IronHorse® GSD1 series DC drives are high-performance Pulse-Width-Modulated (PWM) controllers for 12 to 48 volt equipment providing smooth control with high-efficiency operation. Ideal for applications such as auger feeders, automated door actuators, commercial cooking equipment, food production, industrial pumping systems and more, the advanced design permits a substantial increase in equipment running time between charges…
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightEducation/DIYEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 30 - 2014Learning ResourcesMachine ControlMotion ControlNotebook IssuePLCPneumaticsProductStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight
UCONN Student Design Team Automates RFID Tagging
In the aerospace industry, any substance that is foreign to the aircraft engine and could potentially cause damage is known as FOD (foreign object debris). FOD costs the industry 4 billion dollars per year on average. Some of the most common causes of FOD damage are the tools required to build or maintain the engine….
Cumming. GA — December 5, 2013 — AutomationDirect’s new SureGear™ PGCN series of stepper gearboxes is an excellent choice for stepper and other motion control applications requiring a NEMA-size input/output interface. Available in NEMA 17, 23, and 34 sizes and gear ratios of 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100:1, SureGear stepper gearboxes are designed with…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookEnclosures & AccessoriesFYIIssue 18 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProduct
Enclosure Cooling Explained
What causes all that heat? There are basically two sources of heat which cause an electrical enclosure’s internal temperature to rise above the manufacturer’s recommended ratings for the control equipment: internal and external sources. Internal Sources The same items which can be damaged by heat may also be a key source of the heat. These…
Those of us who have worked professionally in the U.S. electrical control industries have a good understanding of, and a certain level of comfort with, NEMA standards; most notably as they pertain to electric motors, motor controllers and enclosures. For the most part, American-based companies require that the electrical components and enclosures used in any…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookEnclosures & AccessoriesIssue 11 – 2008Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTechnical Review
What Do The NEMA Ratings Mean?
NEMA Ratings for Enclosures This article defines of some NEMA Ratings for enclosures that are used in industrial settings. Along with a description clarifying what each NEMA rating actually means, is an explanation on what the enclosures are typically used for. NEMA 1 NEMA 1 enclosures are typically used for protecting controls and terminations from…
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFacilitiesFeature StoryIndustryIssue 9 – 2007Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlSecurity
Anti-Terrorist Barriers Help Protect Facilities
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the need for perimeter security of potentially threatened facilities has increased dramatically. To accomplish this, several facilities around the globe have been installing devices called anti-terrorist barriers, used as added protection against invasion of potentially dangerous vehicles. Domestically, these anti-terrorist devices can be found at Federal Reserve…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookEnclosures & AccessoriesIssue 6 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTechnical ReviewTerminal Blocks & Wiring
A Condensed Guide to Automation Control System Part 4: Build, Launch & Maintain
In Part 3 (Fall 2005 Issue 5), we covered how to design our automated control system and the importance of documenting the design. We discussed the various types of documents that would be typical for an automated control system design, why and how we would use these documents, and finally the tools that can be…