Weld cells are known for their harsh environments, with high temperatures, electromagnetic field disruptions, and weld spatter debris all contributing to the reduced lifespan of standard sensors. However, there are ways to address this issue and minimize downtime, headaches, and costs associated with sensor replacement. Sensor selection Choosing the appropriate sensor for the environment may be the answer to ensuring optimal uptime for a weld cell environment. If current practices are consistently failing, here are some things to consider: Is there excessive weld spatter on the sensor? Is th ..read more

Magnetic field positioning systems are increasingly popular due to their ability to provide reliable, accurate, and repeatable absolute position feedback. These systems use magnetic field sensors to get a larger range of feedback across a pneumatic cylinder – a great alternative to traditional cylinder prox switches that may not work well in certain applications. They also allow for continuous monitoring of piston position in tight spaces, providing feedback in the form of analog voltage, current output, and IO-Link interface. And in many cases, these systems can replace the need for a linear ..read more

Machine safety refers to the measures taken to ensure the safety of operators, workers, and other individuals who may come into contact with or work in the vicinity of machinery. Safety categories and performance levels are two important concepts to evaluate and design safety systems for machines. A risk assessment is a process to identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential hazards and risks associated with a particular activity, process, or system. The goal of a risk assessment is to identify potential hazards and risks and to take steps to prevent or mitigate those risks. The hierarchy of ..read more

Detecting metallic (ferrous) objects is a common application in many industries, including manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace. Inductive sensors are a popular choice for detecting metallic objects because they are reliable, durable, and cost-effective. Detecting a metallic object, however, is not always as simple as it seems, especially if you need to differentiate between two metallic objects. In such cases, it is crucial to understand the properties of the metals you are trying to detect, including whether they are ferrous or non-ferrous. Ferrous vs. non-ferrous Ferrous metals, such a ..read more

If you’ve attempted to implement an ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID system into your facility, you might have run into some headaches in the process of getting things to work properly. If you are looking to implement UHF RFID, but haven’t had the chance to set things up yet, then this blog might be beneficial to keep in mind during the process. UHF RFID and what it can do UHF RFID is a long-range system with a focus on gaining visibility in the supply chain or manufacturing process. It can track multiple ID tags in a set area/distance (depending on the read/write head you select). The RFID fi ..read more

Standard industrial sensors can solve a lot of automation challenges. Photoelectric, capacitive, and inductive technologies detect presence, distances, shapes, colors, thicknesses, and more. To satisfy these general applications, there are a few reputable manufacturers in the market that design and produce such products. In many instances, it is possible to interchange them from manufacturer to manufacturer, due to similar mounting patterns, technical specifications, connectors, and even common pin assignments. But some applications require more precision – where standard sensors will not do ..read more

By now we’ve all heard of IO-Link, the device-level communication protocol that seems magical. Often referred to as the “USB of industrial automation,” IO-Link is a universal, open, and bi-directional communication technology that enables plug-and-play device replacement, dynamic device configuration, centralized device management, remote parameter setting, device level diagnostics, and uses existing sensor cabling as part of the IEC standard accepted worldwide. But what makes IO-Link magical? If the list above doesn’t convince you to consider using IO-Link on your next automation project, le ..read more

The requirement for miniature optical sensors to meet the demands of medical and semiconductor automation equipment often exceeds the capabilities of standard self-contained optical sensors. In some cases, other industry application requirements can be best solved by these same miniature optical sensors with advanced capabilities. So, what do these optical sensors offer that makes them so much better? Applications Let’s begin with some of the applications that require these capabilities: medical applications, such as lab-on-a-chip microfluidics, liquid presence or level in drip chambers or pip ..read more

Machine learning can help organizations improve manufacturing operations and increase efficiency, productivity, and safety by analyzing data from connected machines and sensors, machine. For example, its algorithms can predict when equipment will likely fail, so manufacturers can schedule maintenance before problems occur, thereby reducing downtime and repair costs. How machine learning works Machine learning teaches computers to learn from data – to do things without being specifically told how to do them. It is a type of artificial intelligence that enables computers to automatically learn ..read more

Embedded vision is a rapidly growing field that combines computer vision and embedded systems with cameras or other imaging sensors, enabling devices to interpret and understand the visual world around them – as humans do. This technology, with broad applications, is expected to revolutionize how we interact with technology and the world around us and will likely play a major role in the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 revolution. Embedded vision uses computer vision algorithms and techniques to process visual information on devices with limited computational resources, such as embedded s ..read more