What is an Encoder?
Discrete SensingIssue 53, 2024Motion ControlNotebook IssueProcess Sensing & ControlProduct

What is an Encoder?

For determining the precise motion of industrial machinery and equipment elements, or servo motors, encoders provide a high-performance solution—but only if they are specified properly. By Joe Kimbrell, AutomationDirect Mechanical movement generated on automated machinery and equipment almost always needs to be monitored by sensors to provide a robust motion control solution. This is especially…
Intelligent Instruments for Machine Automation
Process Sensing & ControlProduct

Intelligent Instruments for Machine Automation

Smarter sensors and practical digital networking make premium automation capabilities accessible for discrete manufacturing applications. Large food and chemical production plants are typically called “process” operations, while machinery and equipment are considered “discrete” manufacturing, but both categories need effective detection and measurement technologies. Some technologies, such as smart sensors and digital fieldbuses have largely been…
Redundancy Options for Smaller Automation Systems
Electrical PowerOperator InterfaceProcess Sensing & ControlProductProgrammable Control

Redundancy Options for Smaller Automation Systems

There are many practical and cost-effective ways for designers to incorporate automation redundancy for systems of any size. Automation redundancy has largely been reserved for larger process automation systems due to cost and complexity. However, there are now more products and design strategies suitable for applying redundancy to smaller-scale systems. Rin Irvin at AutomationDirect covers…
Vision Sensing Becomes Practical for More Applications
Discrete SensingProcess Sensing & ControlSensors Automation

Vision Sensing Becomes Practical for More Applications

Smart vision sensors incorporate on-board machine learning, empowering users to deploy them in common applications, without the cost and complexity of traditional products. Common photoelectric (PE) sensors are the most basic type of “vision” device, but traditionally it has required much more advanced technology to capture and analyze actual images for advanced detection. In an…
Light-Operate or Dark-Operate Photoelectric Sensors. Which is Better for your Application?
ApplicationMaterial HandlingProcess Sensing & ControlProduct

Light-Operate or Dark-Operate Photoelectric Sensors. Which is Better for your Application?

When choosing a photoelectric sensor for an application there are many things to consider. One of these considerations is whether to select a light-operate or dark-operate photoelectric sensor. The terms “light-operate” and “dark-operate” refer to when the sensor activates its output. For a light-operate sensor (also called light-activated, light-on, or simply L.O. sensor), the output…
What is a Thermocouple? An Intro to Temperature Sensors
Process Sensing & ControlProduct

What is a Thermocouple? An Intro to Temperature Sensors

Using thermocouple sensors to measure temperatures in industrial applications. Thermocouple Definition Temperature measurement is one of the most common requirements for any industrial automation or digitally-monitored system. It is often necessary to detect the temperature of gases, liquids, and physical equipment components. The primary contact-based technologies for doing so are thermocouples (TCs), resistance temperature detectors…
Configuring Analog Devices to Integrate with PLCs
Learning ResourcesOnline BlogProcess Sensing & ControlProductProgrammable ControlUncategorized

Configuring Analog Devices to Integrate with PLCs

A variety of analog signals must be transmitted to a PLC for monitoring and control, with each processed to ensure correct operation. Winn Paulk, the Automation Controls Group Product Manager at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the November 2018 issue of Processing magazine titled Configuring analog devices to integrate with PLCs. All programmable logic controllers…