. RSLogix™ 5000 L5K files can be imported directly, or with a…
Match The Motor To The Load For Maximum Efficiency
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookCover StoriesIssue 10 – 2008Learning ResourcesMotorsNotebook IssueProduct

Match The Motor To The Load For Maximum Efficiency

A half-loaded motor uses almost as much energy as one that’s fully loaded. To save energy, optimize motor horsepower to the specific application.  When electricity was cheap, efficiency was not necessarily top of mind for many. However, current energy prices force manufacturers to further analyze where they use energy and how they spend their energy…
Brainteaser Answers – Issue 12, 2008
Automation NotebookIssue 12 – 2008Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueThe Break Room

Brainteaser Answers – Issue 12, 2008

In each issue of the Automation Notebook we feature a section of brainteasers. These are the brainteaser answers from Issue 12, 2008 of the Automation Notebook. The brainteaser questions are repeated in black. The answers to the brainteaser questions are highlighted in red with explanations. You can view the brainteasers from Issue 12, 2008 without the answers here: http://library.automationdirect.com/brainteasers-issue-12-2008/…