Beam Testing at Portland State
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Beam Testing at Portland State

For their undergraduate senior capstone project, a team of Mechanical Engineering students at Portland State University (PSU) recently designed an electronic system upgrade for the control system of a 100-year-old beam testing machine. Using a range of AutomationDirect parts, the purpose of the project was to make the operator experience comparable to modern machines.
Ladder Logic in Action
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Ladder Logic in Action

Ladder logic programming for industrial controllers has evolved significantly over the years, and now supports advanced functionality such as process control, motion control, data manipulation, networking, and data acquisition. However, when you start with a blank page to design a new control system, large or small, there are many basic functions this tried-and-true language is…
Got Sensors?
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Got Sensors?

Photoelectric, proximity and capacitive sensors are used in a wide variety of machines and industrial equipment, but selecting the best sensor for the job can be confusing. This blog post and the accompanying articles will help you sort out the best sensor for your application. During sensor selection, it’s important to understand sensor requirements and specifications…
AutomationDirect Adds Harsh-Duty Photoelectric Sensors
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AutomationDirect Adds Harsh-Duty Photoelectric Sensors

AutomationDirect’s new FM series harsh duty photoelectric sensors are IP69K-rated sensors in three-wire NPN or PNP styles and are available in 27 washdown models. Ideal for food and beverage applications, the 10-30 VDC rectangular sensors are fitted with 316L stainless steel housings and are available in diffuse, diffuse with background suppression and polarized retroreflective styles…
AutomationDirect Expands Proximity Sensor Line
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AutomationDirect Expands Proximity Sensor Line

AutomationDirect’s new PN series inductive proximity sensors are IP 69K-rated short-body sensors with metal housings.  These three-wire 10-30 VDC sensors are equipped with LED status indicators and are available with an attached two-meter output cable or M12 quick-disconnect. All styles are available with shielded or unshielded housings as well as normally-open or normally-closed and PNP…
AutomationDirect Adds More Inductive Proximity Sensors
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AutomationDirect Adds More Inductive Proximity Sensors

AutomationDirect’s new APS series inductive proximity sensors are IP67-rated rectangular compact DC sensors available in top or front sensing models with 2.5mm and 4mm sensing ranges. Available in two-wire or three-wire configurations, the 10-30 VDC high-frequency oscillation type sensors are fitted with polycarbonate unshielded housings and LED status indicators. The APS series is available with…