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Machine Control Portal: Products, News, Articles, Events & Resources
Machine Control Products, News, Articles, Events & Resources
Welcome to Automation.com's portal for Machine Control with information for automation and controls engineers to design the best machine control for an application. The demand to design machines with increased accuracy, speed, and flexibility requires a constant flow of new ideas, methods, and products to meet the challenges. Technologies and topics covered on this portal include controllers, motion, software, sensors, safety, and other related devices.
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Articles
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Six Key Machine Control Challenges Solved
Rahul Kulkarni, Product Marketing Engineer, National Instruments When designing your next-generation machine, cutting-edge technologies in control systems, software architectures, and electromechanical components differentiate your automation system from the competition. This article explores the top software and hardware challenges machine builders face today and offers a performance-driven approach to solving these challenges. |
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Build to last
By Dan Hebert, PE, Senior Technical Editor, Control Design Every automation component you buy for your machines has costs associated with it. The most obvious are upfront purchase and installation costs, but maintenance and support costs can dwarf these upfront costs. This article looks at how machine builders and their suppliers view total lifecycle costs associated with automation hardware and software, with the focus on reducing costs while still maintaining performance. |
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Distributed control provides plug-and-play function blocks
- 03/13/10 Process & Control Engineering, March 2010 By Ralf Möbus, Safety Network International With distributed control a fully mechatronical modularisation of machinery is possible where modules can act almost independently from the rest of the machinery. Such an approach offers several advantages for machine builders. |
White Papers
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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. |
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Tuning the Forgotten Loop
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. |
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Six Sigma: What? Why? How?
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. |
Application Stories
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HMC Products uses Grace Thru-Door Ethernet Switch
- 03/16/10 The E5 is mounted on the outside of the Pouchmaster packaging machine, thereby enhancing compliance to NFPA 70E. |
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Sandvik automates mining operations with AutoMine System
To most of us the word “automation” suggests images of robotics and futuristic technology. In a “real life” operating mine, automation is defined as a computerized tool that is used to improve mine performance which will result in significant benefits to the entire mining process. |
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B&L converts press from shafted to shaftless drive
- 03/04/10 By Siemens B&L redesigned the gear train, from a standard shafted unit to accept dual motor servo control, using a Siemens Simotion D445 motion controller, Sinamics S120 drives and 1PH7 servo motors. By doing this, over 60 components were eliminated. |
Resources & Literature
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Thomson pubishes Lead Screw, Ball Screw and Ball Spline Catalog
- 03/17/10
Catalog details the company’s family of lead screws, inch and metric series ball screws, and ball splines, including all relevant product specifications and performance attributes. |
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SERAPID updates its web site
- 03/14/10
Web site covers horizontal and vertical motion through the use of its Rigid Chain Technology. |
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ISA publishes book on Reasoning Machines in Factory Automation
- 03/07/10
The authors predict future production platforms will adapt to market changes with a minimum of human involvement. The book targets reasoning machines that are able to collaborate and automatically reconfigure themselves. |
Training & Seminars
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Opto 22 Remote I/O for Allen-Bradley Logix seminar
Half-day technical seminar, hosted by Opto 22, shows how to add intelligent remote I/O to Allen-Bradley PLC/PAC systems without programming. |
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Mechanical Components E-Learning Course
- 10/18/09
PMMI introduces "Basic Mechanical Components," an online self-study course to help operators, mechanics and technicians identify and care for all types of basic mechanical components. |
Product Announcements
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SEW-EURODRIVE releases stainless steel helical gear reducers
- 03/16/10
RESF37 and KESA37 resist bacteria, chemicals and processes common to the food processing industry. |
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Rockwell Software enhances RSLogix 5000 programming package
- 03/15/10
Enhancements include integrated motion on EtherNet/IP, high-integrity add-on instructions, and one-to-one transmission of EtherNet/IP I/O data. |
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IntelLiDrives releases RR-18-14 direct drive rotary table
- 03/08/10
Direct drive RR-18-14 provides angular positioning and eliminates backlash, friction and wear problems associated with worm, gear and belt drives. |
Company & Organization News
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Hexagon Metrology signs Ellison Technologies as distributor
- 03/16/10 Ellison Technologies is an authorized distributor of Hexagon Metrology’s dimensional measurement products across California and Nevada. |
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January manufacturing technology consumption up
- 03/08/10 January U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $130.96 million, down 40.3% from December but up 26.2% from the total of $103.77 million reported for January 2009. |
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ARC says prices are coming down on automation products
- 03/07/10 One element contributing to the price erosion is that controllers are rapidly becoming an automation commodity in some sectors. |
Project News
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Software Toolbox to provide graphics to Rockwell Automation
- 03/15/10 Software Toolbox will provide its Symbol Factory technology to users of FactoryTalk View Site Edition and FactoryTalk View Machine Edition from Rockwell Automation. |
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Flexpoint to develop nip sensor for Sensor Products
- 03/03/10 Flexpoint Sensor Systems will develop a “nip sensor” to measure actual contact (interfacial) pressure and distribution between two mating or impacting surfaces. |
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Honeywell to supply controllers to Toyota Motor Europe
- 10/28/09 Toyota will use the HC900 hybrid controller to optimize air supply units and deliver greater energy-efficient temperature and humidity control within paint finishing spray booths. |
Events
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