PLC Data to MQTT
Passive methods to stream PLC tags to MQTT brokers and cloud platforms without touching ladder logic or stopping the line.
Industrial Automation · Reference Library
News & Insights
Selection guides, head-to-head comparisons, and field-tested configuration notes for control engineers, integrators, and maintenance teams.
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1
IMM-Integrated vs Standalone Robot
When the robot and the injection molding machine share a controller, mold changes get faster and cycle times tighten. But standalone robot control buys freedom for complex downstream operations that the IMM was never designed to coordinate.
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2
Overhead Crossbar vs Floor Tending
Matching press line automation architecture to your stamping operation — overhead crossbar systems move parts between dies at highway speeds, while floor-mounted tending robots trade top speed for flexibility when die sets change twice a shift.
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3
Single vs Dual Y-Axis Cartesian
When a single-Y gantry cannot hit your cycle time target, a dual Y-axis Cartesian robot can nearly double throughput without doubling floorspace — but only if your part weight and travel profile justify the added cost.
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4
Fluke 1507 PI/DAR Guide
Learn how to run PI (Polarization Index) and DAR (Dielectric Absorption Ratio) tests on the Fluke 1507 insulation tester — step-by-step procedure, result interpretation per IEEE 43, and troubleshooting when values fall below acceptable limits.
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5
Druck UNIK 5000 Accuracy Guide
How to decode Druck UNIK 5000 accuracy specifications — understand the difference between non-linearity, hysteresis, repeatability, and total error band, and select the right pressure range and option code for your application from test bench to hydrogen service.
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6
SpeedSys T20 RPM Diagnostics
Troubleshooting unstable RPM readings on the ISTEC SpeedSys T20 dual-channel speed monitor — from sensor gap verification and wiring checks to Modbus diagnostics and alarm relay logic for rotating machinery protection.
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7
Safety Robot vs Cobot Fenceless
SafeStop, SafePlus, and ISO/TS 15066 force-limited cobots take fundamentally different paths to operator safety — and picking the wrong one for your interaction pattern causes either excess downtime or excess risk.
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8
PROFIsafe and Safety Relays
What the PROFIsafe black channel actually does, why a safety I/O module costs 3–5× more than a standard input card, and how to decide between distributed safety and hardwired relays for your next panel build.
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9
6-Axis vs SCARA Micro-Assembly
ABB IRB 1010 shrinks a six-axis robot into a SCARA-sized footprint — but the real question is whether your micro-assembly process has any non-horizontal motion that needs those extra two degrees of freedom.
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10
Surge-Protected Sockets
What the varistor and thermal disconnect inside a surge-protected socket actually do, whether cascade protection with a panel SPD is redundant or essential, and when the indicator going dark means it is time to replace the outlet.