Industrial Automation & Motion Controls

Industrial Automation Control Equipment

Throughout the Age of Industry, many solutions have been implemented to improve production and manufacturing, such as automation and control systems. Significant pieces of industrial automation equipment include relays, electric motors, PLCs, and sensors. As automation becomes more specialized, additional equipment subcategories continue to emerge.

Relays are automation switches that open and close circuits. Relays use contacts with other circuits to control the current. There are several types of relays, such as those listed below.

What are some relays used in industrial control?

• General-purpose relays are electro-mechanical switches that operate with alternating or direct current. They are designed to work at standard voltages, such as 12, 48, and 230. and automate currents that range from 2 to 30 amps. They can be installed in a diverse number of configurations.
• Instant-on relays turn a load on once a certain voltage is detected. These relays are capable of being turned on during any part of the up or down wave.
• Peak-switching relays turn the load on when a certain voltage is present and peaking in a system. The relay turns off when the voltage-removed load is zero.
• Machine-control relays are used to automate electrical flows in industrial settings. These relays are heavy-duty and are more durable than general purpose ones. Machine-control relays benefit from additional apparatuses, such as extra system poles, transient suppression of electrical noise, and convertible contacts.

What role do electric motors play in industrial automation control? 

An electric motor automates the flow of electrical energy into mechanical energy. This type of equipment is extensively used in all kinds of manufacturing and industry. Motors help in automation with a variety of specific motors, such as servo, general purpose, vibration, and stepper motors.

• Servo motors are commonly used in high-grade manufacturing automation procedures, such as automation that requires laser cutting. A servo consumes power until it rotates to the command position.
• Direct-drive motors are highly efficient and easier to maintain long-term. They accelerate faster than servo motors and are used in high-speed automation processes.
• Stepper motors are like servo motors, but they continually consume power. They are used in many lower-grade manufacturing automation processes.

What industrial control does a PLC provide?

PLCs are computers that are used to automate manufacturing processes, such as the production of equipment with robots. With a PLC controlling the specifications, a wide variety of systems can be enhanced, such as production lines, industrial processes, and automation controls. Logic equipment is designed with the capacity to change and reproduce an operation or process during the collection and communication of data. This capacity allows for a broad range of systems to communicate effectively while optimizing workflow.

What are component sensors?

Component sensors automate the gathering and processing of data. Sensors are a big part of automation and have allowed industrial automation to progress exponentially. They can monitor machinery temperature during the manufacturing process, sense where items are in an industrial facility, and otherwise improve most industrial automation processes.