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		Optimization of Machine Integration Automation.com, May 2012 By ODVA ODVA's Machinery Initiative improves the integration of manufacturing machinery with the industrial ecosystem. ODVA has adopted an open approach to this initiative which includes alliance partnerships with OPC Foundation and Sercos International in order to foster cross-collaboration on topics of mutual interest for machinery applications. This white paper describes this cross-collaboration.

		Making Wiring Easier – Push-in Terminal Blocks for Modular Machine Designs - 03/25/12 By Gordon Busch, Phoenix Contact Push-in terminal blocks not only reduce wiring time and operator fatigue, but also meet the stringent safety requirements of the machine building industry.

		Maximize the Success of Your Control System with Object-Oriented Design - 03/19/12 Automation.com, March 2012 By Rick Slaugenhaupt, TechMinder Consulting Object-orientation is the technique of bundling code into individual software objects. Numerous benefits result from this and, in turn, those benefits streamline the effort of creating a rock-solid control system solution.

		Soft Motion Simplifies Motion Control Programming - 02/27/12 Automation.com, January 2012 By Advantech This white paper defines machine motion, then compares and contrasts traditional and modern programming methods for programming machine motion control systems.

		Installing Automation in Hazardous Areas - 02/27/12 Automation.com, January 2012 By Advantech This paper compares, contrasts and explains IEC and NEMA classification standards, and then explains how to protect automation system components using one of the three main methods of protection: Energy Limiting, Containment and Segregation.


		Ethernet I/O – Technical Considerations - 01/25/12 Automation.com, January 2012 By SoftPLC The number of vendors offering Ethernet I/O products is continually growing. However, not all products are designed for all applications. This paper discusses some of the important considerations when selecting Ethernet I/O products.

		The Changing Energy Landscape: A How-To Guide - 11/17/11 Automation.com, November 2011 By SMC Machine builders, manufacturers, and all compressed air users can decrease energy costs by following the steps outlined here.

		Real Time Control Over the Web - 11/17/11 Automation.com, November 2011 By Steve Jahnke, Galixsys Networks Devices make use of the Web to send and receive data, usually from a cloud service or backend server. Most of the inherent latency and processing problems of the web can be removed if XML document passing is not used as the means to transmit generic commands.

		Direct Drive Technology Improves Flexo Printing Quality and Throughput - 10/27/11 By Kollmorgen Kollmorgen expert Tom England explores the advantages of direct drive technology in the highest-quality flexographic printing machines and other applications, with respect to machine assembly, maintenance, throughput, accuracy, operational costs and more.

		How Today’s Flexible Digital Servo Drives Help OEMs Build a Better Machine, Faster - 10/27/11 By Kollmorgen Kollmorgen expert Carroll Wontrop explains how high-performance digital servo drives can improve throughput, functionality and commissioning time, then discusses selection criteria and tours Kollmorgen’s AKD™ servo drive line.

		Achieve Superior Servo Performance, Quickly, with Auto-Tuning - 10/27/11 By Kollmorgen Kollmorgen expert George Ellis explains how full-frequency auto-tuning can quickly overcome the issue of decoupling of the load’s inertia from the servo system at higher frequencies caused by compliance in transmission components.

		Why Pay for More Than You Need? - 10/23/11 Automation.com, October 2011 By Jay Becker, Dunkermotor OEMs will benefit from not specifying and purchasing more control features and functionality than their applications require. This White Paper discusses seven distinct integral control topologies to enable OEM design engineers to choose what suits their application without over-specifying.

		The Future of Machines: Self-Aware Control Systems - 10/16/11 Automation.com, October 2011 By Christian Fritz, National Instruments You can use sensors to create systems that are aware of their environment, perform real-time process monitoring, and know every detail about their mechanical component health. The key to solving new challenges is creating control systems that can integrate sensor data, gather information in real time, and use information from multiple sensors within high-speed control loops.

		Distributed Modular I/O Technology Guide - 10/05/11 By Balluff The focus of this whitepaper is to inform controls engineers working for machine builders about the advantages of distributed modular I/O on an industrial network and how to select the best out-of-the-cabinet controls solution for manufacturing equipment.

		Machine Design Guide - 09/21/11 Automation.com, September 2011 By Christian Fritz, et al, National Instruments Faster, better, and cheaper is the name of the game for machine and device designers. This machine design guide examines the best practices and tools that successful machine designers use to make different design trade-offs, meet design challenges, and increase profit.

		IR imaging for machine vision and process control - 09/19/11 Automation.com, September 2011 By Jason Styron, FLIR Covers the technology behind infrared as a form of non-visible imaging, including detector technology, camera platforms, software, software analytics, and applications. The purpose of this is to highlight the use of IR technology for conventional machine vision applications.

		Increasing the Value of Automation for Industrial Infrastructure Projects - 07/29/11 By Tim Sweet, Honeywell Process Solutions This white paper discusses the use of modern automation technology to support industrial infrastructure projects in the world’s developing regions. It describes the latest innovative strategies for automating balance-of-plant units and other supporting assets in new Greenfield facilities.

		Open-loop PM motor control technology - 07/27/11 By Jun Kang, Yaskawa Electric America Permanent Magnet (PM) motors have higher efficiency than induction motors because there are no I2R losses of the rotor. But widespread use of PM motors has been discouraged by price and requirement of a speed encoder. This paper describes open-loop PM motor control technology.

		Torque Feedforward Deep Dive - 07/12/11 By Chuck Lewin, Performance Motion Devices Many motion applications require high accuracy both during, and at the end of, the move. Even if you are using perfectly optimized PID values to control position, the compensation loop is never perfect because it must manage the influence of a wide range of system forces.

		The True Cost of Bearing Lubrication - 06/20/11 June 2011 By Matt Mowry, Igus In today's economy, machine and equipment manufacturers are feeling more pressure than ever to reduce costs without sacrificing machine performance, but this balancing act can be difficult to achieve. One of the main goals of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is to reduce the initial capital expense for its customers. However, OEMs often overlook a simple solution that can have a positive, long-term impact on their customers' bottom lines: the elimination of bearing lubricant.

		Reduce Time to Market - 06/14/11 Automation.com, June 2011 By Eaton Accelerate delivery time. Learn how next generation operator interface designs reduce development time, enable easy integration and accelerate time to market while enhancing quality and reliability.

		Boost Your PLC System: Advanced Analysis and Control - 06/07/11 By National Instruments In a typical PLC-based system, an input value is often compared to a set point for a binary result that turns on a light, opens a hatch, starts the conveyor, and so on. This level of functionality works well in most straightforward applications. However, more advanced control systems require additional analysis through signal processing and advanced decision making to calculate meaningful data before adjusting the output values.

		Boost Your PLC System: High-Performance Analog Measurements - 05/19/11 By National Instruments We live in an analog world and we often find ourselves in need of high-performance analog measurements as we push the limits of automation technology. Can PLCs keep up?

		Reducing Servomotor Instability - 04/19/11 By Marcus Schick, Siemens Excessive speed controller gain causes instability in a servo system. However, lowering this gain is often not a viable option, so a systematic approach should be used to determine the best remedy of the instability.

		Demystifying the European Machinery Directive - 03/22/11 By Andras Szende, TUV Rheinland North America The evolution of the Machinery Directive over the last decade has spawned new safety and compliance issues. This whitepaper will de-mystify and clearly articulate the requirements for manufacturers of both SEMI and Industrial Automation equipment and machinery.

		Find More Space in Your Control Panel - 03/15/11 By Eaton Optimize your panel designs. Learn options for distributing loads in industrial control panels and how to safely apply them, while adhering to Underwriters Laboratories® standard 508A and National Electrical Code®, NFPA® 70-2011.

		The Benefits of Using Rigorously Tested Routines from Numerical Libraries - 03/13/11 By Numerical Algorithms Group This white paper intends to help robotics and automation engineers understand how and why to incorporate use of extensively documented numerical libraries into their application development practices.

		Machine Vision for Factory Automation - 03/08/11 By Teledyne Dalsa Many key tasks in the manufacture of products, including inspection, orientation, identification, and assembly, require the use of visual techniques. By replacing human inspection with machine vision, the net result is greater productivity and improved customer satisfaction through the consistent delivery of quality products. This paper helps users match machine vision options with application requirements.

		Three Ways to Enhance Packaging Line Performance - 02/17/11 By Microscan Systems, Inc. This white paper focuses on optical character recognition (OCR) and its growing use in packaging lines for compliance with date and lot tracking regulations. Machine vision OCR helps manufacturers adhere to these mandates in an efficient and cost-effective manner, and can also improve line performance.

		Know Your High-flex-life Cable - 02/05/11 By Northwire Cable designed to survive 10 million to 20 million flexing cycles is high-flex-life cable. It’s different from high-flex cable, which is designed to be supple and highly flexible. High-flex-life cable may actually feel stiffer than high-flex cable. The two products are distinctly different and mutually exclusive.

		SERCOS Energy - 01/09/11 By Jan Schlechtendahl Using intelligent controls, axes and components that are not necessary in current production processes can be switched off. Especially with flexible production, the energy saving that can be achieved via SERCOS Energy is enormous.

		Machine Safety Design: Safety Relays Versus a Single Safety Controller - 01/09/11 By Phoenix Contact There comes a point in machine safety design when the designer needs to decide if it makes more sense to use multiple safety relays or to upgrade to a safety controller. This white paper focuses on some of the issues that designers must consider when determining whether a safety relay or a safety controller is the best solution for a particular job.

		Determining the Best Controller for Your Small System - 07/22/10 By Honeywell When choosing the type of control system for a particular application, there are many considerations that influence the decision. A DCS is designed for process control and a PLC is designed for machine or motion control. Here’s how to choose the right system for the job.

		How to Select the Ideal Enclosure Gasket - 07/08/10 By Hoffman While gaskets are primarily used to exclude the external environment from entering an enclosure—such as dust, dirt, water, EMI and RFI—they can also be used to contain noise or other forms of interference generated from internal components.

		Mitigate Condensation Damage - 07/08/10 By Hoffman Electrical and electronic equipment are typically housed in an electrical enclosure to provide protection from the external environment. However, even with a sealed enclosure the introduction of moisture and water can result from a variety of circumstances.

		Select the Proper Enclosure for washdown environments - 07/08/10 By Hoffman Washdowns will remove all waste materials and residue from processing systems and controls, thereby preserving product quality. However, establishing a suitable washdown environment for the application at hand requires numerous steps.

		Apply Solar Shielding to Enclosures - 07/08/10 By Hoffman The temperature rise inside an enclosure above outdoor ambient is caused by internal equipment heat dissipation and solar energy absorption. This paper shows the beneficial temperature effects shielding the direct and reflective radiation from the sun.

		Global Enclosure Standards - 07/08/10 By Hoffman This white paper defines the industry standards that exist for electrical enclosures and compares the most commonly used standards -- IEC, NEMA and UL.

		The Case For Regenerative AC Drive Motors - 07/01/10 By William Gilbert, Siemens Improved operation, reduced maintenance, motor power savings and conservation of energy make AC regen drives a decided advantage for converting, packaging, printing, wireforming and other roll-fed machinery, where driven unwinds can be implemented.

		Design and Verification of Motion Control Algorithms using Simulation By Douglas Eastman, et al, The MathWorks, Simulation allows verification of system performance in the development process, making it possible to identify problems early and optimize system level behavior to meet the design requirements. In this paper, Model-Based Design is applied to a motion control application where a load must be precisely positioned through a flexible shaft.

		High Availability for Non-Traditional Discrete and Process Applications - 04/07/10 By Bill Black, GE Intelligent Platforms The principle behind a high availability control system is to double the individual system components and pass over control from the “active” controller to the “backup” controller at the moment of failure. Here’s how GE’s PACSystems does it.

		Tuning the Forgotten Loop - 11/30/09 By Steve Rubin, Longwatch The “forgotten loop” has been the operator, who is typically trained to “average” parameters to run adequately under most steady-state conditions. “Advanced tuning” of the operator could yield even better outputs, with higher quality, fewer errors and a wider response to fluctuating operating conditions. This paper explores the issue of improving operator actions, and a method for doing so.

		Six Sigma: What? Why? How? - 10/25/09 By Dataforth Six Sigma uses statistical analysis to quantitatively measure how a process is performing. That process can involve manufacturing, business practices, products, or service. To be defined as Six Sigma means that the process does not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO) – which translates to 99.9997% efficiency.

		Motion Control Components and System Architecture - 09/16/09 By Erlendur Kristjansson, Performance Motion Devices This 24-page paper compares how motion control solutions based on chips, cards, and drives fit into different machine requirements, and how they affect the outcome of a machine design. This paper also examines motion system architectures to illustrate the design trade-offs. Examples discussed include medical/biotech equipment, a 3D printer, and an industrial paper-cutting machine.

		Mechatronics Machine Design Guide - 07/06/09 By National Instruments With this comprehensive machine design guide, learn step-by-step best practices for designing your next machine. Throughout the guide, in-depth application examples illustrate the approaches successful designers have implemented.

		Custom Controller or COTS? Step-by-step guide to making the right choice - 04/06/09 By ARC OEMs typically have two choices, to develop "green boards," which are internally designed custom controllers, or to apply COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) micro PLCs. This whitepaper will examine some of the important and sometimes overlooked factors involved in choosing between a custom controller and a COTS micro PLC.

		Five Things to Think About Before Using Hardwired Controls Again - 04/06/09 By ARC For most OEMs, programmable relays can serve as a very cost effective controller for their products. This paper is written to help OEMs determine the "real cost" of using traditional hardwired controls by comparing it to the "real cost" of using commercially available programmable relays.

		Motion Control Cards For Machine Design - 03/23/09 By Erlendur Kristjansson, Performance Motion Devices This white paper looks at the different motion control card form factors, their fit into different machine requirements, and how they affect the outcome of a machine design. The paper also examines the interaction between the motion cards and the system architectures to illustrate design trade-offs.

		Next Generation of Embedded Computing Platforms - 01/26/09 By Hector Lin, Advantech Corporation, Industrial Automation Group What does the current iteration of Moore’s Law hold for embedded computing? Not only have speed and computational power gone up exponentially, and cost dropped the same way, other improvements have increased, too.

		The Secret Behind Wide Temperature Technology - 12/22/08 By Abel Lee, et al, Moxa Wide temperature industrial computers generally have an operating temperature range of -40 to 75°C. Designing such a computer requires a full understanding of the product’s thermal gradient to optimize the placement of components inside the computer.

		Expanding Allen-Bradley Logix Systems with Intelligent Remote I/O - 11/25/08 By Opto 22 With the new options provided by intelligent remote I/O, expanding an Allen-Bradley Logix system is no longer a dilemma. Instead, it's an opportunity to add functionality and explore opportunities while staying within your current system and within budget.

		Creating Secure OPC Architectures - 03/07/08 By Adriel Michaud, MatrikonOPC Technical guide on how to secure typical OPC implementations. It covers OPC DA, HDA, and A&E, securing OPC Servers from unauthorized OPC Client access, and restricting authorized OPC Clients to only the functions necessary.

		Improving Plant Production with Wireless Condition Monitoring - 01/10/08 by Jim Ralston, ProSoft Technology Mechanical failure of motors, drives and other vital electromechanical equipment are among the most common reasons for production stoppages. Fortunately, recent advancements in vibration monitoring and data analysis have lead to condition monitoring systems that can accurately detect a problem before failure, thus reducing costly machine shutdowns and maximizing production output.

		Justification and ROI of safety programs and machine safety investments - 09/20/11 Plant Services, September 2011 Outside the primary objective of reducing injuries to people or property, proving the value of a safety system is an ongoing challenge for safety professionals and risk managers. Many find it difficult to financially justify discretionary investments in safety-related assets and training intended to reduce work-related injuries and insurance premiums.

		Machining accuracy of machine tools - 06/27/11 PlantServices, May 2011 By Hedienhein Productivity and accuracy of machine tools are important competition aspects. Rapidly changing operating conditions for machine tools, however, make it difficult to increase productivity and accuracy.

		Why doesn’t everyone use remote access? - 05/03/11 Automation.com, May 2011 By Frank Hurtte, River Heights Consulting The question we would like to explore is pretty simple. Back 20 years ago it was significant, today it’s huge. To illustrate the point, let’s look at what might happen when a special machine builder experienced issues in the field.

		Field Oriented Control Deep Dive - 04/19/11 Automation.com, April 2011 By Chuck Lewin, Performance Motion Devices White paper examines the most popular techniques for multi-phase motor control, with an eye toward determining what control techniques work best for a given application in positioning and high-speed spinning applications.

		When upgrading machinery, don’t gamble with CE Marking - 03/22/11 By Stewart Robinson, Pilz Automation Technology. The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC came into force at the end of 2009. While machine builders have to deal primarily with ‘scope’ and ‘conformity assessment,’ the main challenge for end users is the issue of 'upgrading' or 'interlinking' of machinery.

		New generation inductive transducers - 08/12/10 By Mark Howard, Zettlex Paper describes why inductive transducers are chosen for the toughest jobs, how they operate and why a new generation of inductive devices is taking over.

		Development of Highly Reliable Multilayer Piezo Actuators - 07/20/10 By P. Pertsch, et al, PI Ceramic White paper covers the development and lifetime tests of ceramic encapsulated actuators under different operating conditions (DC and AC).

		Improving SCADA Operations Using Wireless Instrumentation - 06/28/10 White paper from Control Microsystems explores the various ways in which operators can tightly integrate wireless instrumentation networks with SCADA systems in automation, process control, building automation, pipelines, W&WW plants and similar applications.

		Winding technology fits directly in the drive - 06/06/10 By Alexander Schaedlich and William Gilbert, Siemens "Winder" application is designed into the current generation of Sinamics S120 drives.

		Energy management considerations with today’s drive systems - 03/16/10 By Michael Perlman, Siemens It is important for today’s machine builders and automation engineers alike to remember that an energy-efficient system can actually translate into higher productivity.

		The Membrane Potentiometer by Reinhard Koch, Hoffmann + Krippner Inc. Membrane potentiometers for position sensing have established themselves within the market over the past twenty years due to fascinating technological advancements in their field. This whitepaper introduces the advantages and disadvantages of the membrane potentiometer’s special design, and outlines its possible applications.

		The Web of Things - 09/27/09 By Tridium Whitepaper discusses the state of device networks and how IP and Web technologies can become enablers to tap the huge potential of smart devices.

		The Promise of M2M: How Pervasive Connected Machines are Fueling the Next Wireless Revolution - 08/27/09 Embedded Computing, August 2009 By Syed Gilani, Mentor Graphics This paper defines the concept of M2M, cites examples on how M2M is being implemented in various businesses/industries, and discusses how some of the partners in M2M are beginning to offer innovative solutions. Registration required.

		Building a Reliable VFD System By Brian Shuman, Belden Special consideration must be given to the proper installation and operation of the overall system that comprises the VFD, the motor it controls, and the cable that connects them. This paper is primarily concerned with the motor-supply cable in the VFD/motor system. It looks at some fundamental cable design considerations, and presents suggestions for installation.

		Mechatronics: New Answers Call For New Questions By Bosch Rexroth For mechatronics to be truly successful, the development process must involve not only mechanical and electronic elements, but process elements as well: the key phases of design, integration, and implementation.

		The 10 Most Common Mistakes Made When Purchasing Automation By Milton Coleman, Bosch Rexroth Buying a piece of automation can be a very long and difficult process. Here is a list of the 10 most common mistakes made when purchasing automation equipment. This list was composed by a number of individuals who have both purchased and sold automation equipment.

		Hacking the Industrial Network By Innominate Security Technologies While many engineers believe that their production networks are isolated from outside access, nothing could be further from the truth. It is common practice to include access to Web-based services on most programmable logic controllers. This report identifies incidents involving major corporations, utilities, nuclear plants and the Pentagon. A table of twenty-nine major incidents is provided, some of which were kept secret for years. Detailed footnotes and clickable internet research links are provided to document these incidents and each statement of fact.

		High Slip Braking Software By Mike Rucinski, Yaskawa Electric The techniques for braking of high inertial loads to a stop traditionally involved either Dynamic Braking or DC Injection Braking technology. This paper examines a new load-braking alternative called High-Slip Braking (HSB), identifies the different aspects of HSB, look at what it does, how it works, and how it is different from other braking methods. Includes examples of “real world” successes, and discusses the new technology’s cost effectiveness.

		Confusion and misconceptions about NFPA-79 - 04/26/09 By Northwire Different interpretations of NFPA-79 have generated articles in trade publications and on Web sites, in white papers and in discussions and debates. This paper provides information to sort out the misperceptions perpetuated about NFPA-79.

		The Practical Benefits of Modular Industrial Enclosures By Nathan Xavier, Rittal Modular freestanding enclosures offer a number of key advantages when compared to traditional unibody enclosures. Many times these attributes are overlooked either out of a false perception of increased enclosure costs, a reluctance to change or a simple lack of awareness to the possible benefits of modular solutions.

		Video Monitoring Helps in Tough Economic Times - 03/11/09 By Steve Rubin, Longwatch Video monitoring can help companies survive through layoffs, plant closings, and idling of plants. The white paper explains that when plants have layoffs or shut down, much work remains to be done, often by a severely reduced workforce. Video can help pick up the workload.

		Boeing, Coca-Cola and General Mills say energy-efficient manufacturing a must - 03/09/09 "Perspectives on Sustainable Production: Delivering Economic Value and Serving Greater Good," features viewpoints from Rockwell Automation and its customers.

		Machine control going www By Robert Muehlfellner, B&R Industrial Automation The Internet and embedded PC-based controls now open opportunities for remote maintenance and diagnostics. This paper explains in simple terms methods to configure a connection from a remote location to a machine controller.

		Industrial Fieldbus Technologies By Bruce Centofanti, B&R Industrial Automation General overview of key concepts involved in various machine control fieldbuses and protocols, including DeviceNet, PROFIBUS, PROFINET, CANopen, Modbus TCP, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP and EthernetPOWERLINK.

		Integration of Machine Vision into control platform saves time and money By ARC Advisory Group ARC says, in this white paper commissioned by Mitsubishi, that integration of Cognex In-Sight machine vision into the Mitsubishi iQ platform significantly shortens the time and lowers the cost of applying vision systems.

		Quality check and inspections in production time By SMAC Paper describes SMAC XYZ, a quality check (QC) system that follows a 3D contour or motion path and provides three-dimensional detailed inspection and verification of all parts on a production line.

		Application of IEEE 1588 to Industrial Automation - 01/19/09 By Rockwell Automation Describes how to improve control-system responsiveness and accuracy through time-based control techniques available as a result of the IEEE 1588 standard for industrial networking.

		How to match laser cutting technology to application requirements Part 1 By Markus Klemm, Spartanics Advances in laser cutting technology, and especially those that relate to the sophistication of the software engineering underlying laser cutting controls, have created dramatic improvements in the type of outputs that can be expected from laser cutters.

		How to match laser cutting technology to application requirements By Markus Klemm, Spartanics To source the best laser cutting technology for your operation, first determine application requirements in terms of: complexity of geometries to be cut; production rates required; sheet vs. web; and type of materials (PET, ABS, polycarbonate, etc.).

		Rockwell Automation White Paper identifies competitive advantages of standards - 01/24/08 Paper shows why standards and regulations are important to global business, and why industry should care.

		Benefits of Fuzzy Logic for Advanced Process Control By Jeffrey Shearer, Rockwell Automation White paper provides best practices for designing with fuzzy control and examines its benefits compared to conventional control methods. In addition, the paper outlines how to develop fuzzy logic algorithms for the Allen-Bradley Logix family of programmable automation controllers.

		Driving towards a better future White Paper by ABB Low Voltage Drives With an estimated 65% of industrial electrical energy used by electric motors, it is no wonder that major users in industry increasingly see energy reduction as a key to improving their profitability and competitiveness. Because variable-speed drives reduce energy consumption while increasing productivity, they can, depending on the application, pay for themselves within a few months.

		The drive for simplicity White Paper by ABB Low Voltage Drives By combining functions and cutting part counts, ABB has reduced the size of its drives while enhancing their reliability. The company has also developed a simplified set-up procedure using a harmonized keypad and software wizards that can be used across the ABB drive family.

Automation.com Real-time Information for the Automation Professional May. 25, 2012

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