Inside the Top Causes of PLC Control System Failure
Friday, 22 February 2019
On New Year’s Day 1968, the programmable logic controller (PLC) was first designed. It has been used ever since to make logic-based decisions in automated industrial processes. Despite their resilience and rugged design, PLC-based control systems can still break down and their failure can lead to costly downtime. This article discusses the top causes of
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PLC and DCS: How Do They Differ & How Did They Come About?
Tuesday, 09 October 2018
In a nutshell, a PLC or programmable logic controller is a ruggedized computer used for automating processes. A DCS or distributed control system is similar to a PLC in that it has rugged computer controllers, however, the DCS contains multiple autonomous controllers that are distributed throughout a system, also used for automating processes. A Little
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What is motion control?
Thursday, 03 May 2018
The fundamentals of motion control focus on the details and theories about motor control, feedback methods and mechanical actuators. Motion control is a bit of a specialty in automated control systems, and its use is not basic, as it can provide advanced machine functionality. It provides the means to move the machine tooling or the
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How to Choose the Best Controller for Each Application
Monday, 09 April 2018
Consider the features and typical applications for industrial controllers to understand what type of controller fits each application. Do you need a programmable logic controller (PLC), programmable automation controller (PAC), or industrial PC (IPC)? See comparison tables for PLCs, PACs, and IPCs. Automation controller applications are widespread-as are the overlapping capabilities of programmable logic controllers
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How to secure your programmable logic controller
Thursday, 18 January 2018
As security concerns increase in many sectors, including the factory automation space, getting up-to-speed with the different types of programmable logic controller security is imperative. By creating and implementing an effective strategy to remain secure, you will likely avoid issues, downtime, and setbacks. PLC cyber security: How the control network is linked to the internet,
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How to choose the most appropriate programmable logic controller for your industrial automation requirements
Friday, 08 December 2017
As many machine automation professionals know, deciding on which programmable logic controller to work with can be one of the most difficult decisions you have to make when organizing your control system. There is no one size fits all equation, so are here are some guidelines I use. Brand – Many of the major players such
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Seven strategies for better SCADA data protection
Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Although supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA) are vital to the operation of a broad spectrum of critical infrastructure including manufacturing, transport and energy networks, they are often open to data loss or cyber-crime. For SCADA to be effective, the computer control systems it relies on must function continuously and avoid downtime. Yet, SCADA
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Differences Between Field, Control, Supervisory, and Enterprise Levels of Automation
Wednesday, 09 August 2017
To make it easier to talk about automation, especially when done in a factory setting (industrial automation), engineers and plant managers have divided the topic up into three categories. Automation takes mechanization one step further. While mechanization replaces manual labor with machines, automation replaces human guidance with controls hardware, computers, and programming (PCs, PLCs, and
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PLC vs PAC: Similar but not the same
Thursday, 20 July 2017
Programmable logic controllers, or PLCs, and programmable automation controllers, or PACs, are similar as they both perform the same essential functions. But with modern technology, their differences are becoming more blurred. The most notable difference between PLCs and PACs is their programming interface. PACs are more intricate, using C or C++. PLCs on the other
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Programmable Logic Controllers, What are they?
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Programmable Logic Controllers, What are they? A PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER (PLC) is an industrial computer control system that continuously monitors the state of input devices and makes decisions based upon a custom program to control the state of output devices. Almost any production line, machine function, or process can be greatly enhanced using this type of control
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