Control Design Essential Series

Get up to speed quickly with the Control Design Essentials white paper series

Written by the editors of Control Design, the mission of the Essentials Series is to provide industrial machinery designers with an up-to-date, top-level understanding of a range of key machine automation topics. Our intent is to present essential engineering concepts in a practical, non-commercial fashion, together with a review of the latest technology and marketplace drivers.

Essentials of handheld HMI

An operator interface (HMI) is an important part of most automated machines, cells and assembly systems on the manufacturing floor. It provides the view and access to control functions in addition to setpoint adjustments, status monitoring and viewing of faults and data. Quick access to these important HMI functions by operators, technicians and engineers help ensure a productive machine and simplify machine setup, changeover and maintenance. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of a robust HMI touchscreen

Millions of times a day, operators in industrial manufacturing and processing plants are looking at or reaching out and touching a human-machine interface to see the information, status and data on automated machines and to select specific control functions. While much of the technology revolves around the software, the hardware and actual design and features of the HMI are equally critical to ensure a robust and reliable interface. Learn more about HMI touch screens in this Essentials Guide.

The essentials of emergency stop switches (E-STOPS)

Emergency stops and safety systems are required on just about every automated machine and piece of equipment on the factory floor. The e-stop function is actuated by intended human operation to avert an actual or imminent emergency situation due to the behavior of personnel or from an unexpected hazardous event. Fortunately, it is getting easier to make sure e-stops comply with the standards dictated by region and industry. Learn more in this Essentials Guide.

The essentials of a well-connected operator interface

Although industrial controllers are described as the brains of automated machines, the human-machine interface (HMI) provides the information, data and control functions to create the proper machine-user experience. The technology in HMIs enables designers to develop easier-to-use machines and presents the data to make both the operator and the machine more efficient. Learn more in this Essentials Guide.

The essentials of robust safety laser scanners

There are many safety devices on the market designed to protect both personnel and machine. Fixed and removable mechanical guarding, safety guard switches, light curtains, and safety mats and edges are just some of the options. However, few are as configurable, robust and reliable as safety laser scanners. These scanners literally define area and zone safety where others lack the capability to reach the performance needed. Learn more in this Essentials Guide.

The essentials of robust piezo switches

Pushbutton switches are a timeless part of most past, present and future industrial control systems. They are available in many configurations and sizes, but few switches are as robust and reliable as piezo switches. By design, these piezo switches can meet the demands of the toughest applications where conventional pushbuttons don’t work well or don’t work at all. Learn more in this Essentials Guide.

The essentials of highly capable micro PLCs

In this special report, we explore various case studies, editorials and more to discover why some are calling the PLC the king of controllers. This includes a look at state of the art Micro PLCs, communication protocols, apps for easy access to PLCs and the cloud, easy collection of and access to data and Web-based HMI. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of robust linear position sensors

In this installment of the Essentials white paper series, learn how careful consideration of temperature, shock and vibration, as well as mechanical installation, and ensuring product specifications meet requirements will keep your linear position sensors smart and working robustly well into the 21st century. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of the "IIoT-Ready" machine

In this installment of the Essentials white paper series, learn how a new class of embedded software application—part historian, part analytical engine, part operator interface and part fault tolerant integration platform—is allowing industrial OEMs to build “IIoT-ready” machines. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of distributed servo systems

In this installment of the Essentials white paper series, learn how you can cut costs and build more flexible machines with distributed servo systems. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of data-driven automation design

Control Design's editors explore how a new generation of tools and methodologies are demonstrating design cost savings of up to 80%, along with significant improvements in design integrity and project execution time. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of electronic weighing

This installment in Control Design's Essentials series will help you grasp the key considerations when selecting and implementing an electronic weighing subsystem. Get the white paper here.

Essentials of efficient control design

This Control Design Essentials guide focuses on control panel switching devices, including state-of-the-art control design, energy efficiency, extensive monitoring and more. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of embedded machine control

In this Essentials white paper, the editors of Control Design explore the pros and cons of the range of control options available from classic PLCs to PACS and more. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of machine safety

Our editors examine key regulatory and technical issues involved in ensuring safe machine operation — and how OEMs can go about making machines as safe as possible without impacting productivity. Get the white paper here.

How much HMI is enough for your machine?

Human-machine interface solutions can range widely in sophistication and cost, depending largely on how much interaction and information exchange is required between the human operator and the machine in question. In this Essentials white paper, find out how much HMI is enough for your machine. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of effective cabinet planning

This edition of Control Design's Essentials white paper series covers aspects of planning for modern design, while also keeping security at the forefront of planning as the plant network shares data to the cloud and beyond via the Internet of Things. Get the white paper here.

The essentials of automated control panel design

In this white paper, you'll learn how applying advanced computer-aided design to engineering and manufacturing can automate processes from design of power distribution, communication networks, I/O and panel layouts to a significant portion of control-panel manufacturing, such as enclosure modifications, panel layouts, cable runs and wire routing. Get the white paper here.

 

The essentials of presence sensors

In this installment in the Control Design Essentials series, you'll learn the key application considerations for choosing among sensor technologies, as well as the latest usage trends. Get the white paper here.

Essentials of enterprise resource planning

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems serve as the infrastructure and transactional engine to keep plant floors and more working smoothly. ERP solution topics discussed in this white paper include responsiveness, choice, mobility and more. Get the white paper here.

Essentials of push buttons and pilot devices

Push buttons and signaling devices all continue to have their place throughout a factory, and are about a quarter-billion-dollar slice of the industrial automation hardware market. That’s a big slice. Clearly the push button is not going away. Get the white paper here.