TCP/IP and UDP communication
Benefits of TCP/IP and UDP
Connectivity between devices is become very common and often beneficial essentially in industrial devices communication. Although Modbus, RS485 serial communications have its place still in industrial control and measurement applications, TCP/IP and UDP offers so much diversity that even apps written for I-phone and android could be used to connect with complete...
Standalone machine development
National Instruments c-DAQ 9181 and C series modules when paired together could be used to achieve complete measurement system. In such architecture, it is possible to transfer data between measurement system (composed of c-Daq chassis carrying c-series module) and labview app using wifi network, bluetooth or ethernet cable. I was once involved with designing weight machines using...
Safety On Board
Need for integrated safety on board controllers
Today, production managers require more productivity through machines. Manufacturing industry suffers from stopping production line to perform day-to-day maintenance activities. Once multi axis motion controller based manufacturing line running hundred's of delta robots is stopped, engineers are required to re-synchronize axis if integrated safety is not implemented in the production line...
Machine Safety Integrity Level SIL
A quick google search tells us that Sil level is about probability of failure but what does it mean in terms of process engineering? I have written this brief article focusing on how expression SIL and IEC 61508 applies to our field of work.
What is SIS
If an instrument is SIS rated i.e. Safety Instrumented System,...
Data Acquisition Systems Applications of data acquisition system
Data acquisition systems are required to test products prior being used in service or by public. Many products are required to be subjected to extreme conditions to ensure the product would still be operational and not detrimental to environment. For instance, air craft motor drive must be tested under same atmospheric condition that...
Today, vision monitoring is playing a vital role in stopping the spread of Covid-19 disease. Both inside and outside offices, vision inspection is ensuring people are keeping social distances. For decades, visual inspection has been an important aspect for industrial processes. Whether it is used for assisting in sorting bulk materials in pharmaceutical processing, inspecting the quality...
Servo Motion Control
In servo motion, a feedback sensor - usually encoder - is used to continuously measure position and speed of motor to correct motor speed. By using feedback sensor, we can get very accurate results. Most servo motors now have on-board 'Motor Encoder'. However, additional encoders could be placed on the actual mechanical axis to compare against actual line...
When 4G technology was adopted in 2008, smartphone apps, streaming services and high speed internet access on-the-go became the norm. Regardless, there was little wireless advancement within production line factories and this is where a lot of 'Big Data' is produced. Sensor data and controls engineering is such a critical operation that it is never deemed safe...
Synchronised multi-axis motion control
Filling Machines and Production Line
Advanced production line in most industries involve many different processes. For instance, yogurt filling machines involves feeding pot material from a coil into a press machine mounted with die. Finished part out of the press and die is empty pots ready for the next stage. Next stage might involve wrapping pots with...
