We found 251 posts about Automation Technologies from DO Supply, a global automation parts
reseller focused on hard-to-find and obsolete industrial automation products.
The choice between smart motor controllers and traditional starters is becoming increasingly clear in today’s industrial landscape. While traditional starters primarily serve to start and stop motors, smart motor controllers offer advanced features that enhance motor performance, energy efficiency, and overall system health. These controllers are equipped with integrated communication, real-time monitoring, voltage protection, adaptive control, fault logging, and remote firmware updates, providing far superior capabilities compared to conventional starters. By continuously analyzing and optimizing motor performance, smart motor controllers help prevent costly downtime, extend equipment life, and improve energy management. So why should we go smart? Shop PowerFlex 40 Series Drives Here Smart motor controllers with remote firmware updates offer a technical advantage over conventional starters, which are not upgradeable and frequently need human maintenance. Conventional starters are...
Allen-Bradley servo drives are integral to modern automation systems, offering precision control over motor performance. In this article, we break down the key components inside these drives, detailing their functionalities and technical features. From the Power Supply Unit (PSU), which ensures reliable power conversion and protection, to the Control Board, which handles signal processing and command execution, each element is critical in maintaining performance and reliability. Additionally, we explore the Cooling System, Communication Interfaces, and Protective Mechanisms, which enhance the drive’s efficiency and durability in demanding industrial environments. Understanding these components helps optimize their use in automation applications. In Allen-Bradley servo drives, the Power Supply Unit (PSU) is an essential part that guarantees the dependable operation of the drive and the servo motor it is attached to. It provides the exact electrical energy needed for flawless operation...
For a guy who swore he’d seen it all, Mark was baffled. His plant ran like clockwork; at least, that’s what he thought. Yet somehow, his energy bills kept climbing, his motors weren’t lasting as long as they should, and maintenance crews were spending more time reacting to breakdowns than preventing them. He’d thrown money at the problem, replacing parts, upgrading motors, and even tightening maintenance schedules, but nothing made a dent. That’s when someone finally asked him: What kind of motor controllers are you using? Turns out, the culprit wasn’t the motors themselves, but the outdated motor controllers running them. Fortunately for Mark, replacing those archaic controllers with more advanced smart motor controllers had extinguished the fires and put money right back in his pocket with the savings from lower energy bills. By adjusting power delivery, monitoring performance in real-time, and predicting failures before they happen, smart motor controllers give businesses like...
The Allen-Bradley PowerFlex family of DC and AC drives offers a comprehensive range of innovative features, power ratings, packaging & mounting options, global voltages, and motor control technologies from open-loop speed regulation to high-precision torque and speed control. This flexible portfolio of state-of-the-art drives is designed to simplify machine design, keep users connected to their operations, and ultimately help maximize system performance and productivity. It delivers a cost-effective motor control solution for a wide variety of low- and medium-voltage industrial applications, including smart conveyors, packaging machines, diverters, cranes & hoists, mills, de-palletizers/palletizers, pumps, aeration blowers, fans, wind tunnels, pulpers, compressors, rubber mixers, and chillers. As mentioned, the PowerFlex line of AC and DC drives from Rockwell Automation provides a broad set of advanced features that help maximize system performance and productivity. These include:...
Navigating the installation, setup, and troubleshooting of PowerFlex DC drives can greatly enhance your automation system’s performance. This article provides practical tips and tricks for working with these drives, from installation and wiring essentials to power distribution, grounding, and circuit protection. It delves into parameter configurations, motor feedback tuning, fault monitoring, and troubleshooting, enabling users to optimize drive functionality. Users can quickly resolve issues, improve accuracy, and ensure consistent operation in various industrial applications by understanding specialized parameters and diagnostic tools. Below, we have discussed some tips and tricks for users to utilize the PowerFlex DC Drives. Shop 1365 DC Controllers Here Ensure you adhere to installation rules and any product cautions while installing the PowerFlex DC Drives. Mount the drive firmly and keep the necessary clearances to promote heat dissipation and prevent electrical interference...
Electric motors are the heartbeat of present-day automated industrial environments, powering virtually every machinery that drives production and manufacturing processes. In fact, more than 50% of the workload involved in today’s industrial processes is completed by electric motors, and this percentage is expected to continue increasing in the foreseeable future. This places a significant premium on ensuring that these motors and their associated circuits are properly protected to increase machine uptime and reduce unplanned downtimes, which can be very costly for companies. With current motor protection trends moving towards consolidating multiple protective features/functions into a single motor control module, system efficiency, performance, and reliability can be greatly enhanced. Solid-state smart motor controllers, like the SMC Dialog Plus controllers, offer even greater functionality and integration with smaller motor control panels and lower costs for hardware components...
Allen-Bradley motor drives are a vital component for industrial efficiency, providing state-of-the-art solutions to maximize motor performance. By offering exact control over speed, direction, torque, and power output, these cutting-edge drives completely transform the way industries function and guarantee the smooth operation of electric motors in various applications. In this article, we will first look at a generic spread of drives that are part of Allen Bradley, and then we will go into the features by taking different series as examples. Ultimately, we will discuss some of the benefits that Allen Bradley drives have that help boost efficiency. Allen-Bradley DC motor drives are perfect for heavy-duty applications like rolling mills, cranes, and textile machines. They provide unmatched dependability in braking, speed regulation, and frequent start-stop duties. They improve operating stability and lower energy usage with reliable solutions for both brushed and brushless DC motors...
The PowerFlex 700H is a series of normal-duty and heavy-duty adjustable frequency AC drives from Rockwell Automation. The drives are designed to provide outstanding performance, space optimization, and application flexibility in an easy-to-use structure. They are ideal for high-power motor control applications requiring accurate open-loop speed regulation. Target applications include speed control of three-phase induction motors used in industrial fans, conveyors, pumps, simple extruders, mixers, and stamping presses. Additionally, PowerFlex 700H AC drives provide excellent torque at low motor speeds, and motor control algorithms (Volts-per-Hertz and Sensorless Vector Control) are configurable for a wide variety of demanding speed control applications. This makes the drive series a cost-effective solution for high-performance, variable-speed applications. The drives also feature a slot-based architecture that lets users customize their motion control systems with available PowerFlex...
Allen-Bradley drives are at the forefront of industrial automation, offering an impressive array of features that set them apart from competitors. In this article, we’ll explore the top five features of Allen-Bradley drives that you can’t ignore. From a broad voltage range providing unmatched flexibility to robust communication protocols ensuring seamless integration, these drives are designed to enhance performance and efficiency across various applications. We will also look into their exceptional power capacity, advanced control algorithms, and state-of-the-art safety measures. These key features make Allen-Bradley Drives a reliable choice for optimizing industrial operations in even the most demanding environments. The wide voltage range of Allen-Bradley drives makes them unique and provides unparalleled adaptability for various industrial applications. Users can select the ideal drive for their unique requirements from this range without sacrificing performance. For example, the...
A factory with perfect efficiency, uptime, and productivity is one bad actor away from utter failure if it never pays any mind to its network security. Many routers are built for office environments, but automation demands more. Harsh conditions, strict security requirements, and seamless integration with industrial control systems make traditional IT equipment and software less effective. That is where the Stratix 5900 comes in. This security appliance is designed specifically for industrial networks, combining firewall protection, secure remote access, and advanced traffic control into a single package. But how does this all lead to safeguarding your factory? Shop for Stratix 5900 Routers Here Firewalls control which traffic is allowed into and out of a network. In industrial settings, this is especially important because unauthorized access can lead to production slowdowns or system failures. The Stratix 5900 firewall is tailored for automation environments, allowing it to filter...
Motors. They turn the wheels of an electric car, move products seamlessly along a conveyor belt, launch a 3D printer’s head into action to craft precise plastic models, and even create the tactile feedback you feel in a game controller. Whether we’re talking about transportation, manufacturing, or entertainment, motors are everywhere. In fact, there are at least a dozen different types to choose from, each tailored to meet a specific need, whether it’s precision, speed, torque, or efficiency. Yet, with so many choices, getting lost in the technicalities is easy. This article will focus on two parts: the stepper motor and the servo motor. The stepper motor was the answer to the growing need for reliable and repeatable motion control. Developed in the 1920s and gaining widespread adoption by the 1950s, these motors quickly became indispensable across a variety of industries. From textile factories ensuring precise fabric weaving to military-grade avionics systems where precision could...
In today’s interconnected world, securing your network infrastructure is more important than ever, especially in industrial environments where the stakes are high. Whether it’s protecting sensitive data or ensuring uninterrupted operations, having a robust network security system is critical. Enter the Allen Bradley Stratix 5900 router, a device that offers advanced security features tailored for industrial applications. The Stratix 5900 router isn’t just another piece of networking hardware. It represents a strategic investment in protecting your industrial systems against cyber threats. Its comprehensive suite of security features helps safeguard your network from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other potential vulnerabilities. Featuring robust zone-based firewalls, multi-factor authentication, and advanced VPN capabilities, the Stratix 5900 is built to meet the high-security demands of industrial environments. Its SSL/TLS support ensures secure communications, while the...
Choosing a network switch for your industrial operation is a bit like picking the right tool for a DIY project. You know what needs to be done, but grabbing a hammer when you really need a screwdriver isn’t going to get you very far. The key is finding the right tool for the job, and with the Stratix series, Rockwell Automation has built a toolbox that’s hard to ignore. Whether you’re looking for the straightforward reliability of the Stratix 5700 or the security-first approach of the Stratix 5900, each switch has a role to play. The question is, how do these tools compare to others in the hardware store? And, more importantly, which one will help you get the job done? Before you start building, let’s dive in and see which tool fits your industrial network best. If you had to pick a go-to switch for handling most industrial network challenges, the Stratix 5700 would be that trusted multi-tool you always keep within reach. Designed for small to medium-sized networks, this switch is all...
The term Machine-to-Machine (M2M) refers to the interaction between two or more devices that are capable of exchanging information without human intervention. It ranges from basic sensor-to-server interactions to complex networks coordinating actions. M2M relies on telemetry for remote data recording and transmission, utilizing wired or wireless channels. Its foundation lies in enabling device communication, fostering automation, and enhancing efficiency. In the world of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, three essential components work in harmony: hardware, software, and networks. “Tesla Autobots ” by jurvetson is licensed under CC BY 2.0 . Devices such as sensors and servers are the essential components. They play critical roles in data collection and processing. Acts as manager of M2M communication. Coordinates communication protocols and data analysis. Ensures interaction between devices. Provide the platform for device connectivity. Serve as the stage for information...
The Allen-Bradley Kinetix 2000 (Bulletin 2093) Series features multi-axis servo drive modules that support integrated motion through SERCOS (Serial Real-time Communications System) interface. They extend the advantages of Kinetix Integrated Motion on SERCOS network to low-power motion control systems. They also deliver high performance and advanced control capabilities in a smaller footprint, allowing users to improve system performance and productivity while reducing the total cost of ownership and time to market. Kinetix 2000 servo drives are an excellent choice for small and mid-sized motion control applications. Target applications include robotics, material handling, indexing, converting, X-Y tables, textile machinery, Web processing, metal forming, packaging, and electronic assembly. Compact size, innovative design and installation features, easy-to-use components, and simplified wiring 170 to 264V rms AC input, three-phase or single-phase (230V nominal) A wide range of...
