Converting a Mill/Drill and Installing a VFD
AC Motors and ControlsApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookDrivesEducation/DIYEnclosures & AccessoriesIndustryIssue 33 - 2015Learning ResourcesMachine ControlMachine ToolMotorsNotebook IssueProductUser SolutionsVariable Speed Drives

Converting a Mill/Drill and Installing a VFD

Several years ago I purchased a Wadkin lathe made in England in late 1964. It is equipped with a very special motor that is 220V, three-phase and 50Hz. Because of the special design of the motor, it has a long extended shaft that carries the four sheave pulley, and because I do not have three-phase…
Trending Towards Green Machines
+Tech TopicsApplicationEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryLearning ResourcesMachine ControlOnline OnlyProcess Sensing & ControlProductVariable Speed Drives

Trending Towards Green Machines

When wandering the plant floor, keep an eye out for energy wasting machines. Those running conveyors, rattling pumps and hissing air lines on idle equipment not only raise the decibel level in the plant—they also waste energy. With proper monitoring and analysis, machine energy use can be optimized, and these energy saving measures will also improve…
Automation Improves Alternator Test System
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookEducation/DIYHMIIndustryIssue 31 - 2015Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable ControlTest and MeasurementVariable Speed Drives

Automation Improves Alternator Test System

Opening the hood of your car will reveal a mass of cables and hoses running around the engine block. Somewhere in there is an alternator, which helps keep your car supplied with electric power when it’s running. When an alternator goes bad, most mechanics will replace it with a used unit that has been remanufactured,…
Technical College Students Understand Protective Relays
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightEducation/DIYHMIIndustryIssue 31 - 2015Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent SpotlightVariable Speed Drives

Technical College Students Understand Protective Relays

Protective relays are specialized devices designed to sense abnormal conditions in electric power systems, commanding circuit breakers to trip or close when needed. These relays are absolutely essential to the reliable operation of the electric power generating stations, substations, transmission lines, and distribution systems that comprise any large-scale electric power grid; they are increasingly finding…
Out of the Box - Contest Winners!
ApplicationApplication StoriesDrivesEntertainmentHMIMachine ControlNewsOnline OnlyOperator InterfacePLCPress ReleasesProductProgrammable ControlVariable Speed Drives

Out of the Box - Contest Winners!

What happens to AutomationDirect.com products when they are taken out of the box? We asked you guys to show us what happens when our products leave the box and you get your hands on them. Honestly, the applications that our customers shared with us were amazingly awesome. We had several great videos submitted over the last…
People's Choice for a Cost-Effective and Energy-Efficient Solar-Powered Home
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightDrivesEducation/DIYEnergy/UtilitiesHMIIndustryIssue 29 - 2014Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent SpotlightVariable Speed Drives

People's Choice for a Cost-Effective and Energy-Efficient Solar-Powered Home

UrbanEden, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s entry to the Solar Decathlon 2013, is a concept home consisting of four connected indoor and outdoor spaces that create a unique
Systems & Controls Takes Time for Tea
ApplicationApplication StoriesDrivesFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationHMIIndustryMachine ControlOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable ControlVariable Speed Drives

Systems & Controls Takes Time for Tea

Systems & Controls in Lenoir City, Tennessee, was contacted by a scale manufacturing company to develop a brewed tea and coffee container filling machine using four weight transmitters, a DirectLOGIC DL-205 PLC, a RHINO power supply,  a C-more touch panel and a GS2 variable frequency drive.
Top 10 Tips: Specifying VFDs | White Paper
AC Motors and ControlsLearning ResourcesProductVariable Speed DrivesWhite PapersWhitepapers

Top 10 Tips: Specifying VFDs | White Paper

VFDs can significantly extend the life of motors and cut operating costs, but selecting the right unit is critical to achieving these benefits. This White Paper provides detailed information, such as determining load and braking requirements, to help users choose the right VFD. It also explains how to maximize benefits through various communication options and best operating…
AutomationDirect introduces IronHorse DC Drives
New ProductNewsPress ReleasesPress ReleasesProductVariable Speed Drives

AutomationDirect introduces IronHorse DC Drives

Cumming, GA — December 18, 2013 … AutomationDirect’s IronHorse line of motors and drives now includes the GSD series of DC drives. IronHorse GSD1 series DC drives are high-performance Pulse-Width-Modulated (PWM) controllers for 12 to 36 volt battery/solar-powered equipment providing smooth control with high-efficiency operation. Design features include adjustable maximum/minimum speed, current limit, I.R. compensation, and acceleration. The…