AutomationDirect
A well-recognized name in the industrial automation market, AutomationDirect provides quality products with FREE award-winning in-house sales and technical support. AutomationDirect provides customers with quick order and delivery through an online store which makes self-service easy with tools such as product selectors, 3-D CAD viewer, and more. Prices are well below the industry average and a 30-day money-back guarantee is offered on nearly all items. With thousands of part listings, products include PLCs, HMIs, motors, drives, enclosures, pneumatics, pushbuttons, sensors, enclosures, circuit protection, wire, and much more. The state-of-the-art headquarters facility near Atlanta is designed throughout for maximum performance. Orders for in-stock items can be taken as late as 6 p.m. EST and shipped for fast delivery, and most orders qualify for free, two-day delivery.The company provides online tutorial videos through their web store as well as their YouTube channel. A Customer Forum provides peer support on technical and application questions.
Articles
Remote I/O To BRX Micro PLCs by AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added input/output (I/O) expansion modules to its BRX Micro programmable logic controller (PLC) product line.
Multi-conductor sensor/actuator cable by AutomationDirect
Flexible multi-conductor sensor/actuator cable is now available from AutomationDirect in 24 AWG and 22 AWG with 3, 4 or 5 unshielded conductors, and in customer specified one-foot increment lengths.
AcuAMP solid core AC current transformers by AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect’s AcuAMP Solid Core current transformers are instrumentation grade (commercial class) and are designed to measure primary current.
Contrinex DW series by AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect’s Contrinex DW series of inductive proximity sensors now includes additional harsh duty sensors and new standard duty sensors with quadruple sensing ranges.
IronHorse MTCP2 by AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect’s IronHorse MTCP2 industrial duty motors are offered in T-Frame (1 to 300 hp) and TC-Frame/C-Face (1 to 30 hp).
Wide area sensors for motion detection
AutomationDirect's wide area sensors are designed for object detection of any object by sensing the light beam intensity returning from the receiver.
Polycarbonate enclosure series
AutomationDirect's Integra polycarbonate enclosure premium series of screw-cover wall mount enclosures are engineered for durability and impact resistance, UV stability, chemical resistance, and have a wide operating temperature range from -40 to 265°F.
Water solenoid valves for food and beverage applications
AutomationDirect’s family of potable water solenoid valves are designed for food and beverage applications and are suitable for use with a variety of liquids, oils and gases.
Digital temperature sensor series
AutomationDirect's ProSense ETS series digital temperature sensors combines a precision RTD sensing element, measuring electronics, and process fitting in a stainless steel temperature transmitter probe.
Compact limit switch line series
AutomationDirect's AEM2G series of compact limit switch line includes four electrical connection types as well as additional options for convenient limit switch installation.
Products
IronHorse general purpose ac drives
AutomationDirect has added general-purpose ac drives to the IronHorse brand. These new VFDs support three control modes, including V/Hz, slip compensation, and sensorless vector, and come in various voltage and horsepower ratings at a very affordable price. The 230 Vac models can support AC motors up to 20hp with 230 Vac three-phase power and up to 10hp with 230 Vac single-phase power. The 460 Vav models support motor sizes up to 30hp with 460 Vac three-phase power and up to 15hp with 460 Vac single-phase power. These drives include ample built-in I/O and embedded Modbus RTU support, dynamic braking, torque limit capability, NEMA 1 conduit boxes, zero-stack installation, and a robust construction that meets military standards.
IDEM universal gate boxes
AutomationDirect has added IDEM universal gate boxes designed for machine guard doors that act as an integrated locking guard with a double tamper-resistant interlock mechanism. These boxes provide high-level RFID-coded interlocking and machine control in one unit. Capable of holding guards closed with up to 3,000N holding force, these boxes can be used in conjunction with delay timers for added safety.
C-more CM5 HMI
AutomationDirect adds the next generation of C-more HMIs to their product line. The CM5 HMI series is offered in sizes 4 to 22 inches, features a 1.6 GHz processor in the larger units (10" and above), 43 Mbytes of memory, improved trending, extra data storage, faster communication, and improved file types. The panels come with a host of communication and USB ports.
CR1500 series barcode scanners
AutomationDirect has added new Code barcode scanners to their portfolio of identification products. CR1500 series barcode scanners are compact hand-held devices with a dual-field optical platform that adds the ability to read laser etched, DPM, or high-density codes. CR5000 series barcode scanners are table-top presentation mode scanners that facilitate hands-free operation. They have advanced data formatting that provides dependable data integration into any platform, system, or solution including iOS applications. CR2700 series barcode scanners are high-end cordless scanners that use Bluetooth® 5 communications for secure, wireless data transmission, and glare reduction technology for reading barcodes on shiny surfaces. An assortment of new accessories includes more communications cables and batteries/charging systems for the CR2700 series scanners. The New Code barcode scanners start at $242.00. The Code CR1500 series barcode scanners come with a 5-year warranty; the CR5000 and CR2700 series have a 3-year warranty. .
Z-Range safety switches series
AutomationDirect has added modular Z-Range safety switch system components to their existing portfolio of safety products. The Z-Range safety switch system offers simplicity and modularity, allowing up to 30 Z-Range safety devices to be connected to one safety relay while maintaining PLe performance rating. These devices are an excellent choice for modular machines and are rated for SIL3 as well as PLe and feature built-in local diagnostics.
AchieVe Series Inductive Proximity Sensors
AutomationDirect has added the new AchieVe series of inductive proximity sensors which offers great value for general industrial applications. These tubular inductive proximity sensors made from stainless steel are offered in 8mm, 12mm, and 18mm barrel sizes. Flush and non-flush mount styles offer a range of sensing distances up to 8mm.
Metal work pneumatic transducers for PLCs
AutomationDirect has added Metal Work Regtronic series electro-pneumatic transducers that utilize two internal solenoid valves to convert an electronic signal from a PLC or other controller to a regulated precision linear pneumatic output pressure. This dual solenoid design eliminates continuous supply air consumption, reducing operational costs. Regtronic transducers feature a maximum output pressure range up to 145 psig that can be controlled with 4-20 mA, 0-5 V, or 0-10 V input signals, as well as with RS232 communication or the integral keypad. Models are available with low flow and exhaust capacity for controlling small-volume pneumatic loads without overshoot, and high flow and exhaust capacity for fast response times with large-volume pneumatic loads. A 0-10 VDC or 4-20 mA output signal (model dependent) representative of the output pressure, two digital output switches that can be set as alarm points, and an integral digital display that eliminates the need for external pressure gauges are also included.
HMI enclosures and suspension arm syst
AutomationDirect has added new quality-built Saginaw carbon steel and stainless steel HMI enclosures available in various sizes with NEMA 3R/4/12/13 ratings (stainless steel units are also rated NEMA 4X). These enclosures protect human machine interfaces (HMIs) from harsh industrial environments, helping to prolong HMI service life and ensure reliable operation. They include a removable front cover for ease when making HMI cutouts and a rear cover with a quick opening latch for access to components when needed. In addition, HMI enclosure suspension arm systems are available, specifically designed to allow operators to easily adjust the HMI enclosure’s position.
Ethernet switches for industrial applications
AutomationDirect has added STRIDE SE3 series unmanaged Ethernet switches that offer low-cost networking solutions for industrial applications. Built with a rugged IP30 metal housing, this series offers Fast (10/100 Base-T) and Gigabit (1000 Base-T) speeds, fiber optic connections (ST 100FX, SC 100FX, and SFP ports), and up to 16 ports total. A plastic IP67-rated version with five M12 10/100 Base-T ports is available for applications that require higher protection from water intrusion. Also included are PoE+ models that provide both power and communication in the same port.
New line of controllers with open-source CPU
AutomationDirect has added the P1AM-200 open-source CPU to their ProductivityOpen line of controllers. This CPU can be programmed in C++, using the Arduino IDE, or in CircuitPython using any text editor. CircuitPython is a derivative of the Python programming language built specifically for microcontrollers and uses a runtime interpreter instead of a compiler for more flexibility with code editors and code syntax. The P1AM-200 CPU hardware features up to 16MB of flash memory for code and file storage, a 120MHz processor, a Crypto coprocessor for higher performance when using encryption libraries, and a neo-pixel RGB LED for visualization of the CPU program status.