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Mastering IO-Link: Best Practices for Seamless Industrial Automation Integration

IO-Link is a versatile communication protocol for use in industrial automation to connect sensors and actuators to control systems. Here are some best practices to consider when implementing IO-Link in your automation setup: Device selection: Choose IO-Link devices that best fit your application’s requirements. Consider factors such as sensing range, accuracy, ruggedness, and compatibility with …

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Comparing IO-Link and Modbus Protocols in Industrial Automation

In the realm of industrial automation, the seamless exchange of data between sensors, actuators, and control systems is critical for optimizing performance, increasing efficiency, and enabling advanced functionalities. Two widely used communication protocols, IO-Link and Modbus, have emerged to facilitate this data exchange. In this blog, I’ll analyze the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of both …

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Revisiting the Key Points of IO-Link

IO-Link is a communication protocol for use in industrial automation systems to connect sensors and actuators to a central control system. It provides a standardized interface for the communication and configuration of devices, allowing for seamless integration and easy parameterization. Here are some key points about IO-Link Communication: IO-Link uses a point-to-point serial communication link …

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Automated Welding With IO-Link

IO-Link technologies have been a game-changer for the welding industry. With the advent of automation, the demand for increasingly sophisticated and intelligent technologies has increased. IO-Link technologies have risen to meet this demand. Here I explain the concepts and benefits of I-O Link technologies and how they integrate into automated welding applications. What are IO-Link …

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Why Choose an IO-Link Ecosystem for Your Next Automation Project?

By now we’ve all heard of IO-Link, the device-level communication protocol that seems magical. Often referred to as the “USB of industrial automation,” IO-Link is a universal, open, and bi-directional communication technology that enables plug-and-play device replacement, dynamic device configuration, centralized device management, remote parameter setting, device level diagnostics, and uses existing sensor cabling as …

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IO-Link Changeover: ID Without RFID – Hub ID

When looking at flexible manufacturing, what first comes to mind are the challenges of handling product changeovers. It is more and more common for manufacturers to produce multiple products on the same production line, as well as to perform multiple operations in the same space. Accomplishing this and making these machines more flexible requires changing …

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IO-Link Safety: What It Is and Isn’t

Comparing “IO-Link” and “Safety” to “IO-Link Safety” There are many I/O blocks that have “IO-Link” and “Safety” in their descriptions, which can cause some confusion about which safety features they include. Here’s an overview of different safety-named blocks and how they compare to IO-Link Safety. Safety Network Blocks These blocks have I/O ports that use …

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How IO-Link Sensors With Condition Monitoring Features Work With PLCs

As manufacturers continually look for ways to maximize productivity and eliminate waste, automation sensors are taking on a new role in the plant. Once, sensors were used only to provide detection or measurement data so the PLC could process it and run the machine. Today, sensors with IO-Link measure environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, ambient …

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IO-Link Event Data: How Sensors Tell You How They’re Doing

I have been working with IO-Link for more than 10 years, so I’ve heard lots of questions about how it works. One line of questions I hear from customers is about the operating condition of sensors. “I wish I knew when the IO-Link device loses output power,” or, “I wish my IO-Link photoelectric sensor would …

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IO-Link Benefits in Robotic Weld Cell Tooling

By Scott Barhorst Working previously as a controls engineering manager in robotic welding, I have seen some consistent challenges when designing robotic weld cell systems. For example, the pre-engineered-style welding cells I’ve worked with use many types of tooling. At the same time, space for tooling and cabling is limited, and so is the automation …

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