Ask Control Engineering
|
Safety system on a fieldbus?
January 03, 2011
What is fieldbus safety instrumented function technology? » more
( No Comments )
January 03, 2011
What is fieldbus safety instrumented function technology? » more
( No Comments )
What is certification supposed to do?
December 23, 2010
Why should I look for a company that carries some sort of certification? What does that mean? » more
( No Comments )
December 23, 2010
Why should I look for a company that carries some sort of certification? What does that mean? » more
( No Comments )
Creating your own cellular network
December 17, 2010
If you want to use cellular communication for remote I/O and devices, does that mean signing up with a commercial carrier? » more
( No Comments )
December 17, 2010
If you want to use cellular communication for remote I/O and devices, does that mean signing up with a commercial carrier? » more
( No Comments )
Simulating analog
December 10, 2010
Is it possible to use digital tools to simulate an analog environment? » more
( No Comments )
December 10, 2010
Is it possible to use digital tools to simulate an analog environment? » more
( No Comments )
Bluetooth for industrial applications
December 03, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: I was listening to the recent Webcast about Wireless, and one of the presenters was talking about Bluetooth. How many different devices can use that without interfering with each other? Fortunately, that Webcast is available for on-demand listening, so you can hear the presentation again if you like. Bluetooth is an interesting... » more
( No Comments )
December 03, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: I was listening to the recent Webcast about Wireless, and one of the presenters was talking about Bluetooth. How many different devices can use that without interfering with each other? Fortunately, that Webcast is available for on-demand listening, so you can hear the presentation again if you like. Bluetooth is an interesting... » more
( No Comments )
Driving out the dampness
November 19, 2010
How can you get rid of moisture inside cabinets and enclosures? » more
( 1 Comment )
November 19, 2010
How can you get rid of moisture inside cabinets and enclosures? » more
( 1 Comment )
Is it water or orange juice?
November 12, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: I am working in the process to automate a pasteurizer. I am looking for a sensor technology to detect the change from water to orange juice, and from orange juice to water in the output process. It has a color sensor, but it doesn't detect the change all that well. Do you know a better sensor? Thank you. –Erick When looking at a... » more
( No Comments )
November 12, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: I am working in the process to automate a pasteurizer. I am looking for a sensor technology to detect the change from water to orange juice, and from orange juice to water in the output process. It has a color sensor, but it doesn't detect the change all that well. Do you know a better sensor? Thank you. –Erick When looking at a... » more
( No Comments )
Cellular communication for remote I/O
November 05, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: I was looking at the announcement about using cellular service for industrial devices. Is this really practical? Wouldn’t it be hugely expensive? » more
( 1 Comment )
November 05, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: I was looking at the announcement about using cellular service for industrial devices. Is this really practical? Wouldn’t it be hugely expensive? » more
( 1 Comment )
What is process linearity?
October 29, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: Recently you were talking about linearity in instrumentation devices. What is process linearity? Process linearity is similar in that it looks at the relationships between elements of a process and the output. Does output change in direct proportion to a change in input. Let’s say you want to boil a gallon of water to make... » more
( No Comments )
October 29, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: Recently you were talking about linearity in instrumentation devices. What is process linearity? Process linearity is similar in that it looks at the relationships between elements of a process and the output. Does output change in direct proportion to a change in input. Let’s say you want to boil a gallon of water to make... » more
( No Comments )
When you go to a science museum, what do you enjoy most?
October 20, 2010
Usually the Ask Control Engineering blog provides answers, but today we ask, “When you go to a science museum, what do you enjoy most?” Kate McGroarty won the Museum of Science and Industry “Month at the Museum” contest and starts 30 days in the museum today, living, eating, and sleeping science. » more
( 2 Comments )
October 20, 2010
Usually the Ask Control Engineering blog provides answers, but today we ask, “When you go to a science museum, what do you enjoy most?” Kate McGroarty won the Museum of Science and Industry “Month at the Museum” contest and starts 30 days in the museum today, living, eating, and sleeping science. » more
( 2 Comments )
Linearity in measuring devices
October 15, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: Sometimes I see the term “linearity” used in reference to measuring devices. What does this mean? Linearity reflects the ability of a sensor to respond to changes in a measured variable in the same way across the full range. If you’ve seen old pressure gages, they often have uneven scales where the divisions are larger at one... » more
( 1 Comment )
October 15, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: Sometimes I see the term “linearity” used in reference to measuring devices. What does this mean? Linearity reflects the ability of a sensor to respond to changes in a measured variable in the same way across the full range. If you’ve seen old pressure gages, they often have uneven scales where the divisions are larger at one... » more
( 1 Comment )
Redundant vs. fault tolerant fieldbus wiring
October 08, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: I was watching one of the videos from Emerson Global Users Exchange, an interview with Scott Saunders from MooreHawke. We’ve been looking at installing some Foundation fieldbus segments, and I was interested in his comments about redundant and fault tolerant segments. What is the difference between those two approaches? One of the... » more
( No Comments )
October 08, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: I was watching one of the videos from Emerson Global Users Exchange, an interview with Scott Saunders from MooreHawke. We’ve been looking at installing some Foundation fieldbus segments, and I was interested in his comments about redundant and fault tolerant segments. What is the difference between those two approaches? One of the... » more
( No Comments )
Where do we start to build a cyber security program?
October 01, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: This Stuxnet worm problem has got me concerned about potential cyber security problems with our control systems. I’m afraid that we’re pretty far behind where we should be in developing a defense strategy. Where can I go for some basic help as we look at this in earnest? You should be concerned with Stuxnet in that it represents a... » more
( No Comments )
October 01, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: This Stuxnet worm problem has got me concerned about potential cyber security problems with our control systems. I’m afraid that we’re pretty far behind where we should be in developing a defense strategy. Where can I go for some basic help as we look at this in earnest? You should be concerned with Stuxnet in that it represents a... » more
( No Comments )
Robots look for opportunities too
September 24, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: After looking at the article on Recycling Robots, it seems the company thinks about those machines like people. Well, yes. In this particular case, Navistar found itself having to close a plant and relocate manufacturing to keep up with changes in demand. The robots had to pick up and move to where the work is just... » more
( No Comments )
September 24, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: After looking at the article on Recycling Robots, it seems the company thinks about those machines like people. Well, yes. In this particular case, Navistar found itself having to close a plant and relocate manufacturing to keep up with changes in demand. The robots had to pick up and move to where the work is just... » more
( No Comments )
What is a "sanitary" device?
September 17, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: One of the things I see regularly in your new product listings are devices that are designated as “sanitary,” for use in food and pharmaceutical applications. What does that mean? Manufacturing plants that produce food and pharmaceutical products are concerned about bad things growing in a manufacturing environment that could make... » more
( No Comments )
September 17, 2010
Dear Control Engineering: One of the things I see regularly in your new product listings are devices that are designated as “sanitary,” for use in food and pharmaceutical applications. What does that mean? Manufacturing plants that produce food and pharmaceutical products are concerned about bad things growing in a manufacturing environment that could make... » more
( No Comments )
61 of 96