Industrial Automation and Control News

New Cable Transducer to Measure Linear Position

Cable transducers, sometimes called “string pots”, are used to measure linear position by using a flexible cable and a spring-loaded spool. The end of the cable is attached to the moving object, and the base is fixed. As the cable is pulled from the spool, a position sensor tracks the revolutions on the shaft of… Read more »

What is a Slip Ring and What Do They Do?

What is a slip ring? A slip ring is a method to make an electrical connection from a stationary object to a rotating assembly. These are used in many industrial automation applications and for equipment like tower and jib cranes, as well as cable and hose winders, where a portion can spin freely, while the… Read more »

New Mike-D Pendant for Direct Control

Springer Controls in collaboration with TER is pleased to announce the new Mike-D pendant control for direct control of industrial machines. Similar in design and feel of the already popular Mike pendant, the Mike-D has microswitches rated for a whopping 10Amps current, according to IEC unitization categories AC3 and AC4, which allows many motors and… Read more »

Selecting an IEC Motor Starter

Welcome to a comprehensive guide on choosing the perfect motor starter for your application. Let’s begin with a quick refresher on the key components of a motor starter. Assembled motor starters comprise a NEMA 4X-rated polycarbonate enclosure housing a contactor and overload relay. Get ready to dive into the world of motor starters and make… Read more »

Contactors vs Relays: What’s the Difference?

contactor vs relay

There is a lot of confusion around the industry about the difference between contactor vs relay, and many times, the terms are used nearly interchangeably. The defining differences are not always apparent, so we thought we’d try and help sort out the answer.