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  • The Blog
  • PLC
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    • The SmartBench
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  • Resources
    • Controls Hardware and Software
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    • The Primer
      • Automation
      • Concepts
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      • Communications
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      • Basic Electricity
      • Fluid Power
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      • Analog Sensors
      • Special Sensors
    • T.A.I.I.
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Controls Design

Electrical and controls design

Controls Design, Training

Back to Basics 5: Industrial Training

Frank May 20, 2025 Tagged with PLC Hardware and Programming, PLC programming, PLCs, systems integration, training

In 2013, not long after leaving Wright Industries and going back out on my own, I …

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Controls Design, Industrial Education, Machine Design, My Little Factory, Product Development, The Book, The Course, Training, troubleshooting

The Automation Academy

Frank Jan 26, 2020 Tagged with HMI, Industrial Automation, Industrial Automation Hands On, industrial Education, machine vision, PLC Hardware and Programming, PLC simulators

As part of an effort to bring more students to my training facility in Lebanon, Tennessee …

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Applications, Consulting, Controls Design, Machine Design, Techniques, Thoughts

How To Design And Build A Small Controls Project

Frank Apr 16, 2018 Tagged with Building a small controls project, consulting, design, engineering, systems integration

Today’s post is a response to frustration. Some times when dealing with potential customers you waste …

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Controls Design, Documentation, Software & Programming

Tag Structures and Dotfields

Frank Sep 11, 2016 Tagged with Allen-Bradley, AOI, dotfields, programming, Symbols, tag structure, Tags, UDT

Today’s post is in response to an e-mail I received asking for my thoughts on Tag …

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CAD, Controls Design, Machine Builders and Integrators, Packaging, Panelbuilding, Product Development, Vendors and Manufacturers

The IEM Dilemma

Frank Aug 14, 2016 Tagged with CAD, design, IEM, Industrial Equipment Manufacturers, OEM, panelbuilding

First I’d like to apologize for a term I’ve mis-used in the past, that of the …

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Controls Design, Software & Programming, Touchscreens, Vendors and Manufacturers

Wonderware

Frank Apr 26, 2015 Tagged with HMI, InTouch, Invensys, MES, SCADA, Schneider, software, Wonderware

As many of you know from reading this blog, I spend about 40% of my time …

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CAD, Controls Design, Random Thoughts, Thoughts

Random Thoughts 1

Frank Dec 18, 2014 Tagged with CAD, diving, Key Largo, Miami, PLCs, programming, random, travel

Hello again from Miami. This time I drove down here since I needed to spend a …

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Communications, Controls Design

Industrial Ethernet

Frank Nov 16, 2014 Tagged with Allen-Bradley, BootP, Communications, ControlNet, DeviceNet, DHCP, ethernet, Ethernet/IP, Industrial Ethernet, Internet Protocol Suite, MAC Address, Profibus, ProfiNet, Siemens, TCP/IP

Today’s post is dedicated to my new friends at Poseidon Industries, a manufacturer of stone cutting …

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Controls Design, Vendors and Manufacturers

More on Specifications

Frank Nov 9, 2014 Tagged with cross reference, design, specifications

A couple of months ago I wrote a post on cross referencing; that is, finding a …

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CAD, Controls Design, Panelbuilding

Books or Websites on Control Panel Design

Frank Nov 1, 2014 Tagged with design, panelbuilding, sizing, wiring

Today’s post is in answer to a question from Josh: Frank, Thanks for the informative site …

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