AutomationNotebook Issue 7
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This edition of Automation NOTEBOOK contains an article on the Forsyth Alliance robotics team that will not only inspire budding engineers, but also make seasoned engineers swell with pride. Also Be sure to check out the cover story explaining the oil refining process. Plus, you’ll discover a Southern California company’s proven way of increasing employee efficiency.

– TJ Johns
Senior Editor[

In this issue of the Automation Notebook…

Automation NotebookIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueThe Break Room

Brainteasers - Issue 7, 2006

You Get What You Pay For  A popular story within the cruise line industry relates that on April 12, 1912, a British citizen, Mr. Ralph Henderson, successfully argued that he shouldn’t have to pay the full rate for his outside cabin on his cruise ship. Henderson pointed out that the ship was new and its…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookDiscrete SensingFYIIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProduct

Sensors Frequently Asked Questions

AutomationDirect’s Technical Support Team has compiled a list of customer frequently asked questions for many of our products. The complete listing can be found on the technical support page of our Web site. Here are some of the more commonly asked questions regarding our sensors. 1. Q: How do inductive proximity sensors work? A: Inductive proximity…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueTechnical Review

A Guide to Common Automation Terms

The glossary below is an excerpt from Jon Stenerson’s “Fundamentals of Programmable Logic Controllers, Sensors, and Communications”. For the complete list, go to the Technical Support section of the AutomationDirect Web site. Common Automation Terms • Accumulated value: Applies to the use of timers and counters. The accumulated value is the present count or time. • Accuracy: The…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookDiscrete SensingIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTech Thread

Sensor Trends

Because of certain drawbacks of physical contact style sensors and switches such as limit switches and float switches, newer technology non-contact style sensors have become prevalent in industry, performing well in many applications. Proximity, photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors can be used in many applications for which they were previously never considered. These non-contact sensors are…
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData CollectionHMIIndustryIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesManufacturingManufacturingNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable ControlUser Solutions

Improving Factory Workers’ Efficiency is All in a Name

As most everyone is aware, from a business standpoint, we live in a numbers-based society. In all businesses, whether a small company with a dozen employees or a large conglomerate of thousands, the focus is on the bottom line. Executives are scrutinizing annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and even daily reports to determine how productivity is…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLC SpeakingProductProgrammable Control

Iboxes...The Latest Craze

In our last issue of Automation Notebook we introduced you to DirectSOFT5 (version 5.0), the latest version of programming software available for the DirectLOGIC PLCs. DirectSOFT5 received an overall facelift including selectable themes, configurable toolbars, dockable and floatable views, HTML help files, and a helpful “Tip of the Day” feature. However, the most notable improvement to the software…
Automation NotebookBusiness NotesIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook Issue

Business Notes - Issue 7, 2006

MAPI Reports Solid Manufacturing Growth In 2006, Predicts Slightly Slower In 2007 According to a recent press release from MAPI, a leading executive development and business research organization, solid growth for the manufacturing sector in 2006 will likely be followed by some deceleration in 2007. According to the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Quarterly Industrial Outlook (ER-607e), first…
Company TopicsFeature StoryIssue 7 – 2006NewsNotebook IssuePress Releases

Imagine...A Story About Building Robots, Building Teams and Building Minds

Imagine a world where kids put engineers and scientists on the same pedestal as rock stars, athletes and actors… Imagine a world where ordinary people do extra-ordinary things and are recognized for their achievements… Imagine a world where being gracious, professional and cooperative are held in the highest regard… Imagine a world where academics are taken from the classroom…
Automation NotebookIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOnline BlogTechnology Brief

Active RFID

On The Path To Deliver Pervasive Enterprise Efficiency With RFID tagging becoming more common, this article explores how industry is just beginning to climb the ladder of exciting uses and benefits for RFID in the enterprise. RFID tagging in the enterprise has grown increasingly prevalent over the last two years with the endorsement by Wal-Mart…
Issue 7 – 2006NewsNotebook IssuePress Releases

High-Speed Ethernet Communication Available For DL405 PLCs

AutomationDirect now offers the H4-ECOM100 Ethernet communication module for DirectLOGIC DL405 PLCs. The H4-ECOM100 can be inserted into any I/O slot of any local DL405 base, including expansion bases when using the DL450 CPU and -1 bases, to implement master/slave Ethernet communication at 10 or 100 Mbit data rates. The module supports the industry standard Modbus TCP…
Automation NotebookCover StoriesEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook Issue

Fuel for Our Oil Addiction

Is there any doubt we live in an oil-based economy? With so much ongoing discussion about the price of oil, increasing refinery costs and concerns of availability going forward, this is one subject that has been discussed at some length. In fact, it is hard to tune out even if one grows tired of hearing…