Graphite isn't just for lubrication and No. 2 pencils anymore.

Today it's a key ingredient in many industries, and the finest graphite is essential for nuclear power and semiconductors.

Toyo Tanso Japan was the first company to achieve mass production of this fine-grade isotropic graphite. Their subsidiary, Toyo Tanso USA, manufactures isotropic graphite and also provides graphite-related silicon carbide surface treatments to customers.

Topics: Case studies, Process control, groov, optonews, PACs, mobile, PID loop control, OptoNews 2016-10-26

A recent hint shared in the OptoForum reminded us of a super-useful tool in PAC Control that you might not know about: find missing connections.

Say you're moving blocks around or copying and pasting them. Of course you're in a hurry to get it done, and you forget to make new connections with existing blocks.

Topics: Tips, optonews, PAC Control, OptoNews 2016-10-26

We’re all aware of the opportunities the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is poised to deliver:

• Using big data generated by billions of things to solve problems before they occur
• Increasing operator situational awareness on the plant floor with mobility

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, IoT, mobile, IIoT, Industrial Internet of Things

Three new updates have recently been released:

• PAC Project R9.5002
• groov  R3.2b (groov Build and groov View)—Log into manage.groov.com to get your update.
• E1/E2 brainboard firmware R1.2b

Topics: groov, Updates, optonews, I/O, PAC Project, Optomux, Firmware, PAC Control, PAC Manager, OptoNews 2016-10-12

If you're into technology, you may already have a smart thermostat or refrigerator or lights in your home. That's fun and sometimes even useful.

But what's the real value of the Internet of Things?

Topics: Energy management, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, optonews, Events & conferences, Integrators, OptoNews 2016-10-12, IIoT

You've heard about our Opto 22 SNAP PAC programmable automation controllers with their built-in RESTful API (application program interface).

The REST API gives you secure access to all the I/O point and variable data in the PAC.

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, optonews, PACs, REST API, RESTful server, REST, OptoNews 2016-10-12, IIoT

The PAC Control command "Send Communication Handle Command" is a flexible and useful command to know.  

It sends a command that accomplishes a specific purpose for the type of communication handle you're using. For example, you might use it with a File or FTP comm handle to work with files on a SNAP PAC controller. 

Topics: Tips, optonews, PAC Control, OptoNews 2016-10-12

If you've heard about our Opto 22 SNAP PACs with their built-in RESTful API (application program interface), you may be wondering how you'd use that API to send real-world data to the IBM Watson IoT platform.  

I'll show you how, step-by-step, in this blog post. It's a long post, but it includes everything you'll want to know. (You can print this page as a PDF if you like.)

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, PACs, API, REST API, RESTful server, REST

Vista Irrigation District, near San Diego in Southern California, is no stranger to change. 

For nearly 100 years the district has provided reliable water to farm and residential customers—through population growth, drought years, and changes in land use.

Topics: Case studies, Videos, Water & wastewater, optonews, Integrators, OptoNews 2016-09-28

Do you use Opto iPAC or Opto aPAC on your phone or tablet to commission and troubleshoot Opto 22 systems? With these mobile apps, you can:

• Automatically discover Opto 22 systems on your network
• Change point status or variable values from your phone, wirelessly
• Create watch lists to monitor

Topics: Updates, Machine builder, optonews, PACs, OEM, Integrators, I/O, mobile, OptoNews 2016-09-28