Glossary – E, F
Written by Neal Babcock
eccentric
two or more objects do not have a common center.
echo
a reflected sound wave.
eddy currents
small currents that circulate in metals as currents flow in nearby conductors. Generally unwanted.
EEPROM
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.These chips can be erased and programmed while in use with a computer, and store memory that is not sensitive to power. Read more
Engineering Tip: Use the Internationally Recognized Phonetic Alphabet
Written by Neal Babcock
During the course of your engineering duties, how many times have you tried to communicate a lengthy part number over the phone, only to experience frustration?
For example, let’s say you are on the phone with a vendor and you want to buy a part with the number NM5924SFCZ. After you tell the vendor the part number, she looks for it on her computer but can’t find it. Read more
Industrial Automation Glossary – G, H, I
Written by Neal Babcock
galvanometer
a simple device used to measure currents. This device is similar to a simple DC motor.
gamma rays
high energy electromagnetic waves resulting from atomic fission or fusion.
gate
1. a circuit that performs on of the Boolean algebra function (i.e., and, or, not, etc.) 2. a connection between a runner and a part, this can be seen on most injection molded parts as a small bump where the material entered the main mold cavity. Read more
Industrial Automation Glossary – J, K, L, M
Written by Neal Babcock
JIT (Just in Time)
a philosophy when setting up and operating a manufacturing system such that materials required arrive at the work site just in time to be used.
jog
a mode where a motor will be advanced while a button is held, but not latched on. It is often used for clearing jams, and loading new material.
jump
a forced branch in a program Read more
Industrial Automation Glossary – N, O, P
Written by Neal Babcock
NAK (Negative AKnowledgement)
an ASCII control code.
NAMUR
A European standards organization.
NAND (Not AND)
a Boolean AND operation with the result inverted.
narrowband
uses a small data transmission rate to reduce spectral requirements. Read more
Industrial Automation Glossary – Q, R
Written by Neal Babcock
QA (Quality Assurance)
a formal system that has been developed to improve the quality of a product.
quality
a measure of how well a product meets its specifications. Keep in mind that a product that exceeds its specifications may not be higher quality.
R/W (Read/Write)
A digital line that is used to indicate if data on a bus is to be written to, or read from memory. Read more
Operator Interfaces
Written by Neal Babcock
There are a number of companies who make Operator Interfaces. Here are some of the most popular. Read more
Industrial Workstation Furniture – Enclosures and Benches
Written by Neal Babcock
Part of the job of specifying an HMI or a SCADA system involves getting the enclosure and industrial furniture to hold your equipment. Here is a list of a number of manufacturers of workstation and industrial enclosures. Read more
Industrial Automation Glossary – S
Written by Neal Babcock
safety margin
a factor of safety between calculated maximums and rated maximums.
SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition)
computer remote monitoring and control of processes.
scan time
the time it takes a PLC read all the inputs, execute the logic and write to all the outputs.
schematic
an abstract drawing showing components in a design as simple figures. The figures drawn are often the essential functional elements that must be considered in engineering calculations. Read more
Industrial Automation Glossary – T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
Written by Neal Babcock
T1
a 1.54 Mbps network data link.
T3
a 45 Mbps network data link. This can be done with parallel T1 lines and packet switching.
tap
a connection to a power line.
tare
the ratio between unloaded and loaded weights. Read more
