“Where the heck  do I start?” you might ask.  Installing an industrial network can be a big fat headache, but there is help out there.  I just read this really great article in Automation World (a useful website, by the way) that breaks this process down into five steps.  Here’s a helpful link for you:  http://www.totallyintegratedautomation.com/2010/10/the-five-easy-pieces-of-network-installation/.

If you need your industrial network PLC repaired or PAC repaired, our expert tech team is ready to help.  Call our helpful customer service reps at 800-605-6419 or check out our website at www.acsindustrial.com.  Meanwhile, enjoy the article “The Five Easy Pieces of Network Installation”.

Wow.  Loose connections…now that’s a “loose” term if ever there was one! 

Connection problems are indeed responsible for many non-functioning electronics of all sorts. 

Note the key words are connection problems because the problem may very well NOT be looseness at all.  So step away from the torque wrench or worse-yet the screwdriver. 

What seems like a “loose” connection could be just that, but electronic problems are more often the result of bad connections caused by:

• Oxidation of contacts
• Corrosion of contacts
• Dirty contact surfaces
• Cross threading
• Wrong bolt or screw

Yesterday afternoon, after fidgeting for an hour in a cracked, plastic chair at the Motor Vehicle Administration, my middle son received his learner’s permit and his Rookie Driver handbook….just thought ya’ll should know about this disturbing fact.  If you are a parent of teenage sons, as I am of three of these buffalo, then you know why it is disturbing.

This is the car he is planning to drive…a 2011 Camaro.  Reality, however, is that a 2003 Hyundai Elantra, previously dented up by his older brother, is what awaits him in the driveway.  But he can dream…and plan for the future.

Hey design engineers and CNC operators, have you tried Proto Labs’ online First Cut or Protomold CNC Machining Services?  If you don’t already know about these guys, they could be quite a time and cost savings find for you. 

After establishing Protolabs, this 10-year-old Minnesota-based company launched First Cut and Protomold to provide “quick turn” and/or low volume production of machined parts.  Even just one-offs.

First Cut makes CNC machined plastic parts directly from 3D CAD models in as little as one day.  Protomold makes injection molded prototypes and short- run production parts, also from 3D CAD models just as fast as First Cut.

 Does it seem like your maintenance staff is constantly putting out “fires?” Or that your production equipment is always running to failure requiring industrial electronics repair and causing unplanned work stoppages? 

Lean manufacturing may be the answer.  Lean manufacturing concepts aren’t new but they are gaining momentum…and for good reason. 

By implementing some lean manufacturing strategies, you can track equipment breakdowns, schedule preventive maintenance, and anticipate needs for maintenance parts.   Benefits include:

• Waste elimination
• Defect reduction
• Productivity maximization
• Engaging  your work force as a team

Ah, our little green friends…the printed circuit board. Taken for granted until they fail, circuit boards are key to the operation of virtually everything these days. So if you are suspicious, or even absolutely certain, that your circuit board is the problem, you may need some advice as well as circuit board repair or replacement.

Always remember the Electronic Axis of Evil: Moisture, Heat, and Dirt. If you can avoid these, your circuit boards will last longer.

Four Top Reasons For Circuit Board Failure and Tips to Identify The Problems & Causes:

Not surprisingly, reliability ranked the most important criteria in purchasing industrial electronics according to a recent survey by Plant Engineering & Maintenance. 

Reliability was followed, in descending order, by quality, safety, maintenance, service, price, throughput, technology, noise, speed, and “green”.

Maintenance ranked 4th out of 11 so we know it’s pretty high on your list.  Nobody wants equipment that is difficult or excessively expensive to maintain.  Downtime is lost time and lost time is lost money.  

Save money in the long run by purchasing quality industrial electronic equipment with a good warranty.  And when that warranty runs out, or the OEM does not provide responsive service, send your repairs to a reliable expert. 

If you need your industrial electronic circuit board repaired, then you need to contact ACS for expert electronic repair services that will get you back into operation fast. Call us at 800-605-6419.

ACS repairs just about any industrial circuit board with highly experienced, expert technicians and fast service. Circuit boards that other repair houses return as unrepairable or beyond economical repair can often be repaired by our highly experienced tech team.

Your circuit boards are evaluated, repaired and returned to you in perfect working order and if your circuit boards cannot be repaired, you don’t pay. Thats right… YOU DON’T PAY ONE PENNY IF WE CANNOT FIX YOUR CIRCUIT BOARDS!

If you need Expert, Fast FANUC Equipment Repair, Call ACS Industrial for help at 800-605-6419.   We offer expert electronic repair services and Priority Rush Repair Service for those situations where a down piece of equipment is screwing up productioin in the worst way. Your bad Fanuc Servo Drive, Spindle Drive, Monitor, Power Supply, CNC board or CNC control will be Expertly Evaluated and Repaired Fast and returned in perfect working order.

Some FANUC equipment is available for the exchange program getting your machinery back up and running very quickly. Call for information if you want to see if your FANUC item is available for exchange. Find out why many companies only use ACS Industrial for their critical electronic repair needs.

Well, what a week of rain, flash floods, and lousy weather! We got through it and kept to the schedule for delivering fast, expert electronic repairs. Neither rain, nor flood, nor black of night…..will keep us from delivering fully repaired and tested Power Supplies, PLC’s, Drives, CNC Circuit Boards, Servo’s, Servo Motors, Monitors and more! Get Your Equipment Back Up And Running Fast! For more information, visit us at www.acsindustrial.com