Automate the workthat slowsyour shop down.
Buying guides for collaborative robots, PLCs, sensors, motion control and conveyors, starting with the task, the payload and the cycle time, then the specifications and safety standards that decide fit.
Find equipment by the job
Handle, control, sense, move and protect. Each section starts with the task and the shop.
Robots & cobots
Collaborative and industrial robots
Grippers & tooling
Grippers, vacuum and tool changers
PLCs & controllers
PLCs, HMIs and industrial PCs
Sensors & vision
Sensors, cameras and barcode readers
Motion control
Servos, steppers and actuators
Conveyors & handling
Conveyors, feeders and palletizing
CNC & 3D printing
CNC machines, lasers and additive
Safety & planning
Safety components, ROI and integration
Understand the specs
Compare absolute and incremental encoder position information, power-up behavior and reference requirements using Siemens' published explanations.
Compare an accumulation conveyor and a straight transport conveyor by buffering, footprint, product flow and layout requirements.
Compare belt-drive and ball-screw linear units by stroke, speed, load, accuracy, environment, maintenance and cost for an automation application.
- 04
Belt vs Roller Conveyors: Selection Checklist
Conveyors & handling
- 05
CNC Router vs CNC Mill
Fabrication
- 06
CNC Router Workholding Checklist
CNC and fabrication
- 07
Digital vs Analog PLC Inputs: A Selection Chart
PLCs & controllers
- 08
EtherNet/IP vs PROFINET: Network Selection Checklist
Controllers
- 09
FDM vs SLA 3D Printing
Fabrication
Automation questions, answered
What does an incremental encoder report?
Siemens describes incremental encoders as providing delta position or angular signals.
Read: Absolute vs Incremental Encoder Chart →Does accumulation mean products stop on a belt?
Designs vary. Some systems buffer or recirculate items using a specific conveyor arrangement.
Read: Accumulation vs Straight Conveyors →Which linear drive is better for a long stroke?
Stroke capability depends on the unit and application. Compare the manufacturer's travel, speed, load and deflection data for the exact model.
Read: Belt Drive vs Ball Screw Linear Actuators →When should I compare a belt and roller conveyor?
Compare them when selecting a unit-handling route. Product dimensions, base, transfer points, accumulation and controls help define which module fits.
Read: Belt vs Roller Conveyors →Is machine travel the same as usable work area?
No. Compare the maker's work area or table size with axis travel and the space taken by tooling and fixturing.
Read: CNC Router vs CNC Mill →Can I hold a CNC workpiece by hand?
No. Follow the machine maker's workholding guidance and secure the material before cutting.
Read: CNC Router Workholding Checklist →Task, payload and safety first
Every comparison uses the published datasheet figures for payload, reach, repeatability and ratings, with the source linked.
Each guide says who the equipment suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The automation equipment index
- 01Robots & cobotsCollaborative robots, industrial arms, SCARA and delta robots, mobile robots and robot selection.6 pages
- 02Grippers & toolingElectric and pneumatic grippers, vacuum cups and generators, tool changers and welding tooling.3 pages
- 03PLCs & controllersProgrammable logic controllers, micro PLCs, HMIs, industrial PCs and communication protocols.4 pages
- 04Sensors & visionPhotoelectric, proximity and laser sensors, machine vision cameras, barcode readers and measurement.3 pages
- 05Motion controlServo and stepper motors, drives, linear actuators and motion controllers.4 pages
- 06Conveyors & handlingBelt and roller conveyors, part feeders, palletizing cells and material handling.3 pages
- 07CNC & 3D printingCNC mills and routers, laser cutters, industrial 3D printers and fabrication automation.3 pages
- 08Safety & planningSafety scanners, light curtains and relays, risk assessments, ROI calculations and working with integrators.4 pages