Motion-component suppliers surveyed for this year’s Design World Trends issue described several different programs to maintain technical proficiency for both application engineers and OEMs and other users of their products. CGI Motion engages in outreach in the form of open houses so that STEM students get chances to tour the company facility. That’s from Robert […]
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Control-software portability with IEC 61131-3: How reusable are XML files?
Say an engineering team wants to switch their design’s PLC from one model to another — a relatively infrequent but ordinary specification decision. How well do XML files really work for importing and exporting? How much are component manufacturers really motivated to make that work … and not lock engineers onto one specific hardware? Engineers […]
Programmable automation controllers (PACs) work as an alternative to what exactly?
According to some, today’s most demanding motion designs either incorporate a PAC or industrial PC — and these are engineers’ two leading options for machine control right now. Recall that until recently, industrial automation (including motion control) was extremely segmented. So supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems were at the system top layer … […]
IEC 61131-3 programming: Where’s structured text more appropriate than ladder logic?
No one IEC 61131-3 language leads for all uses. In fact, the best way to program with IEC 61131-3 languages is by using multiple languages together. That accommodates (among other things) the way every engineer has a different methodology for programming. Sequential function chart (SFC): Recall that SFC is the highest-level code standard in IEC […]
Not just Allen Bradley anymore: New controllers abound
10 years ago, there was one main controller brand in U.S. automation — Rockwell Automation’s Allen Bradley. This is still a leading PLC line with a massive adoption rate in the U.S. because: • Allen Bradley did an excellent job educating people in the U.S. on ladder-diagram programming for its PLCs • The manufacturer embedded […]
New Parker Hannifin ACRView Motion Development Software with full Windows 10 support
Parker’s Electromechanical and Drives Division North America has released ACRView version 6.4.2, which lets users develop applications using the Windows 10 operating system from Microsoft. ACRView is a powerful code-development tool that assists users of ACR controller and IPA drive products to program, debug, and commission their application. Several features are incorporated to assist both […]
Current state of programmable automation controllers (PACs) for motion
Programmable automation controllers (PACs) excel in commanding complex automation setups that involve PC-based and HMI functions as well as process control (largely because of the way they handle I/O). PACs are also increasingly common in motion applications for machining or handling discrete product thanks to the flexibility and interoperability they offer machine designs. Today’s PACs […]
Parker Hannifin now offers new PAC Terminal (PT) thin-client HMI
Parker’s Electromechanical and Drives Division – North America now offers the PAC Terminal (PT) thin-client HMI. The PT is a thin-client HMI developed to work seamlessly with the Parker Automation Controller (PAC). With the PAC handling the control and HMI logic, the PT is responsible for displaying the embedded HMI as well as sending touch […]
Parker Hannifin Corp. launches Parker Automation Manager 1.3 — an IDE for PAC programming
Parker’s Electromechanical and Drives Division – North America has just released the Parker Automation Manager (PAM) 1.3 — an update that significantly expands Parker Automation Controller (PAC) features and functionality, allowing users to integrate complex robotics into their machine controller in an easy-to-use, graphical environment. While the PAC is Parker’s all-in-one machine controls solution that combines PLC, HMI, […]
Parker Hannifin launches New XT – Parker Xpress PowerStation HMI
Parker’s Electromechanical and Drives Division North America now sells the XT – Parker’s Xpress PowerStation. The XT comes pre-loaded with the next iteration of Parker’s runtime and development software, Xpress 4.1. The XT was designed with the Industrial user in mind. The XT is a fully solid state device with 15-g peak shock and 5 to 500-Hz vibration […]
