Topic: Industrial PCs

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Controllers: More of Everything
The List of User Requirements Continues to Grow Longer

Buckle Up With Built in Safety
Machine Builders Include Preventive Safety Early in the Design — And Get Paid Back Sooner

End Users' Needs Inspire Machine Builder's Inventions
Spartanics Celebrates 50 Years Providing Leading Solutions to Customers

Industrial PC Timeline Marches On
How Automation Changed From Being a Tool to a Solution

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White Papers: In Depth Research

The Advantages of Fanless PCs in Industrial Environments
Author: Ian Bacon, computer design engineer and Anderson Peeples associate design engineer for CCS
Posted: 02/18/2013
With new trends in technology emerging daily, computers are becoming more prevalent in all aspects of industry. However, certain areas have traditionally been difficult or harsh on conventional computer systems. Extreme temperatures, dust and particulates, airflow restrictions and even lack of maintenance access are fairly common issues found in the typical industrial setting. These problems can greatly affect the performance of traditional computers. A variety of technologies and methods have been implemented to try and combat many of the issues found in harsh environments, but one of the best methods is to remove all moving components, including fans, from the computer system. While this approach creates a variety of challenges in design, this white paper discusses how a fanless PC can prevent many of the common stresses a traditional computer may experience and help decrease the downtime of an average system.

Eliminate Software Disasters With a Self-Repairing OS
Author: Sun Lee, Product Manager and Bruce Chen, Project Supervisor for Moxa
Posted: 01/07/2013
Without software, computers are useless. Unfortunately, the more functional software gets the more complex it is, and the chance it will eventually encounter a crash increases in step. This is true regardless of where a computer is used, whether in homes, offices, or even in tiny embedded applications. System failure can occur at any point in the system at any time, and a big part of planning for such disasters includes preparations for a timely recovery from catastrophic software failures. With a little ingenuity and automation, business losses due to software failure can be practically tossed aside as a thing of the past.

Although reliance on computers is now ubiquitous, in industrial contexts these machines are literally of capital significance. Automated system crashes due to software failures are not mere annoyances; they are destructive events that cost money and may threaten a business' survival. Failures in large, networked systems may even spread, increasing the costs and danger. For these reasons, system recovery has become a pressing concern for any business that relies on extensive automation, but is of the greatest importance in remote installations like oil or gas pipelines, mines, offshore environments, or power substations. In places such as these, timely arrival at the equipment site may be difficult or even impossible, so effective disaster recovery plans that take these limitations into account are imperative. For software failures, automation is the answer. The key is to streamline system recoveries so they are rapid, simple, and reliable–particularly for mass deployments–and do not require the on-site presence of maintenance staff.

This white paper shows how just how easily an automated software recovery system can be implemented by exploring how it is designed and operates.

Ethernet Cable: A Guideline to Implementing Solid or Stranded Cables
Author: Turck
Posted: 07/17/2012
With businesses becoming increasingly more communication-centric, virtually every industry is now relying on industrial Ethernet technology to network critical devices and control systems as well as to enhance process automation and improve efficiency. As one of the most widely used networking technologies, Ethernet connects more than 85 percent of LAN connected PCs and workstations, providing a flexible solution that delivers real-time data and status updates to ensure constant information accessibility and instantaneous data transfer.

In order to utilize these communication capabilities, Ethernet cables are required to provide the necessary connectivity. These cables are used to connect devices, such as PC, switches and routers, to transmit and receive data. To ensure proper cabling installation, organizations such as the American National Standards Institute, Telecommunications Industry Association and Electronic Industries Association provide clear, concise instructions and standards that assist users in setting up reliable Ethernet connections.

The white paper serves as a useful resource, allowing readers to identify and implement the ideal Ethernet cable to ensure reliable network performance in their industrial applications.

Evolution in Motion
Author: Omron
Posted: 12/02/2011
The Machine Automation Controller (MAC) Meets Market Needs More Effectively than Previous Controller Solutions

To paraphrase Albert Einstein, the opportunity for development is directly related to the potential for value. This is particularly relevant to technological development, where market forces establish need and value, and then science and engineering are applied to meet them.

Case in point: Look at the use of machine control hardware for automation. During the past 50 years there has been a powerful and dramatic development of controllers: Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Industrial PCs (IPC), and Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC).

The explosion of industrial applications continues to challenge the functionality of those controllers, fostering further innovation. The need to combine the capabilities of traditional process/discrete industrial control has led to adaptations or extensions of existing technology. The efforts to evolve resulted in underperforming machine automation due to limitations in architecture and a lack of cross-discipline expertise.

Today we see the emergence of a new controller type: a Machine Automation Controller (MAC). A MAC resolves the integration of control technologies without sacrificing performance. Only after painstaking development from the ground up--specifically for high-speed, multi-axis motion control, vision, and logic--has the MAC emerged. Let's revisit how this point was reached.

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