Frank Lamb

Frank Lamb is founder and owner of Automation Consulting LLC and member of the Control Engineering editorial advisory board.

latest from Frank Lamb

PLC programming fundamentals and uses in discrete manufacturing

December 6, 2023

PLC programming language fundamentals for improved operations, maintenance

Courtesy: Automation LLC

Motion control and robotics troubleshooting and maintenance advice

Motor control maintenance and troubleshooting best practices, advice

The fundamentals of troubleshooting in industrial automation

4 critical things to know about PLC programming in 3 minutes

April 7, 2023

Courtesy: Frank Lamb, Automation Primer

Original equipment effectiveness’ role in productive manufacturing

April 19, 2021

Factory automation and process control tag-naming matters for consistency, understanding, and troubleshooting. Courtesy: Frank Lamb, Automation Consulting, Automation Primer

PLC tag and address naming conventions

October 7, 2019

Figure 2: Ladder logic programming example; LL is the most commonly used PLC programing, most closely resembling circuit diagrams used for relays. Courtesy: Frank Lamb, Automation Primer

Other PLC programming languages

July 8, 2019

Figure 1: Output control with a permissive is shown in this output PLC logic, typical for an actuator. Various addresses need to be in the correct state for the Z_Axis_Lower_SV output to energize. These can be manipulated by the programmer, or in the case of the HMI pushbutton, it can link to an HMI program running on the programming computer and be pressed. Courtesy: Automation Consulting

Simulators, Optimizers

How simulation helps automation and controls

March 29, 2019

Figure 3: Machine sensors make images using arrays of pixels. Courtesy: Frank Lamb, Automation Primer

Vision and Discrete Sensors

What is machine vision, and how can it help?

December 6, 2018

Discrete Manufacturing

PLC programming tips, benefits for engineers

July 17, 2017

Figure 1: A useful side benefit of a tag-based programming platform (RSLogix software for a ControlLogix controller from Rockwell Automation is shown) is that the engineer can assign whatever addresses he wants to the tagnames. Courtesy: Automation Primer

PLM, Control Design

Ladder logic 304: Timer application

August 13, 2015

What to consider when specifying for new components

November 19, 2014

Image 2: Image of a typical Gantt chart. Courtesy: Frank Lamb

Project Management

How to improve machine design estimates, workflow

November 12, 2014

Which platform should I use?

October 20, 2014

Ladder Logic 101: Where do I start?

October 20, 2014