How Do You Diagnose?

Feb. 18, 2008
An industrial machine builder is thinking about upgrading to digital networks for communications among the controller, the I/O, sensors and maybe drives, but they're concerned about diagnosing network faults and monitoring network performance on the machine. Are there software and hardware tools they'll need to install directly on their machines? Which handheld tools can their techs and their customers’ techs use to check out digital networks? How much training should they expect their support personnel will need?
An industrial machine builder is thinking about upgrading to digital networks for communications among the controller, the I/O, sensors and maybe drives, but they're concerned about diagnosing network faults and monitoring network performance on the machine. Are there software and hardware tools they'll need to install directly on their machines? Which handheld tools can their techs and their customers’ techs use to check out digital networks? How much training should they expect their support personnel will need?
About the Author

Mike Bacidore | Editor in Chief

Mike Bacidore is chief editor of Control Design and has been an integral part of the Endeavor Business Media editorial team since 2007. Previously, he was editorial director at Hughes Communications and a portfolio manager of the human resources and labor law areas at Wolters Kluwer. Bacidore holds a BA from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He is an award-winning columnist, earning multiple regional and national awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. He may be reached at [email protected] 

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