How do you control coatings on a device the width of a human hair?

In today's world, ultra-tiny micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) provide key capabilities in phones, cars, drones, and medical sensors, just to name a few places.

Topics: Case studies, Process control, Electronics, Machine builder, optonews, PACs, OEM, Integrators, OptoNews 2016-06-22

ATEX is the name commonly given to the two European Directives for controlling explosive atmospheres in workplaces.

Several Opto 22 products are now approved for both standards and offer you options for applications in potentially explosive areas.

Topics: Process control, Food & beverage, Discrete control, Machine builder, optonews, PACs, OEM, Integrators, I/O, Oil & gas, OptoNews 2016-06-08

Want to make your groov operator interface look just the way you want, with your own company logo and colors?

The groov R3.1 release includes new tools to customize pages and gadgets, so you can do that and more. 

Topics: groov, Updates, Remote monitoring, Machine builder, optonews, OEM, OptoNews 2016-04-27

Way back in 1883, the Frick Company started manufacturing refrigeration compressors. During the next 100 years they became well known for a variety of reliable refrigeration system components.

By the 1980s Frick began automating their systems with Opto 22 products, and they began to notice a new need in the industry: custom system design and integration.

Topics: Case studies, Process control, Food & beverage, Machine builder, optonews, OEM, Migration, Integrators, Building management, OptoNews 2016-03-30

Just released: groov R3.1a!

You'll want this new release. It's a big one, with security updates, bug fixes, and lots of new features.

Especially if you like images or want to customize the look of your groov mobile operator interface, this update is for you. You can see many of the new features in action in the new groov graphics video.

Here's a summary of major new features in groov R3.1a. For more information, see the groov App Readme. And stay tuned to OptoNews, as we'll explore some of the new features in depth in later posts.

Topics: groov, Updates, Remote monitoring, Machine builder, optonews, OptoNews 2016-03-16

Plan now to attend The Automation Conference & Expo this May in Chicago, Illinois—and save $100 on the cost of admission with your Opto 22 VIP code (see below).

The Conference focuses on the process industries, discrete manufacturing, and packaging, and this year it includes over two dozen educational sessions on:

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, Machine builder, optonews, PACs, OEM, Events & conferences, Integrators, OptoNews 2016-03-16

What do you get with the free PAC Project Basic automation software suite? 

PAC Project Basic offers flowchart-based control programming plus HMI development and runtime. It's suited for industrial automation, remote monitoring, and data acquisition applications in any field.

Topics: Process control, Discrete control, Remote monitoring, Machine builder, optonews, PACs, PAC Project, OptoNews 2016-03-02

OptoPartner Hy-Line Systems GmbH invites you to Embedded World 2016 in Nürnberg, Germany, next week from 23-25 February. 

Embedded World brings together everything for embedded systems, from ASIC and FPGA design to programming to wireless, this year with an emphasis on the Internet of Things and security for embedded systems. 

Topics: Internet of Things, IoT, Machine builder, optonews, OEM, Events & conferences, OptoNews 2016-02-17

You already know that groov is the simple way to build your own mobile operator interface—your own mobile app—so you can securely monitor and control your systems and equipment from a smartphone or tablet.

With groov it really is easy to build your interface and control who can use it.

But there's one part that can be more complicated: setting up your network so you can access the data you need while maintaining security for your systems. 

Topics: groov, Remote monitoring, Machine builder, optonews, OEM, Integrators, Networking, Building management, OptoNews 2016-02-17

If you use high-density 32-point SNAP digital I/O modules, you'll be interested in our latest breakout board: the SNAP-UDC-HDB.

The small footprint of this new board makes it ideal for use in cramped areas. Just 3.32 x 3.95 x 2.27 inches high (8.43 x 10.03 x 5.77 cm), the SNAP-UDC-UDB fits in tight places but still gives you room to wire all 32 points to field devices.

Topics: Discrete control, Machine builder, optonews, New products, Integrators, I/O, OptoNews 2016-01-20