The State of Automation in the Automotive Industry

Automation is constantly evolving. How is it affecting the automotive space? Automation is a booming industry in today’s climate. Virtual assistants are a staple in the average home. They turn off our connected lights, adjust the temperature on our smart thermostats, and recognize when we’ve arrived home. Human beings love efficiency, and this desire for … Read more

PAC Motions MULTI-AXIS MOTION CONTROLLER USER MANUAL

GFK-2448F PACMotion Multi-axis Motion Controller User’s Manual The PACMotion Multi-axis Motion Controller (PMM) is a high performance, easyto-use servo motion control module that is closely integrated with the PACSystems RX3i CPU’s logic solving and communications functions. This versatilemotion controller combines the benefits of highly integrated motion and machine logic with the performance, flexibility and scalability … Read more

How MQTT is Used for Industrial Automation

Learn about the background and use of message queue telemetry transport (MQTT) in the industrial automation industry. The History of Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) MQTT was developed in 1999 by Andy Stanford-Clark with IBM and Arlen Nipper to connect measuring devices on oil pipelines to their SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system via … Read more

An Introduction to Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)

Learn about the supervisory control and data acquisition system used to program PLCs and PIDs. See where, how, and why SCADA systems are so popular. Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is the use of a system of computers, network architecture, data communication over a network, and a graphical user interface (GUI) to carry out … Read more

Vibration Monitoring in Predictive Maintenance (PdM)

Advanced automation and IoT devices can detect vibration, but even complex systems can miss a variable and cause chaos. Working with these systems requires years of experience in order to understand the importance of errors. Things don’t always add up and occasionally there seems to be some problem or variable happening behind the scenes that … Read more

What is Automated Palletizing? A Look Into PLC and Robot Controlled Palletizing

  This article dives into automated palletizing and the different ways you can automate the palletization process through PLC and robotic controls. What is Palletizing? Once a manufactured product is complete and ready for shipment it generally needs to be palletized for convenient distribution. Without automation, workers have to physically handle and stack the product before … Read more

Building Cyber Resilience In Industrial Control Systems

Industrial control system cybersecurity can be a matter of vital corporate and national interest. What are the operational risks, and how are they assessed? The problem domain of cyber resilience is so complex and dynamic that it is difficult to imagine where to begin. What practical steps ensure fiduciary responsibilities to both stakeholders and the broader … Read more

Using a Human-Machine Interface to Streamline Operations

A human-machine interface is a valuable tool used to display key information and control your automated system with a panel that can be designed and programmed with flexibility. For generations of industrial control electronics, we have seen pushbuttons and switches dominating operator pedestals and cabinets, with arrays of indicators and stack lights to provide visual … Read more

What Are Plenum-Rated Cables? Safety, Function, and Usage

In this article, we will look at plenum cables, what they are made of, and when it can be appropriate to use them. When installing cables, it is essential to choose the right type for your specific application. Plenum cables are used specifically in the plenum space of a building. The plenum space is an area that … Read more

The TLS (Transport Layer Security) Protocol in Secure Modbus/TCP

What is TLS and what is its role in the Modbus-TCP version of the Modbus protocol? Security comes with added protocol complexity. Many industrial control systems rely upon encapsulating Modbus Application Protocol (MBAP) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) messages carried on a TCP/IP network within a “TLS” layer to secure communications. The combined solution is called ‘Modbus/TCP … Read more