Al Presher

Al Presher is a contributing editor for Design News, specializing in automation and control and writing on automation topics, machine control, robotics, fluid power, and power transmission since 2002. Previously he worked in the electronic motion control field for 18 years, most recently as VP of Marketing for ORMEC Systems Corp (manufacturer of PC-based servo control systems).  Previously, he worked as Editor for Plant Systems and Equipment and Appliance magazines.  He holds an MA in magazine journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Multi-Touch Industrial HMIs

July 17, 2013
Automation & Motion Control
Al Presher
The industrial HMI is continuing to evolve with the addition of multi-touch capabilities that are now standard on smartphones and tablets. With multi-touch functionality, HMI operation is simplified and enhanced, but the biggest question is how quickly these more sophisticated interfaces may be...

Gigabit Speed & Power Over Ethernet

June 19, 2013
Automation & Motion Control
Al Presher
Gigabit and Power over Ethernet (PoE) are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable. The move to gigabit performance is also ramping up, in general, as users look for ways...

Disc Magnet Motors Hit Sweet Spot

June 18, 2013
Automation & Motion Control
Al Presher
New disc magnet motors fit into the design trend of stepping up to closed loop performance while maintaining the cost advantage of stepper motor technology. "What we are typically looking at is a middle range as the sweet spot for disc magnet motors," Dave Beckstoffer, project manager for Portescap...

Connectivity Enabling Smart Manufacturing

June 17, 2013
Automation & Motion Control
Al Presher
The push to achieving more intelligent, integrated manufacturing is putting a strong focus on networking and connectivity as key enabling technologies. At first, that might seem surprising, given the ongoing technology push to make automation faster, cheaper, and more productive. But it seems that...

Mobile Machine Monitoring

June 07, 2013
Automation & Motion Control
Al Presher
Smartphones and tablets have already been hitting the plant floor as a method for monitoring machine performance, system status, and process data. But now automation control suppliers are developing a next level of hardware and software development tools that will speed up and extend the power of...

Pages

Subscribe to Al Presher