AUTOMATIONDIRECT'S
TECHNICAL LINKS

PLEASE NOTE: Many of our technical support documents and online
manuals are in "pdf" (portable document format), so you'll need the
Adobe Acrobat Reader (a browser plug-in) to view them. We recommend
Version 5 or greater. Versions before 4.01 will not allow you to view all or
our document files correctly.
Please download the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.

USING YOUR PRODUCTS

Technical Forum at AutomationDirect.com

Application Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

Technical and Application Notes

Cable Wiring Diagrams

Troubleshooting Guides

Example Programs

Guided Tutorials

Product and Technology Web Seminars

ONLINE SUPPORT TOOLS/DOCUMENTS

Installation Instructions

Online User Manuals

AutoCAD Template Drawings

Compliance Documents

Product Selection Information

Product Cross References

A Guide to Common Automation Terms

PLC Selection Considerations

DOWNLOADS

Firmware Upgrades

Free Software Upgrades and Tools

Restricted Software Downloads (password required)

Free Demos

USEFUL INDUSTRY LINKS

INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS

www.isa.org (Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society)

www.ieee.org (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

www.profibus.com (Profibus Trade Organization)

INDUSTRY SEARCH ENGINES/DIRECTORIES/VIRTUAL EXHIBITS

www.globalspec.com

www.thomasnet.com

www.packexpo.com

INDUSTRY MAGAZINE SITES

www.manufacturing.net (Reed Publishing Group site)

www.controleng.com (Control Engineering)

www.machinedesign.com (Machine Design)

www.mmh.com (Modern Materials Handling)

www.automationworld.com (Automation World)

www.newequipment.com (New Equipment Digest)

www.controldesign.com (Control Design)

www.controlmagazine.com (Control)

www.designnews.com (Design News)

www.pddnet.com (Product Design and Development)

www.ianmag.com (Instrumentation and Automation News)

www.motionsystemdesign.com (Motion System Design)

www.automationmag.com (Manufacturing Automation
( Canada ))

INDUSTRY BLOGS/PODCASTS

http://www.controlglobal.com/voices/sound_off.html (Control magazine's Editors' blogs and podcast library)

http://radio.weblogs.com/0133292/ (AutomationWorld magazine's Gary Mintchell blog)

http://automation.libsyn.com/ (Gary Mintchell's podcast library)

www.jimpinto.com (Industry thought leader)

http://waltboyes.livejournal.com (Control magazine's, Editor in Chief, Walt Boyes blog)

INDUSTRY TECHNICAL FORUMS

www.control.com (Online community of control and automation engineers with forum topics such as Applications, Automation Business, HMI and Open Control. Encompasses the Automation List.)

http://cr4.globalspec.com (Subsite of globalspec.com, encompasses a wide range of engineering and industry topics, including patents and engineering failures)

http://forum1.automationdirect.com (AutomationDirect product topics)

INDUSTRY TECHNICAL/TRAINING SITES

www.automation.com (Products, Jobs, technical information)

http://resource.controleng.com (Technical Resource Center developed by Control Engineering magazine)

www.plcs.net (PLC technical training and forum)

www.wowmanuals.com (Basic PLC study)

www.nttinc.com (industry training)

http://electrical-contractor.net (electrical products training and resources)

http://www.controlsweekly.com (A portal of free, non-vendor specific web resources for control system designers, installers, and maintainers.)

INDUSTRY RESEARCH SITES

www.arcweb.com