Automation

PID control loops can be very useful in automation and in many different applications. PID control loops can be very useful in automation and in many different applications. They can be used to control a feeder used in a loss in weight or…

Malware and Your Industrial Control System Most of us have had the unfortunate experience of getting malware on our personal computers. Removing some of these nuisances can be as easy as running a simple virus scanner. Others can maliciously take over a computer…

Those of us that are familiar with controls systems have seen some of the benefits that can be gained when using a human machine interface (HMI) vs using a simple pushbutton control panel. Some of the main benefits an HMI provides include increased…

We are all aware of the dangers of electric shock, but few realize how little current and how small voltages can cause a fatal shock. Current as low as 30mA can be fatal. Since a standard toaster uses about 12500mA, you can see…

In the process of designing and purchasing new equipment, the decision about what digital control voltage to choose for a facility to standardize on is often not clear cut. Manufacturers, control engineers, plant personnel and other decision makers can lean different directions with…

We all have one or know someone who does — that old transistor radio that Grandpa used to listen to the baseball games with, or the old game console we had as a kid with graphics we cannot help but laugh at today,…

Inventory tracking is a very important and powerful tool for many industries. Knowing what inventory is on hand and being able to track product trends allows the business owner to better forecast what they need to produce and when. This allows production resources…