M.M. & I., Inc Provides Production Information 24/7 To Pratt Industries
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData CollectionDistribution/LogisticsIndustryIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesManufacturingNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlUser Solutions

M.M. & I., Inc Provides Production Information 24/7 To Pratt Industries

Michael Miles and Investors (M.M. & I.) has been in the commercial and industrial electrical markets since 1986. The company began by offering Web-based database and Visual Basic applications supporting school systems. In 1994, we ventured into the computer market, becoming proficient in information technologies and high level programming. In 2002, we saw a need…
Evolution of the ChemFreePro® Ion Generator
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData CollectionIndustryIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlWater/Wastewater

Evolution of the ChemFreePro® Ion Generator

In the 1960s, NASA conducted a research program to develop a small lightweight water purifier. The purifier was for use in the Apollo spacecraft, so low power usage and minimal maintenance were a must. The 9-ounce purifier, slightly larger than a cigarette pack and completely chlorine-free, was designed to dispense silver ions into the spacecraft’s…
Upgrading From Batch to Continuous Processes Requires High Level Automation
+Tech TopicsApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFeature StoryFood and BeverageIndustryIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable Control

Upgrading From Batch to Continuous Processes Requires High Level Automation

Many process plants use batch operations for all or part of their production operations. Some processes are inherently batch oriented, but many others can be converted to continuous. Converting a batch process to a continuous operation has many advantages including, but not limited to, better quality, more throughput and less energy use (see Table 1). These…
Transformers: Application, Construction and Efficiencies (Part 2)
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookElectrical PowerIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTechnology Brief

Transformers: Application, Construction and Efficiencies (Part 2)

The Conclusion of a Two-Part series In the last issue of NOTEBOOK, we discussed the two categories of transformers commonly available and typical applications for them. The final category is control transformers, which are commonly incorporated into a machine element. This is the broadest category, as voltage matching situations will almost certainly be encountered which, in…
DG Controls
ApplicationAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable ControlSIDirectSystem Integrators

DG Controls

In this issue of Automation Notebook, we introduce you to Dan Gulley of DG Controls in York, Alabama. With over 30 years of designing and troubleshooting industrial machine controls and system integration, they are experts when it comes to custom control panels and retrofitting equipment. How did you get started in your Controls/Engineering career? My…
Machine Automation 2010: What’s Hot and What’s Not
+Tech TopicsApplicationAutomation NotebookCover StoriesIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueProductProgrammable Control

Machine Automation 2010: What’s Hot and What’s Not

Machine and Robot Builders Look Ahead to the New Decade As a new decade dawns, machine and robot builder OEMs are looking to embrace new trends and put the past behind them. Recent economic travails seem to be lessening, especially in the developing world. The hope is for continued improvement in the world economy, spurring…
Sam Flournoy - Biodiesel Entrepreneur
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightData CollectionEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 18 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProcess Sensing & ControlProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Sam Flournoy - Biodiesel Entrepreneur

Sam Flournoy first contacted Automation Direct in February of 2009. As a 14-year old who had just finished building a biodiesel processor in his garage, he now wanted to automate the process. We immediately began looking around for the candid camera! But it turns out he was serious, as he was producing about 180 gallons…
Electrical Arcs (Part 1 of a 2 Part Series)
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookCircuit ProtectionIssue 18 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTechnology Brief

Electrical Arcs (Part 1 of a 2 Part Series)

Those of us who have worked with, or around, electrical equipment have witnessed electrical arcs. At the very least, we’ve seen the sparks produced when a relay or contactor switches off. Similarly, most of us also know that repetitive arcing can be very damaging to contacts over the long term, requiring periodic replacement of relays…
Enclosure Cooling Explained
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookEnclosures & AccessoriesFYIIssue 18 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProduct

Enclosure Cooling Explained

What causes all that heat?  There are basically two sources of heat which cause an electrical enclosure’s internal temperature to rise above the manufacturer’s recommended ratings for the control equipment: internal and external sources. Internal Sources The same items which can be damaged by heat may also be a key source of the heat. These…