Tag: Mechatronics
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How X-Y Tables are used in Position Control Applications
X-Y tables are utilized as components in many systems where reprogrammable position control is desired. The X-Y table is two servo-controlled linear actuators (often servomotors and ball screws) with their linear axes perpendicular to each other. The X-Y table may move the table under a stationary tool such as a glue dispenser or may move…
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How to Connect Discrete Sensors to PLC Inputs
Discrete Sensor Outputs Basically sensor outputs can be categorized into two types: discrete also referred to discrete or logic and proportional also called analog. Discrete sensors supply a single logical output (1 or 0) e.g. a flow switch used to detect the fluid flow through a pipe whereas proportional/analog sensors provide an analog electronic…
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PLC Instruction Set
An Overview of PLC Instructions Types There are various types of instructions that are available in a PLC. The instruction set will vary depending on the brand and type of processor you are working with. For example, the classic Allen-Bradley PLC-5 has 9 types of instructions: Bit Level Instructions This is the most common instructions…
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Designing a System to Measure & Display a Shaft Rotation Speed
We would like to design a system to measure and display the rotational speed of a shaft. To accomplish this, we shall use a number of integrated circuits (ICs) to create the desired functionality of this system. A simple technique to measure the speed is to count the number of shaft rotations during a given…
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DC Motor Power Op-amp Speed Controller
Let’s consider the functional diagram below: The D/A converter outputs a voltage directly related to the potentiometer position. However, the D/A converter’s output current is limited and not enough to drive a motor. A power operational amplifier (op-amp) circuit, configured as a noninverting amplifier can drive the motor at the higher currents required. In effect,…
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Power MOSFET Motor Control
Because of the very high input gate resistance of MOSFETs, MOSFET’s fast switching speeds, and the ease at which they can be driven makes them ideal to interface with op-amps or standard logic gates. Nevertheless, care must be taken to ensure that the gate-source input voltage is correctly chosen because when using the MOSFET as…
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Fuzzy Controller and its Industrial Applications
Fuzzy logic is a human model, potentially applicable to a wide range of processes and tasks that require human instinct and experience. In computer, truth-values are either 1 or 0, which corresponds to true/false duality. In fuzzy logic, truth is the matter of degree, hence truth-values ranges between 1 and 0 in a continuous manner.…