I’ve been thinking about whether AI could help with SCADA systems, like using natural language searches to make it easier for operators to find trends or data. I haven’t tried it myself, I’m not sure I fully trust AI, and it’s not really my job to take risks like that.

Has anyone actually done this or something similar? If so, how did it go? Are there other ways you’ve used AI with SCADA that worked well?

Hi, some time ago my machine broke, after tuning it on everything is fine, but when I want to turn engine on inverter message pops up with faults information, and I have no clue how to Fox it, can you help please, where to look what to do. Thanks for help.

Siemens Sinamics G120

First let me explain the process. User input a number string on touch panel. PLC receive as ASCii, send the input string using G.Output command to XG7000 to compare with the captured string from camera. vision return to PLC as NG or OK.

So today, we had a camera connection issue and concluded that the problem is from the vision controller. So we substitute the XG7000 to XGX2700. After this change, camera connects and works fine.

Now the issue is vision doesnt receive the input string from PLC and it use the registered string it gets from the image I captured to teach some characters, to compare. I read the manuals and it seems that the commands are similar between both vision controller. I also made sure that the RS232C parameters are all matched.

Any idea or experience on what causing this? Thanks in advance.

I'm designing a small test machine that will need to push and pull against a load through about 60mm of stroke.

I want to use a lead screw / ball screw type actuator like the one shown in the image - typical NEMA23 driven linear travel stage type assembly.

https://preview.redd.it/m91abqwuiv6e1.jpg?width=522&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76ad9a4b612c9a79fe61ea1571e21eacb26e653c

This particular model is supposedly capable of pushing a 15kg load (inferred from vertical) and the NEMA23 motor included has a holding torque of 1.2 Nm. (product links below if interested).

I've more or less understood the torque to axial force relationship of leadscrews / ballscrews etc and have grasped the general principles involved, but on many Amazon products like this it's unclear what the axial load capabilities actually might be, especially if running at slow speeds. Some seem to claim vertical lifting / thrust load capacity up to about 20kg / 180N.

I've tried to rework the calculations by inferring from the leadscrew geometries and the motor torque ratings but the results seemed way off. Also some of the products state a maximum vertical load capacity but don't even include a motor, so I'm wondering if the figures stated on some are purely related to the mechanical limits of the ballscrew carriage assembly, and not the actual maximum axial force when driven by the motor?

Does anyone have any experience they can share with using something similar? Any guidance on the load capability of these type of NEMA stepper motor driven actuators would be massively appreciated.

Application:
The actuator will be horizontally mounted and will actuate to compress a spring load - 22 kg / 200N approx. - and then slowly release it. Probably would be sensible for the actuator to have a margin of about twice that. The axial load offset will be minimal. It does not need to move very fast, perhaps between 10mm/s to 20mm/s.

I'm aware these are cheap products, but I'd like to be able to get one just to prototype my system first. Is there any reason I wouldn't be able to just put a bigger NEMA23 with more torque on the back of these?

If absolutely necessary I'm wondering if could fit one those Stepperonline planetary gearbox stepper motors to really boost up the torque.

Many thanks to all for reading. Happy Holidays!

References:
Befenybay 100mm Effective Travel Length Double Optical Axis Guide Ballscrew SFU1605 with NEMA23 Stepper Motor for DIY CNC Router Parts X Y Z Linear Stage Actuator and 3D Printer : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

CNC Linear Motion Rail Guide Actuator 100mm Stroke Ball Screw Linear Stage Actuator with Dust Cover for Nema23 Stepper Motor : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

(116) Power Screws - Stepper Motor, Lead Screw, Piston - Example 1 - YouTube

Nema 23 Stepper Motor Bipolar L=56mm w/ Gear Ratio 4:1 Planetary Gearbox - 23HS22-2804S-PG4 | StepperOnline

Please take a look at Apple sorting machine Green Sort Vision- work and production - YouTube

https://i.postimg.cc/rmGx16MV/Captura-de-pantalla-2024-12-13-115013.png

I am trying to build a similar machine, so I calculate that to move that table I would need about 14 Nm of torque (safety factor = 2). so I will use a Nema 34 stepper 4.5 Nm (or 6 Nm) with 3:1 timing belts = 13.5 Nm.

https://i.postimg.cc/SRzVF1pH/Captura-de-pantalla-2024-12-13-122559.png

because i have no experience around the universe of motors, i am not sure if these machines use steppers. I have not found any photos or schematics of the internal mechanism.

Can servo stepper here make a significant improvement?

or am i directly missing out on everything, and need a completely different type of motor?

the machine is supposed to run like 2 hours every 2 days, it's a family farm, not industrial, but I need it to be reliable over time.

thanks for helping.

Hy everyone!

At work I am about to learn about the 3TEC MES production management and production execution system and I would like to ask if anyone has any experience in IT. What IT problems might I encounter and do you have any proven, useful solutions to these problems?

I would like to be a bit ahead of myself in terms of development and learning. Thanks in advance!

I've been tasked with developing an automated system to attach and detach trailers from Automated Vehicles. The hitch is similar to a pintle hitch design, basically a hole that a pin needs to go through. That part is fairly straight forward. The issue is that the trailer actually has multiple trailers connected in a line, and each trailer has an area scanner to stop the vehicle or prevent it from driving if someone were to be standing between trailers. These connect back to a Sick Safety PLC

The question is how to deal with detaching and attaching the connection for the area scanners? Having contact pins of some sort that make when the vehicle backs up seems like a practical solution for making the connection, but when the device drops out that should trigger a fault on the PLC that would cause manual intervention, thus defeating the purpose of automating it to begin with. Maybe a wireless solution? CIP Safety over wireless? I'm open to any and all suggestions

It is a OMRON PLC where ive restarted my drive and then my PLC error indicator and ECAT indicator (red) blow up how to solve it with the PLC LADDDER logic tried this that does not work..

Help me how to reset the ECAT error....

https://www.reddit.com/r/PLC/comments/1h3e6wn/got_a_doubt_to_know_how_to_reset_the_plc_error/

I am new to working with servo motors. I want to learn how to program a servo motor control using drivers such as Yaskawa servo motors by creating programs, interfaces, and a direct connection to the computer. I searched online, but I only found examples of control by microcontroller, PLC, or use for driverless motors like the SG90.

Please help me find the necessary instructions and documents.

we have a couple of 200hp motors that we had on vfd control but the vfd controllers generated too much heat during the day, we couldn't keep them cool enough. we swapped them out for soft starters which is great except with the load on the motors at startup the soft starters aren't soft enough. what i want is a soft starter that can ramp up frequency and then bypass once at full speed. since we are running at 60hz there is no need for a vfd in line except as a soft start solution.

so the question i have for you all is this, is there such a thing as a frequency ramping soft starter?

For those in the US, regardless of anyone's opinion on the president elect, his stated policy plans are extremely isolationist which will make our work improving manufacturing capabilities in our borders more important than ever. This post details a mental model for controls engineers entering the field of industrial automation and gives some appreciation to the value of what we do!

Automation/controls engineers have to stich together super specific solutions using various pseudo-compatible hardware, networking software, IIOT devices, & proprietary solutions. Its hard!

There's a dizzying array of industrial automation tools/terms/brands out there with overlapping capabilities that blend together into a gray mush of confusing vernacular: IPC, PLC, DAQ, SCADA, PAC, DCS… HMI, GUI, Touchscreen, Web Interface… EtherCat, EtherNet, ProfiNet, ProfiBus, modBus… OPC-UA, MQTT, HTTP/REST… LD, ST, SFC, IL, FBD?

My thought process when exposed to a new tool is categorizing it by its capabilities in a mental map to help make sense of things. Basic but important for clear thinking!

https://engineerdog.com/2024/11/11/a-map-of-the-automation-hardware-territory/

https://preview.redd.it/vn9l4f3owh0e1.png?width=740&format=png&auto=webp&s=2a9eb1896c308b6c37a8f8f2c6d8d42e67a3af61

SOLVED:

By going to Tools -> Options -> ClearMark Advanced II in the ClearTools software and checking the box to allow adjustable heating and applied. We could then click on the label types in the project tree on the left like MX5X15 or whatever and there was a heating adjustment button available at the bottom of the properties window. You get a choice of Default, +, ++, -, and --. By selecting -, the prints came out without bubbling or burning.

Note that a newer version of the manual found online pointed us to Curing Performance and that was nowhere to be found. Not sure if maybe our version of Clear Tools is newer or older or what.

Original Post:

We use terminal block markers from the 1492 family such as 1492-M5X15 and our old ClearMark printer did a good job of it until it stopped working from the miles we put on it. We got a ClearMark Advanced II to replace it and every damn marker card is burned/bubbled when it comes out. They're still legible and most are good enough to use, but we're reprinting stuff all the time just so it doesn't look like trash.

I can't find anything in the settings to adjust heat or print time or whatever. I'm wondering if maybe the venting flow isn't strong enough? Has anyone been through this with this printer? Our distributor is struggling as well.

Need some static!

I'm trying to recreate an old demo unit for static ionizers. My company works for Panasonic's industrial automation division and ionizers are in our product set.

My sales group had an ionizer demo unit at one time, but it appears that somewhere along the way the unit was damaged/lost/destroyed/left behind in the Biosphere. No idea.

I'm now hoping to try to recreate it (or at least something functionally similar). Here's what the old demo unit looked like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzwQZpyGLhg&t=47s

Core to its function was the ability to press a button to impart a bunch of static into the center column, enough to cause the little tissue paper "tree limbs" to levitate. Then you'd press the other button to activate the ionizer which would rain down charged particles to dissipate the static and the tree limbs would respond by falling down as the charge dispelled. It was a pretty cool-looking demo.

If I were to try to recreate this demo, I can't think of a good way to do a consistent and controlled application of static. Everything I've ever done in the world of engineering involving static electricity was to take it away. I simply don't know where to start if I need to create static.

So the summary is, I have no issues at all mounting and wiring up my ionizer to get rid of static. I just don't know how to create static in the first place.

Any suggestions on what components I will need to make my own static electricity with the push of a button? Any recommendations are appreciated.

I need to create an automated conveyor tracking system, there’s a photo sensor on both sides and I need one to latch a solenoid and the other to unlatch it. Basically the same as a seal-in circuit with parallel latch/unlatch outputs that can be programmed into a PLC, but I want to keep cost down and not use a PLC. I’ve been trying to hardwire it with relays but I can’t figure out how to get one side sensor to latch even when the output is no longer energized. Any suggestions on how to do this or any special type of physical relay/controller that can do this?

(Using control power of 24VDC and output of 24VDC for entire system.)

Hey everyone,

I'm working on a project using 2 sets of stepper motors, and I'm trying to set up the home position connection. The motors seem to have a pre-built limit sensor that operates on 5V DC, and while the motors themselves are working fine, I'm struggling with the connection for the home position.

The instructions mention that I need to use a 10K pull-up resistor and that the signal will be high at both the far and home positions. I'm confused about what exactly the far position means in this context.

If anyone has experience with this or can help explain the wiring, I’d really appreciate it! I'm using an Arduino Nano to control the stepper motors and a DM542 stepper drive. If someone could provide a connection diagram or explain the proper wiring setup, that would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance! :)

https://preview.redd.it/gxva40twt8wd1.png?width=864&format=png&auto=webp&s=da7f670865c7afcb73fe955b0d7fc26d236391d5

Hello, noob question here, but I’m looking for relay on DIN that would be NO and would open up from 220V AC. The circuit that it would control be 24V DC. Can anyone give advices what would be a good quality one in EU for home usage. Was looking into this https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B07GXM2Q3S but I’m not sure if switch voltage being DC makes any difference?

I screwed up. I logged into a CISCO SG200 switch to get the current configuration and for some reason I selected "Download" instead of "Backup". Download of course asks for a file which should have clued me in but I completely spaced out and thought it just needed a file to write the data to so I created a blank text file and pointed it to that then did the download. Thank goodness nothing immediately changed but now I have a blinking "Save" icon in the top right which I'm terrified someone will click and wipe out the settings. Is there a way to back out of this?

It seems like I maybe need to implement logic to achieve what I am trying to do, but I figured I run it by this sub and get some other opinions.

I am using a Model 716 Accu-Coder and I just want to check for reverse motion, I dont care about speed. I know I could monitor the A B A' B' pulse patterns with logic and determine this, but is it possible without logic? System does not have a plc, and if I dont have to add one it would be easiest. If I do, I'll probably just throw something cheap (arduino) at it as this is a redundant safety anyways.

Let's see how you guys have your panel shop or panek building area organized. How do you store your extra backplate, enclosures, wire duct, din rail, etc. And what kind of table do you build enclosures on? What is your wire spool setup for building panels? How do you hang your schmatics while wiring the panel?

Has anyone used the Phoenix contact line of wire strippers. Wirefox 4, Wirefox10, Wirefox16, or Wire6sc. Also the Weidmuller stripmax. These wire strippers claim to strip wire from 32awg to 8awg. From reviews sounds like they work great on MTW or small cables like belden. Has anyone tried to use any of these on THHN wire?

Hi. I am new to this kind of work. I have a system that depends on some low voltage (24v) signals. I will need to splice some signal wires together and would like to use terminal blocks to do this. Is that appropriate, or would it be better to solder them? If blocks are appropriate, can anyone recommend a manufacture and type of block?

I work in an automobile industry and we are planning to deploy AMRs in our factories for efficient material handling. Now I am responsible for learning about AMRs and their technologies and then making a deployment strategy. I am very new to this field and an absolute beginner, and so I am very confused on how to start and what to learn.
I was asked by my manager to learn about ROS but it's a bit complicated and I don't really that much time to study it in detail. I don't even know what parts of it would be required in this job as it is used for AMR development.
Where should I start? How should I approach it? What are the resources I can take help from?

Also if there's anyone who is working in a similar field or has done this deployment thing before, how did you do it? Where did you start? What approach did you take