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In my previous blog post from early summer, I talked about IO-Link sensors with condition monitoring features that work with PLCs. I covered how condition monitoring variables can be set up as alarms and how simple logic can be set up inside the sensor so it only sets off those alarms to the PLC in …
Continue reading “Edge Gateways To Support Real-Time Condition Monitoring Data”
About 18 months ago, one of the major automotive companies came to the Indicon Conference looking for a way to decrease mistakes on the assembly line. They found a solution in a concept named the Error Proofing Platform Station (EPP). How it works The EEP works by using a bar code reader, in this case …
Continue reading “Reducing Assembly Line Mistakes With the Error Proofing Platform Station”
We live in an analog world, where we experience temperatures, pressures, sounds, colors, etc., in seemingly infinite values. There are infinite temperature values between 70-71 degrees, for example, and an infinite number of pressure values between 50-51 psi. Sensors today continue to use analog circuitry to measure a natural process, but more often, the electrical …
Continue reading “Converting Analog Signals to Digital for Improved Performance”
In manufacturing and automation control, the programmable logic controller (PLC) is an essential tool. And since the PLC is integrated into the machine already, it’s understandable that you might see the PLC as all that you need to do anything in automation on the manufacturing floor. Condition monitoring in machine automation For example, process or …
Continue reading “Control Meets IIoT, Providing Insights into a New World”
Today’s pneumatic cylinders are compact, reliable, and cost-effective prime movers for automated equipment. They’re used in many applications, such as machinery, material handling, assembly, robotics, and medical. One challenge facing OEMs, integrators and end users is how to detect reliably whether the cylinder is fully extended, retracted, or positioned somewhere in between before allowing machine …
Continue reading “Evolution of Pneumatic Cylinder Sensors”
IIOT (Industrial internet of things) has gained much traction and attraction in past years. With industries getting their assets online for monitoring purposes and new IO-Link sensors providing a ton of information on a single package, monitoring machines has become economically feasible. Vibration is one of the most critical metrics regarding the health of machines, …
Continue reading “Start Condition Monitoring With Vibration Sensors”
While last year was filled with challenges and unexpected changes for many industries, including manufacturing, it was not without positive achievements and insights. As we look forward to 2022, let’s not forget some topics that shaped 2021, including our five most-read blogs. 1. 5 Manufacturing Trends to Consider as You Plan for 2022 …
Continue reading “Manufacturing Insights: Top Blogs From 2021”
Label detection is in every industry of manufacturing. Detecting the placement, orientation, color, or size of a label is critical to product quality and it can even be required for safety purposes. Contrary to what some believe, not every label detection application requires an expensive vision system. This article reviews some common applications that can …
Continue reading “Is a Photoelectric Sensor Best for Your Label Detection Application?”
Automation is everywhere in a tire plant – from the old manual plants and mid-hybrid automated plants to the newest plants with the latest automation technology all over the world. Industry challenges Some tire industry automation challenges are opportunities for automation suppliers and machine builders. These can vary from retrofitting old machines and designing new …
Continue reading “Automation is “Rolling Out” in the Tire Industry”
In a previous blog post we covered some basics about condition monitoring and the capability of smart IO-Link end-devices to provide details about the health of the system. For example, a change in vibration level could mean a failure is near. This post will detail three different architecture choices that enable condition monitoring to add …
