This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by Orientalmotor: The biggest difference between pneumatic actuators and electric actuators is the source of power. Pneumatic actuators are powered by air, so there are many components in a pneumatic actuator system that are dedicated to the supply and maintenance of air. With electric actuators, these…
This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by Pepperl+Fuchs: OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) is a platform-independent, service-based architecture. A successor to Classic OPC, the aim of OPC UA was to eliminate the drawbacks of Classic OPC, especially its dependencies on Microsoft and COM/DCOM. The OPC Foundation, the same organization that developed Classic OPC,…
This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by Banner: Photoelectric sensors, a crucial sensor type in industrial automation, are highlighted in the latest report. Understanding the sensing modes of these sensors is essential for selecting the right one for specific tasks. Stay tuned for more updates on this fundamental technology! To read the…
This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by PTC: The Internet of Things (IoT) and digital twins have changed the ways digital and physical worlds interact. IoT provides a connection to information in the physical world, through scanners, chips, and smart connected products. While this is impressive on its own, interlinked with digital twins, which are virtual…
This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by Banner: The initial operation of a 3D ToF sensor is fairly straightforward: light is emitted from the sensor, bounces off the target, and returns to a multipixel imager. The next part is a little more complex. As the light returns to the sensor, each individual…
This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by OMRON: Developing a machine safety strategy is essential in industrial workplaces to prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities related to machinery and equipment. This strategy involves identifying hazards and implementing effective risk mitigation measures. By adhering to machine safety protocols, industries ensure compliance with regulations and create…
This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by Schneider Electric: A distributed control system acts as the central brain of an industrial operation. It coordinates and controls the process subsystems located in an industrial operation in real time. Distributed control systems control complex processes and can coordinate processes in large manufacturing plants while…
This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by Grace Technologies: Voltage presence verification is the initial step in LOTO procedures, crucial for identifying live circuits before maintenance. This process involves confirming the existence of electrical energy, and ensuring that workers are aware of potential hazards. The use of PESDs like R-3W Series voltage…
This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by Banner: Cables are an essential part of any industrial application. It is important to make sure that you choose the appropriate cable material for the environment, especially where chemical cleaning solutions, cutting fluids, and other caustic liquids are present. Â The two main types of cables…
This is an excerpt from a recent educational article by DigiKey: This article briefly reviews the international safety standards and their applicability. It also examines the uses of the various communications protocols before digging into use cases ranging from tabletop assembly stations to entire factories for types of safety controllers like fixed function, reconfigurable, and…
