Top 5 Control Engineering articles, February 15-21: Specifying a servo system, IEC 61131-3, VFD faults and failures, more

Articles about specifying a servo system, IEC 61131-3, preventing VFD faults and failures, well-ground serial networking, and the 2016 Engineers' Choice Awards winners were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 15-21. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra February 22, 2016

The top 5 most read articles online, for Feb. 15-21 for Control Engineering covered specifying a servo system, IEC 61131-3, preventing VFD faults and failures, well-ground serial networking, and the 2016 Engineers’ Choice Awards winners. Link to each article below. 

1. Nine things to consider when specifying a servo system

This tutorial will help with selecting a servo system that will perform at the optimal level for the selected application. Ensure these areas are addressed.

2. IEC 61131-3: What’s the acceptance rate of this control programming standard?

Although the IEC 61131-3 standard for control programming languages has been around for nearly 25 years, limited awareness of its scope and features has kept it from becoming a requirement in North America. 

3. Preventing VFD faults and failures

Following these best practices can help prevent voltage drops, overload trips, and other common VFD faults and serious failures before they occur.

4. Well-grounded serial networking

Without proper grounding in a RS-422/485 installation, the user becomes vulnerable to common mode voltage transients that can compromise accurate data transfer and sensor measurements and damage equipment.

5. 2016 Engineers’ Choice Awards winners

Best automation, control, and instrumentation products in 27 categories chosen by Control Engineering’s print and digital audience.

The list was developed using CFE Media’s web analytics for stories viewed on controleng.com, February 15-21, for articles published within the last two months.  

– Chris Vavra, production editor, CFE Media, cvavra@cfemedia.com.


Author Bio: Chris Vavra is web content manager for CFE Media and Technology.