Ridgeline Machine made extensive use of pneumatics when building a low-cost, small-footprint, portable traymaker to replace a manual process for one of their customers. Ridgeline Machine Design, LLC (RMD), founded in 2012, is primarily a packaging machinery producer, and the company’s owners have over 40 years experience designing and building custom machinery. RMD builds packaging ... Read More
During the summer of 2015, while many Scouts were going to traditional summer camps, a group of Scouts from the Twin Rivers Council in New York spent a week at STEM Camp where they participated in Electronics, Engineering, Surveying, and Programming Merit Badges. The Scouts were thrilled to learn how to program the same PLCs that ... Read More
A common function of a control system is detecting the presence of an object. Whether you are detecting the presence of an object passing by on a conveyor, the closure of a gate or the position of a machine part as it goes through its motions, object detection is a staple of the automation industry. There are ... Read More
AutomationDirect’s new eBook, “PLC Handbook: A Practical Guide to Programmable Logic Controllers” is now available as a free download. Designed as an easy-to-read guide for users new to PLCs, this eBook explains what a PLC is and its history. It also provides detailed information about what to look for when choosing a controller, with both ... Read More
In Understanding Ladder Logic we touched on the origins of Ladder Logic, its structure and execution. So now that we have a understanding of what Ladder Logic is, we can dig a little deeper into how ladder instructions work. And to do that, we need to first understand Boolean math and logic gates. Now, this blog ... Read More
Over my years working as an Automation Systems Integrator, I occasionally get projects that are different from the normal industrial, process and manufacturing systems. I was recently asked to develop the controls for a museum exhibit to simulate a bat’s echolocation. The museum, Children’s Center of Sofia, in Sofia, Bulgaria, and I promptly named the ... Read More
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 ... Read More
A wise man once said, “Why Baketh, when one can Fryeth?” I could be wrong but I believe that was Shakespeare. Ok, actually I just made it up but it’s turkey season and many people will be confronted with that exact question. Now, I’m not sure who started the fried turkey craze but I, for ... Read More
It’s that season again. It’s time for creepy crawlies to invade our neighborhoods. It’s time for things that go bump in the night to be more common than before. Thanks to products from AutomationDirect you too can create something to scare those trick-or-treaters.
Choosing the most effective controller for your application depends on a number of factors. The worksheet below serves as a checklist of things to consider when determining programmable controller requirements. It lists the most important areas to consider when choosing a system, as well as provides space for recording determinations of your system needs. To ... Read More
