PLC Memory
As I have mentioned previously, I have been working on a generic PLC course that I hope to release in some kind of online software format soon. I was able to test a prototype a few weeks ago with a …
Author: Frank
Electrical Engineer and business owner from the Nashville, Tennessee area. I also play music, Chess and Go.
The IEM Dilemma
First I’d like to apologize for a term I’ve mis-used in the past, that of the OEM. I’ve always considered manufacturers of specific types of industrial equipment to be “OEM”s, or Original Equipment Manufacturers. After looking carefully at the various …
Update on Projects – “Why haven’t you written more posts?”
I have been asked by a lot of readers, friends and associates lately about where I’m at on the various projects I’m involved in. There has also been an undercurrent of “why haven’t you posted lately?”, so I figured I’d …
Update on Projects – “Why haven’t you written more posts?” Read more »
Ladder Logic 106: One Shots
A one shot, or “differential”, is used to develop a signal that is exactly one scan in duration. As shown in the diagram above, when a signal is applied to a contact (a Pushbutton in the diagram above), no matter …
PLC Platform Sample Request – CLGX Example
In a post back in March, “Request for PLC Information and Samples“, I received quite a few responses offering PLC information on various platforms. Unfortunately after sending e-mails to quite a few of the respondents I haven’t received any info, …
Ethics of Automation
Today’s post is inspired by some of the comments I have received on a previous post from a couple of years ago on the advantages and disadvantages of automation. In that post (and in my book), I listed some of …
Why BCD?
Computers hate decimal. I mean, just because we have ten fingers and ten toes, we think we can dictate what base other computing entities should think in. Well, it’s really quite inefficient when you think about it, its so easy …
Teaching the Teachers
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of teaching a Siemens S7 advanced class for Automation Training to some of the professors in my old home town of Knoxville. They were from several of the area colleges and vo-tech …
Request for PLC Information and Samples
I mentioned last week that I am working on what I believe is the first truly advanced non-platform-specific book on PLC Programming. My friend Tony over on Factory Automation Software Blog has reviewed some books that come the closest, but …
Teaching and Consulting
Four years ago I relaunched my old company, Automation Consulting Services, Inc. as Automation Consulting, LLC. For the first year or so I spent a lot of time contracting for machine builders and engineering firms, mostly writing PLC and HMI/SCADA …