Articles and News

AutomationDirect’s technical support team compiled a list of frequently asked questions from customers on variable frequency drives (VFDs), on topics such as sensorless vector control, grounding, dynamic braking, ringing, standards, power cables, drives vs softstarts, low speed operation, line reactors, slow pump problems, and more.

Safety light curtains are an advanced method of safeguarding personnel around many hazardous machines. Also called light screens, optical guards, and presence sensing devices, safety light curtains offer freedom, flexibility and reduced operator fatigue when compared with traditional guarding methods such as mechanical barriers, sliding gates and pull-back restraints.

The significant benefits of error proofing both automated and manual assembly procedures are becoming increasingly evident in all industries. The objectives are both increased quality and increased productivity.

There is a growing challenge on the plant floor if you haven’t experienced it yet, I am sure you will soon. A study by ARC predicts that the number of factory floor devices with an IP address is going to TRIPLE in the next four years and those devices are pushing lower and lower into the controls architecture… from systems, to sub-systems down to sensors… so Ethernet equipment with an IP addresses are increasing rapidly.

This article has only skimmed the surface of Windows XP “IT-guy tricks” that can be used to create a suitable environment for your HMI. Following the above procedures to “take out the garbage” will assist you in creating an efficient platform for your applications, not to mention avoiding some common XP annoyances.

Optimum motor control packages start with a drive to provide the most control, flexibility, and protection. Adding a bypass with an integral soft starter provides a backup system to run the motor should the drive fail. Large drive systems should have soft starters in the bypass, otherwise the application risks negatively affecting the power system, damaged bearings, or bent shafts once the bypass is engaged.

A process with a large dead time presents a special challenge for a controller - any controller. Find out how to get the best control of large dead time processes.

Adjustable Speed Drives are used in any application in which there is mechanical equipment powered by motors; the drives provide extremely precise electrical motor control, so that motor speeds can be ramped up and down, and maintained, at speeds required; doing so utilizes only the energy required, rather than having a motor run at constant (fixed) speed and utilizing an excess of energy.

Users are pushing motors closer to their theoretical torque and power limits. In order to protect motors under these rated conditions, accurate thermal models of the motor are needed.

A Variable Frequency Drive regulates the speed of a 3-phase AC electric motor by controlling the frequency and voltage of the power it delivers to the motor. Today, these devices are becoming prevalent in a wide range of applications throughout the industry, from motion control applications to ventilation systems and many others.

This paper suggests several mechanical, electrical, and software ideas that will enable conveyor designers to optimize conveyor reliability and "maintainability" without the need for large investments in equipment and design time. It introduces the concept of internally powered conveyor belt drives and offers generally applicable belt drive design software.

The maximum length of a 10BASE5 segment is 500 m and this would represent the network diameter of the Ethernet network if no repeaters were used. However, Ethernet can be expanded to a larger network diameter by using repeaters as long as the network diameter does not exceed the collision domain of Ethernet. This article will discuss those restrictions.