Industrial Automation, PLC, VFD, and Troubleshooting
In PLC troubleshooting, one of the most powerful and dangerous tools is forcing.
A PLC force allows a technician or programmer to manually override the normal state of an input or …
Read MoreAn interlock is a condition used to prevent two incompatible or unsafe actions from happening at the same time.
In simple words:
An interlock blocks an action when another condition makes that …
Read MoreLadder Logic is one of the most common PLC programming languages used in industrial automation.
It was designed to look similar to electrical relay control circuits, which makes it easier for …
Read MoreBefore learning advanced PLC programming, every automation technician must understand the basic logic operations used in ladder logic.
The three most important logic functions are:
AND
OR
NOT
These are the foundation of almost every …
Read MoreMotor Feedback, Faults, and Interlocks: Command vs Proof in Industrial Automation
One of the most important concepts in industrial automation is this:
A command is not the same as proof.
A PLC can …
Read MoreInside an Industrial Control Panel
An industrial control panel is the heart of many automation systems.
Inside the panel, power is distributed, control voltage is created, PLCs make decisions, inputs and outputs …
Read MoreAlmost every industrial machine depends on motors.
Conveyors, pumps, fans, mixers, compressors, fillers, wrappers — all rely on motor control logic.
That means:
If you understand motor control, you understand a large portion …
Read MoreIntroduction
Industrial sensors are not installed only to turn a PLC input ON or OFF.
They are installed to give the PLC useful feedback from the real machine.
A sensor can tell the …
Read MoreIntroduction
In industrial automation, one of the most important differences a technician must understand is the difference between a fault and an alarm.
At first, both may look similar because both indicate …
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