Merry Christmas - 2016
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Merry Christmas - 2016

[videoembed type=”youtube” align=”aligncenter” width=”640″ height=”360″ url=”http://youtu.be/JpBL9A8hXrM”  id=”JpBL9A8hXrM”]   We hope you have had a good year! It’s been a year full of anticipation, concern and surprises both in business and in life. And although there are always challenges, we hope that at this time of year, we can all reflect on the many positive influences…
The Halloween Box
ApplicationApplication StoriesEducation/DIYEntertainmentHMIIndustryMachine ControlOnline OnlyOperator InterfacePLCPneumaticsPneumaticsProductProgrammable ControlVariable Speed Drives

The Halloween Box

In every haunted house, you’ll find automated props: chairs that rock on their own, slamming doors, rattling chains, drawers opening and closing as if by some supernatural force. These “tricks” enhance the “treat” of getting the life scared out of you. The process behind making a Halloween prop can be quite simple. Here is just…
Lock-Jaw2 Robot Competes in BattleBots TV Show Using AutomationDirect Parts
ApplicationApplication StoriesCompany TopicsDrivesEducation/DIYIndustryMachine ControlMotion ControlNewsOnline OnlyProduct

Lock-Jaw2 Robot Competes in BattleBots TV Show Using AutomationDirect Parts

Robots Activate! Is a familiar phrase to those fans who follow the BattleBots competition which just completed its 2016 season broadcast on ABC Television in the United States. One of the BattleBots competition veterans, Donald Hutson, has been involved since the show began and has been on the robot combat circuit since 1986.
Layered Security Goes Beyond Hardware In IIoT Implementations
+Tech TopicsApplicationCommunicationsData and IIoTData System MonitoringeBookIIoT and DataLearning ResourcesOperator InterfaceProductWhy HMI

Layered Security Goes Beyond Hardware In IIoT Implementations

Industry is certainly starting to take note of the IIoT, which raises cybersecurity issues because it requires connecting field devices and other automation system components to the outside world, often through the internet. Connectivity capability is built into many automation components, typically via an Ethernet port, but can these connections be made secure?
Are You “Data-driven"? |Industry Survey
ApplicationCommunicationsCompany TopicsData and IIoTData System MonitoringeBookIIoT and DataLearning ResourcesNewsProductProgrammable Control

Are You “Data-driven"? |Industry Survey

With all the talk lately about Big Data and the IIoT, we got to thinking about how much of an impact these trends would have on our industry. Since the primary goal of these two trends is to improve bottom lines/profit margins through data collection, data analysis and remote access, we were curious as to…
Condition Signals as Needed
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Condition Signals as Needed

Discrete and analog field devices provide the bulk of information to control, monitoring and data acquisition systems. Connecting these devices with the proper signal level and without any issues is therefore critical. Fortunately, signal conditioners can smooth or change the signal, address issues, and even provide some simple logic. Signal conditioners often eliminate the need…