Latest Technical Articles

This tutorial explains how the Meca500 executes stored motion programs triggered by a PLC.

This tutorial explains how the Meca500 executes stored motion programs triggered by a PLC.

This guide shows you how to create a simple Inovance HMI project and connect it to a Mitsubishi PLC using serial and…

This guide shows you how to create a simple Inovance HMI project and connect it to a Mitsubishi PLC using serial and Ethernet methods, including practical setup steps and common mistakes to avoid.

Coordinating motion in three or more axes is a difficult manual process. For more advanced gantry or articulated robots,…

Coordinating motion in three or more axes is a difficult manual process. For more advanced gantry or articulated robots, this motion type solves the complex calculation of a set of related joints.

Conveyor technology is rapidly advancing thanks to the close integration of mechanical machines and electrical controls,…

Conveyor technology is rapidly advancing thanks to the close integration of mechanical machines and electrical controls, but it’s important to understand how feedback improves that relationship.

Learn how to assess risks and determine SIL by understanding operator actions as initiating events, independent…

Learn how to assess risks and determine SIL by understanding operator actions as initiating events, independent protection layers, or a part of the safety instrumented function loop.

Even highly automated control loops struggle with fault handling. Safe, effective response requires understanding each…

Even highly automated control loops struggle with fault handling. Safe, effective response requires understanding each alarm’s cause and severity and clearly communicating actionable information to operators.

When setting up a new program in a Rockwell PLC, task scheduling is an important and often overlooked issue where errors…

When setting up a new program in a Rockwell PLC, task scheduling is an important and often overlooked issue where errors appear as inconsistencies, often incorrectly attributed to random faults.

Tackling some of the world's most hostile environments with real-time data. That’s the mission of Septilink, supported…

Tackling some of the world's most hostile environments with real-time data. That’s the mission of Septilink, supported by WAGO, in this prime example of predicting failures to avert disaster.

Welcome to the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026! We’re excited to see where the industrial automation world takes…

Welcome to the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026! We’re excited to see where the industrial automation world takes us in this new year.

Cam profiles are a great way of strictly controlling two servo axes to follow a predefined path. Follow along as we dive…

Cam profiles are a great way of strictly controlling two servo axes to follow a predefined path. Follow along as we dive into setting up and programming an electronic cam profile.

A practical, experience-driven guide to designing and wiring electrical cabinets for machine-tending robotic cells.

A practical, experience-driven guide to designing and wiring electrical cabinets for machine-tending robotic cells.

The common narrative is that data-driven predictive maintenance can greatly reduce downtime costs. Learn about one…

The common narrative is that data-driven predictive maintenance can greatly reduce downtime costs. Learn about one critical feature of data collection that can enable manufacturing effectiveness.

Synchronized motion has become an industry standard with robots, gantries, and pick and place automation. Follow along…

Synchronized motion has become an industry standard with robots, gantries, and pick and place automation. Follow along this three-part series as we discuss methods of synchronizing servo motors.

This article provides an overview of the OSI models, IT/OT industrial protocols, and key applications behind the…

This article provides an overview of the OSI models, IT/OT industrial protocols, and key applications behind the networking capabilities that drive modern industrial and process automation systems.

You’ve seen it a thousand times: 24 volts powering a device or representing a trigger signal, but what makes 24 VDC…

You’ve seen it a thousand times: 24 volts powering a device or representing a trigger signal, but what makes 24 VDC such a versatile voltage, and what about the other voltages in control cabinets?

Stacking items on a pallet seems a minor part of the manufacturing process, but it actually requires speed, precision,…

Stacking items on a pallet seems a minor part of the manufacturing process, but it actually requires speed, precision, and flexibility to relieve a heavy burden placed on employees.

A clear overview of industrial power supply types, specs, and design factors for building dependable control cabinet systems.

A clear overview of industrial power supply types, specs, and design factors for building dependable control cabinet systems.

Modernizing legacy plants requires careful dataflow design. See how audits, protocol choices, edge computing and security…

Modernizing legacy plants requires careful dataflow design. See how audits, protocol choices, edge computing and security layers can unify old and new systems for better insights and operations.

Not every control system requires an expensive PLC. This tutorial will introduce Node-RED, a popular programming…

Not every control system requires an expensive PLC. This tutorial will introduce Node-RED, a popular programming environment that can be installed on a low-cost single-board controller.