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Control Platforms Resource Center

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Controls engineers need a variety of information on topics such as programmable logic controllers, programmable automation controllers, PC-based control, embedded controls, computer numeric control, control software, network strategies, relays and switches.

Programmable logic controllers have been the staple of machine automation for decades and provide the majority machine logic solutions currently in operation.

PC-based controls offer the advantages of inherent data communication based on today’s Internet-centric TCP/IP protocols, with the ability to perform critical tasks in conjunction with an accompanying real-time operating systems, RTOS, kernel or a plug-in motion controller card.

Newer programmable automation controllers try to offer the best features of both control platforms.

Embedded controls can take the form of single-board computers with some application-specific capabilities or as the emerging field programmable gate array, FPGA, hardware that offers flexible customization and versatility.

Timely news, back-to-basics primers, feature articles, technical white papers and descriptions of the latest products all provide valuable insights that can be used in designing and building machine controls.

White Papers: In Depth Research

Pneumatic Safety Systems and Cylinder Speed Control
Author: Eric Cummings and Steve Boyette, ROSS Controls
Posted: 11/06/2009
The advancements in automation systems have led to tremendous increases in productivity for manufacturers. Machine controls utilizing sensing and verifi cation of the product and position sensing of machine components allows for higher speeds of equipment and improvements in quality. Improvements in safety have also been achieved, greatly reducing the instances where operators are required to interact with the equipment during operation. However, automated machines are not autonomous. Material deviations or component malfunctions still require an operator to investigate and alleviate the situation. Because of this, operators and maintenance personnel must access potentially hazardous areas in the machine for functions such as clearing jams and other routine production related issues. These production related issues must of course be done in a safe manner; advancements in safety control systems are helping to make this possible.

Making permanent Savings Through Active Energy Efficiency
Author: Schneider Electric
Posted: 08/21/2009
This white paper argues strongly that meeting greenhouse gas emissions targets set within the Kyoto Protocol will fail unless Active Energy Efficiency becomes compulsory.

Active Energy Efficiency is defined as effecting permanent change through measurement, monitoring and control of energy usage. Passive energy efficiency is regarded as the installation of countermeasures against thermal losses, the use of low consumption equipment and so forth.

It is vital, but insufficient, to make use of energy saving equipment and devices such as low energy lighting. Without proper control, these measures often merely militate against energy losses rather than make a real reduction in energy consumed and in the way it is used.

Everything that consumes power – from direct electricity consumption through lighting, heating and most significantly electric motors, but also in HVAC control, boiler control and so forth – must be addressed actively if sustained gains are to be made. This includes changing the culture and mindsets of groups of individuals, resulting in behavioural shifts at work and at home, but clearly, this need is reduced by greater use of technical controls.

Growing a Green Corporation
Author: Schneider Electric
Posted: 08/04/2009
Meeting the next great disruptive challenge of the 21st century.

Since the Industrial Revolution our society has been driven by an increasing pace of change in business and technology. Every decade or two we have faced a new and disruptive event that challenges business and creates opportunities-the locomotive, the electric light, the automobile, the airplane, the television and the computer, to name a few.

But the greatest disruptive event of the next 20 years may come, not from a single invention, but from the world around us-that is, climate change.

How your business responds to the climate challenge can either differentiate you from the competition and launch new and successful products, or make you the focus of consumer backlash and eroding margins.

This paper will explore the environment as a disruptive force in business, examine the consequences of inaction, and propose the benefits of a proactive environmental policy. It will describe increasing levels of investment that a small company, an enterprise or an industry can make to address the challenge and develop a business case. The paper ends with a concrete roadmap to lead you from today's "business as usual" to a long-term sustainable approach to growing a Green corporation.

After reading this paper, business leaders in every industry will have an understanding of how the environment will impact their business, how to make changes to mitigate the negative impacts and how to explore business opportunities in this new and exciting sustainable world.

Six Sigma: What? Why? How?
Author: Dataforth
Posted: 07/17/2009
This whitepaper provides the history of the Six Sigma Symbol and explanations on the Six Sigma concept, the Six Sigma implementation, the Six Sigma calculation and more. Download this paper now.

Product variation and defects undercut customer loyalty as well as company profits. Six Sigma is a rigorous, disciplined, data-driven methodology that was developed to enhance product quality and company profitability by improving manufacturing and business processes.

Six Sigma uses statistical analysis to quantitatively measure how a process is performing. That process can involve manufacturing, business practices, products, or service. To be defined as Six Sigma means that the process does not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO) – which translates to 99.9997% efficiency.

A Six Sigma defect is considered anything that can cause customer dissatisfaction, such as being outside of customer specifications. A Six Sigma opportunity is the total number of chances for a defect to occur.

Six Sigma Concept

The Six Sigma concept was developed by Motorola in 1986 with the stated goal of improving manufacturing processes and reducing product defects and variation. The underlying goal was to achieve near quality perfection with 99.9997% of variable values within specifications.

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