Surge Protection: A Small Investment That Can Save You Thousands
ProductSafety

Surge Protection: A Small Investment That Can Save You Thousands

What is Surge Protection? Surge protection is one of those terms we’ve heard throughout our lives. From cheap wall surge adapters, the very common outlet strip with surge protection, to higher priced outlet strips that promise to protect your valuable electronics from the evils of a power surge caused by lightning storms or voltage fluctuations….
What is a Photoelectric Sensor?
Discrete SensingProduct

What is a Photoelectric Sensor?

A better understanding of photoelectric sensors helps when applying these versatile, non-contact presence sensing devices in industrial machine, conveyor and other applications By Andrew Waugh, Product Manager for Sensor and Safety Products at AutomationDirect What is a Photoelectric Sensor? A photoelectric sensor, often called a photo eye, uses light to detect the presence of an…
What is a Limit Switch?
Discrete SensingProduct

What is a Limit Switch?

A better understanding of mechanical limit switches will help when applying these versatile devices in a variety of industrial applications. What is a Limit Switch? Mechanical limit switches are a common presence or position sensing device used in industrial automation systems. Typically, these switches are electromechanically operated, so they activate when an object makes physical…
Productivity Series: Scalable from Top to Bottom
Issue 39 - 2018ProductProgrammable Control

Productivity Series: Scalable from Top to Bottom

With the release of the Productivity1000, the newest and smallest of the Productivity Series controllers, we now have a scalable product offering that gives you the flexibility to design your control system program for a broad range of applications and sizes, without sacrificing functionality. The Productivity1000 (P1000) is a compact, stackable micro Programmable Logic Controller…
Let’s Ride the Roller Coaster! - An AutomationDirect Case Study
ApplicationApplication StoriesCompany TopicsEntertainmentIndustryLearning ResourcesMachine ControlMotor ControlsNewsOnline BlogPLCProductProgrammable Control

Let’s Ride the Roller Coaster! - An AutomationDirect Case Study

Manny Salazar, the Manager at Automated Integration LLC, wrote an article titled Roller Coaster Overhaul for the April 2018 issue of Automation World. The article told the story on how Automated Integration replaced an old PLC, a bunch of relays and what seemed like miles of wire when upgrading the control and safety system on…
Solutions for VPN Remote Access to PLCs, HMIs and Other Automation Components
CommunicationsLearning ResourcesOnline BlogProduct

Solutions for VPN Remote Access to PLCs, HMIs and Other Automation Components

The desire for remote access to plant floor PLCs, HMIs and other automation components is becoming a must-have feature for many manufacturing facilities and machine builders. For many applications, providing the desired level of cybersecurity requires more than just a router, namely a VPN. Jonathan Griffith, Product Manager, Industrial Communications & Power Supplies at AutomationDirect,…