Nothing Like Good Connections
A variety of factors come into play when choosing between different types of terminal-block connectors such as standard screw clamps, spring clamps and euro connectors that are used for wire and cable connections in machine control systems.
ControlDesign.com: July 14, 2009; Control Design magazine, July 2009 issue.

Laser Sensors and Presence Sensors Have Different Advantages
Sensing and measuring based on laser technology that offers tightly focused measuring-spot ranges and flexible mounting-distance options are finding their places in a wide range of applications that need very accurate alternatives to 3D vision.
ControlDesign.com: July 6, 2009; Control Design magazine, June 2009 issue.

Touchscreen Advantages—Part II
Touchscreen-based HMI is finding its way into more and more discrete manufacturing applications, replacing traditional interfaces such as keyboards and mechanical buttons. Reduced footprint, lower cost, less wiring and reprogramming capabilities all impact touchscreen’s surge.
ControlDesign.com: June 6, 2009; Control Design magazine, June 2009 issue.

Touchscreens Show Off Advantages
The growing use of touchscreen-based human machine interfaces for discrete manufacturing is an indication of the advantages this type of interface provides when compared to traditional interfaces like keyboards and mechanical buttons.
ControlDesign.com: April 24, 2009; Control Design magazine, May 2009 issue.

Slow Progress in Discrete Industries for Wireless Sensors
As wireless sensors make inroads in discrete manufacturing, issues of signal latency and interference in some manufacturing environments continue to slow that process.
ControlDesign.com: April 16, 2009; Control Design magazine, May 2009 issue

Safety Adds Complexity and Function
Occupational safety requirements, increased demands for flexibility, diagnostics and Ethernet-based safety are driving use of safety relays and programmable safety controllers while providing machine builders with options.
ControlDesign.com: Feb. 5, 2009; Control Design magazine, February 2009 issue

Encoders and Resolvers Say More
Durability and flexibility are improving the feedback and communications capabilities of encoders and resolvers, while adding opportunities where the devices can be used in machine motion applications.
ControlDesign.com: Dec. 23, 2008; Control Design magazine, January 2009 issue

Sense a Presence
Presence sensors assist in many processes and offer a multitude of options how they should be applied and what benefits they will provide.
ControlDesign.com: June 30, 2008; Control Design magazine, July 2008 issue

Phil Burgert is a freelance editor and writer with more than 20 years of experience in business, technology and general journalism. He specializes in coverage of metals and other material, environmental coverage and manufacturing technology control and industrial networking topics. He has been based in Oak Park, Ill, for the past decade after spending five years as a daily trade newspaper foreign correspondent in London and Düsseldorf. He has also worked on other technology publications in New York and Chicago and has had other reporting positions in Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Georgia. Burgert has both bachelors and masters degrees in journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.

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