In this issue of the Automation Notebook…
In each issue of the Automation Notebook we feature a section of brainteasers. These are the brainteaser answers from Issue 17, 2010 of the Automation Notebook. The brainteaser questions are repeated in black. The answers to the brainteaser questions are highlighted in red with explanations. You can view the brainteasers from Issue 17, 2010 without the answers…
1. Top cat? Top dog? The combined weight of the factory’s resident dog and cat is 27 lbs. The dog’s weight is an odd number, yet the cat’s is even. If his weight is twice that of hers, what do each of them weigh? 2. Bookworm The AutomationDirect Catalog has gotten thicker each time we’ve printed…
Automation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightIssue 17 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight
Beverly Hills High School Science/Technology Student Spotlight: Alexander Kern
Alexander Kern is a member of the Beverley Hills High School MorTorq Robotics team. He contacted AutomationDirect in February of this year with questions about interfacing a C-more touch panel to his high school’s robot. In a few short weeks, Alex and his team built a robot from scratch, interfacing the C-more panel to operate the robot during competition,…
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightFacilitiesIndustryIssue 17 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlSystem IntegratorsUser Solutions
Volatile Material Handling for IBM
When IBM needed a control and delivery system for Silane gas at the T. J. Watson Research Facility in Yorktown Heights, NY, they turned to KCC Software of Huntsville, AL. Managing Silane Gas Silane gas is essential in an ultra-pure method of applying silicon in the manufacturing of semiconductors and solar panels. The SiH4 compound,…
+Tech TopicsApplicationCommunicationsData and IIoTData CollectionData System MonitoringeBookFeature StoryIIoT and DataIssue 17 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable Control
How to Improve Process Control by Automating Data Flow
Whether you are responsible for a manufacturing facility, a utility plant or a bio-dome—you need to control and know what’s going on in your processes. Properly managing information is imperative to improving your process control—specifically controlling, monitoring and maintaining information flows into and out of your process control system. Most processes consist of the machines,…
In the last few years, the electrical industry has seen significant changes in safety standards. One area of major change is with surge protection. In the past, you would use a surge arrestor or transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) to solve transient overvoltage or surge issues. Today, we don’t even use the words surge arrestors…
How many types of DC motors are there? There are several types of DC motors, including shunt, series, compound wound or stabilized shunt, permanent magnet, and brushless DC. The main differences between these types of motors revolve around how the electromagnetic fields are generated. The IronHorse DC motors are Permanent Magnet motors: the magnetic field…
ApplicationAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightIndustryIssue 17 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlMotion ControlNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlSIDirectSystem IntegratorsVariable Speed Drives
AAA Absolute Automation and Electrical Services, Inc. Implements Energy Savings Through Machine Control
AA Absolute Automation And Electrical Services, Inc. is an independent control systems and industrial electrical company based in Covington, Georgia. They provide solutions to both end user and OEM clients in many industries including material handling, chemical processing, food and beverage, metals processing, plastics, recycling and general manufacturing. Services offered range from complete turnkey automation…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 17 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductProgrammable Control
Why the WinPLC?
When a “do-it-yourself user” makes the decision to automate, integrate or just simplify applications and machinery, the world is his/her oyster. In today’s world of industrial automation controllers there are many options. Depending on your specific needs, you could select a very extravagant or very basic automated system. The automation application could range from simple…
We have added several exciting products since our last edition of the Automation Notebook. Here are some highlights about some of those new products including: Free Think & Do® programming software for WinPLC, Low-cost DC power supplies, Straight blade and locking wiring devices, Cat5e Ethernet patch cables. Free Think & Do® Programming Software for WinPLC In…
The IronHorse® family of motors now includes DC motors. The permanent magnet DC 56C-frame motor line features totally enclosed non-vented (TENV) and totally enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC) models. The motors are constructed of a rolled steel frame with cast aluminum end bell, and are available in sizes ranging from .33 to 2HP. IronHorse DC motors are…
AgricultureApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookCover StoriesIndustryIssue 17 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable Control
Bale Hay While the Sun Shines: A Revolution in Commercial Hay Production
A steam generating plant on wheels? That’s right. The DewPoint 6110 hooks up between a large farm tractor and hay balers that make large rectangular bales from 1,500 to 2,000 lb each (Fig. 1). Its purpose is to add moisture to dry hay to prevent mechanical damage to the crop during the baling process. This revolutionary…