Industrial Automation, PLC, VFD, and Troubleshooting
In industrial automation, troubleshooting is not only about knowing PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, sensors, motors, and networks.
A strong technician also needs something very practical:
DocumentationBackupsLabelsIP address listsDevice recordsConfiguration files
When production is down, …
Read MoreIndustrial automation can feel overwhelming.
There are many areas to understand:
Electrical controlIndustrial electronicsSensorsInstrumentationPLCsLadder logicVFDsMotor controlHMISCADAIndustrial networksRemote I/OSafety systemsTroubleshootingDocumentationBackups
At times, it may feel like:
“I do not know enough.”“There is too much to …
Read MoreIntroduction
For many automation technicians, the first challenge with a FANUC robot is not the robot arm itself. The real challenge is the Teach Pendant.
When a robot stops in production, the …
Read MoreIn the previous post, we learned how Zones and Conduits help organize industrial networks and control communication between systems.
A common misconception is that installing a firewall automatically makes a network …
Read MoreIn the previous post, we introduced IEC 62443 and discussed how it provides a framework for securing Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS).
One of the most important concepts within IEC …
Read MoreIn the previous post, we covered the Purdue Model and how it helps organize industrial systems into levels: field devices, PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, operations, IT, and cloud systems.
Now we are …
Read MoreIf you’ve ever heard terms like:
Level 0
Level 1
Level 2
OT Network
IT Network
DMZ
Segmentation
you are already hearing concepts that originate from the Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture (PERA), commonly called the Purdue Model.
The Purdue …
Read MoreIndustrial cybersecurity is no longer a topic reserved for IT departments or cybersecurity specialists. Today, automation technicians, controls engineers, maintenance personnel, and industrial electricians interact daily with systems that are …
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