PLC and HMI

Hello everyone, I'm researching the contactors and thermal and electronic overload relays. In particular, I'm trying to understand: The differences in the products provided by the large players (ABB, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Mitsubishi Electric) The future trends in terms of technological innovation Brand perception of the large players (e.g., ABB is good/bad because or xyz, and so on) I wasn't able to find much online other than companies align to each other and tend to produce: Compact frames to save space in cabinets Universal coil to support both DC and AC Wide range voltage support in coils Modular hardware Smart wiring connections While for relays: Current measurement and output of data Remote monitoring features IoT connectivity features Smart wiring connections Does any of you know: 1. What is likely to happen technology-wise in the next few years that could be innovative for the market? 2. What are the differentiators of the products provided by the large manufacturers? 3. How are the large manufacturers perceived and how are Japanese players perceived in the western market in terms of contactors and relays? Thanks in advance for those of you who will read.

Hi Everyone, I am working on a low voltage (12V DC) application that requires the momentary activation of a device for a several minutes. I was trying to discover a suitable timer relay and came across some of the Weidmuller products, in particular the TERM series, however I am not able to figure out if they are momentary activation to start the timer, and whether or not the timer can be restarted mid-cycle by another input signal.Is anyone able to point me in the right direction for understanding these items?Any help much appreciated.Andrew

Hi, does anyone know how to download the programming software for the RS Pro Logic Controller ( RS part no 917-6370). The data sheet has a Dopbox link that doesn't work??

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Hello everyone, I am a lover of machine structures, so I have recorded videos of machine structures on my youtube channel for everyone to refer to and learn from each other, Structural designs of all kinds machines such as filling machines, packing machines, robotic arms, automatic assembly machinesLooking forward to everyone's comments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STC-85-gQmw&list=PLxq4Yft5Rsyf5UKhVWRpfFx3NLxtMUh8Q&index=1

Hi There! I need to turn on-off a set of 6 digital outputs (relay is iok) from a custom designed PC windows program. My client already has a S7 1200 PLC wired that has never used. This would be a good solution as he already has a UTP cable from his computer to where all these 6 machines are Is it easy to interact from a Windows program with a S7 1200 PLC just to turn on-off these DO's in the PLC? Does it need to use OPC or can another simpler protocol be used? If not, is there an easier solution? (Siemens Logo PLC's?)   Thanks a lot!

As most of this community knows Power control is a vital aspect of the UK industry, with the potential to save companies money, improve efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. That is why I open this discussion with this United Automation article blog on:         https://www.united-automation.com/benefits-of-power-control-solutions-in-the-uk-industry/   After reading this article, I wonder what industries are doing to save energy and be more sustainable with planet Earth.    

I want to run some mahines in an industry automatically in different time.Each machine will have a specific time to run.

Hi, I am trying to build a washing machine that can turn clothes in a large 55-gallon bucket with an RPM speed of 60rpm, I do not know what torque or voltage range I should be looking for, if you can provide a ballpark figure that would be helpful.  This will be a high-volume project, and I live in the USA. I was thinking of using gears to increase its power aswell. Thank you!

My CNC router ran successfully for five years (not heavy use) but has been failing since Sep-21 (just over 12 months at time of writing) and I have not been successful in identifying the problem(s).  The machine has been stopping with “Servo drive disabled” messages, sometimes in the middle of a job and sometimes when powered up but inactive! The router is a substantially built, 3-axis, 5’ x 4’ x 12” movement, workshop-built machine, with 32mm ballscrews and made from 25mm aircraft grade aluminium.  I did not build it, although it was built in my workshop, so I am not as familiar with it as if I had built it; especially the electronics (my background is chemical engineering, computer programming and woodwork, in that order).  The friend who did the electronics is not available. The control computer is running windows XP and MACH3 and the motion control is by 400w Estun servo drives and motors.  The long axis (X) has master and slave drives while the vertical (Z) and cross gantry (Y) motion have single drives!  I added a second spindle to avoid at least some cutter changes. I upgraded the primary spindle from a 2.2kW Chinese to a 4kW German one in Dec-19 so I don’t know if the problems are related to this or not.  (The whole machine, apart from the control computer, runs on one 13 amp socket,  so we may be overloading something, but if so it took a long time to manifest). Individual motors have at times got hotter (70-80 deg C) than they normally run at, although this does not always correlate with working hard or the machine stopping. When the problem first occurred, it was on the Z servo drive, and I swapped cables so the same drive was controlling a different motor.  The problem stayed with the drive!  I have had drives repaired a few times but have not got to the bottom of why they are failing. Subsequently, different drives have stopped with MACH3 reporting “Servo drive disabled” and the Estun software, when connected to the offending drive, usually says “A.14 Voltage abnormal” or occasionally “A.04 Overloaded”. I have had suggestions that 19/20 times, this sort of problem is the motor drawing too much current.  I have tried to buy a current clamp meter from RS Components but they have over 400 different options ranging from £30 to £1,600 and their Live Chat Help was not helpful, except to suggest trying forums. Q1.  Is buying current meter(s) a sensible way to go, and if so, which of RS’s options do I buy? Q2. Is there anyone not too far from Wrexham who would be able and willing to help please (paid) as I have not been able to find professional help?   Q3.  The parameters on the different drives seem similar but not identical; I would like to make them all the same!  Is there anyone who could advise please (once the main problem is sorted)

Hi all we cut granite and have a pit for the waste water(with fine particles of granite slate marble limestone quartz) flowing into a pit 2 x 1.5 x 2.5deep [m]. The pit is flat at the bottom. we have a pump which pumps that waste up into a silo which is then filtered and seperated.  The pit with slurry/sludge is getting clogged up with it all time so i am looking to do:- 1. agitator which will constantly disturb the particles in the water 2. build bottom with angles on 4 sides so the slurry can be directed into the submersed pump   Could you let me know what agitator i can buy on RS to do such thing?   thanks martin    

Hello, we are a steel profiling company in the U.K. and we're installing a new plasma cutting machine. The supply needs to be 3 phase, 230v +/- 5%. Can anyone recommend a suitable transformer and where to purchase? Thank you

Hello, I bought a Whale submersible 24v pump (24v In-Line Pump - Premium Flow - Camper Select) I want to run this from a standard UK plug. So 230v. I think I need to then get an inverter to downgrade the power so I can run it right? Can you help me figure out how to do this please? Thanks very much

Hello! I am developing a prototype 12V system comprising a solenoid activated by a PIR sensor. I am looking for a timer device so that the power to the solenoid cuts 1 or 2 seconds after activation. This is as a safety back-up. The PIR sensor should cut out after a minute but it's a bit long and sometimes the power to the solenoid is getting stuck on. Would this timer be suitable RS Stock No.: 178-5026 . Thanks  

It requires a good deal of energy to crank the car's motor, and if a battery is not replenishing its power properly due to a faulty alternator, it will become drained and ineffective. You will hear a clicking noise while attempting to start the car, and the engine will have difficulty turning over.