If you work in manufacturing, agriculture, electronics, or any other industry where electrical devices and machinery play a central role, investing in automation and control gear is a smart choice. Making the right kind of investment will save invaluable money and time across your business’s daily operations.
Now, let’s discuss some of the most common automation and control gear types, highlighting their specific industrial uses. This information will help you make a more informed choice when shopping for new gear.
1. Electric motors
Electric motors are machines that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. You’ll typically find them in applications where mechanical motion is required.
These machines work by creating a magnetic field in the space inside the motor, which interacts with the stator’s magnetic field (another name for the stationary part of an electric motor). The interaction between these two magnetic fields causes electricity to flow through wire coils around the armature (the part that rotates), creating—as you might expect—a rotating motion.
Industrial electric motors are common in various industries, including in manufacturing plants, where they power factory machinery. You might also use electric motors if you work in the agricultural industry, powering irrigation systems and processing lines.
2. Sensors
A sensor is a device that measures and responds to a physical stimulus.
Sensors measure a range of conditions, including temperature, humidity, light levels, pressure or motion, presenting the data in either digital or analog format.
Sensors exist in many forms with various applications, including industrial appliances, consumer electronics, and medical devices. They’re essential for smart, precise monitoring and measurement.
3. Time switches
A time switch is a device that controls the timing of an electrical load. It is usually set to turn the load on at a specific time and turn it off at a specific time.
Time switches play a key role in various systems. You’ll usually find them in industrial applications to regulate the timing of operations. For example, a car wash may have a timer connected to its lights, so they shut off after 30 minutes of operation.
Industrial time switches are popular across many industries, such as energy, transportation, safety, communications, and utilities. These switches are usually large and can be safety-rated for hazardous environments.
4. Automation software
If you want to simplify the automation process, look into specially-designed automation software. This software can help the automation process run smoothly, step-by-step, whether the required tasks are recurring or time-bound.
Quality industrial automation software can also:
- Track data
- Send out system alerts in real-time
- Manage start-stop and machine status
- Identify system faults
In this way, automation software is essential for ensuring your automation and control gear is running as expected. It can also save time and reduce equipment repair and replacement costs by identifying faults as soon as they pop up.
Conclusion
Investing in the right kind of automation and control gear can have significant benefits for your business, including saving time, reducing unnecessary spending, and boosting profits. With your new knowledge about the common types of gear and their uses, you should have no trouble making a smart and worthwhile investment!
