41. Building Confidence in Industrial Automation (41 of 41)
Industrial 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 More1. FANUC Teach Pendant Basics: How to Navigate Without Getting Lost
Introduction
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 More5. Defense in Depth: Why One Firewall Is Never Enough in Industrial Cybersecurity
In 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 More4. Zones and Conduits Explained: How IEC 62443 Organizes and Protects Industrial Networks
In 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 More3. IEC 62443 Explained for Automation Professionals
In 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 More2. Understanding the Purdue Model: The Foundation of Secure Industrial Networks
If 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 More1. What Is Industrial Cybersecurity and Why Should Automation Technicians Care?
Industrial 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 …
Read More1. Understanding Intrinsic Safety Barriers and Isolated Barriers
From Basic Concepts to Advanced Troubleshooting
Introduction
In industrial automation, technicians frequently encounter devices installed between field instruments and control systems that are often misunderstood.
These devices are commonly called:
Intrinsic Safety Barriers
Isolated Barriers
Signal …
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