To encourage more builder, integrator and user participation in our Real Answers section, we'll award a $100 gift card every quarter to the best, most experience-based builder, integrator or user answer, as chosen by the Control Design editors, that we print and post during each three-month period. Vendors aren't eligible, and all entries must be posted in the Comments section here and emailed to RealAnswers@putman.net. This quarter’s award will be made in June.

Here’s our second question from a machine builder.

We have used proximity switches on our dry material handling machines for a number of years. We are now contemplating an upgrade to programmable proximity switches. This should allow us to improve performance by fine-tuning switch characteristics via software. It should also allow us to stock fewer different types of switches. Are these and other improvements worth the time, the trouble and the expense of upgrading from standard to programmable proximity switches?