# AutomationReviewed

> Industrial automation guides: collaborative and industrial robots, PLCs and controllers, sensors and vision, motion control, conveyors, CNC and 3D printing, safety and small-shop automation.

AutomationReviewed publishes automation equipment reviews, buying guides and reader discount codes. Every review states who the product suits, the current price from the brand's own store, and any active reader code.

## Key pages
- [Buying guides](https://automationreviewed.com/guides): how to choose
- [Glossary](https://automationreviewed.com/glossary): automation equipment terms defined
- [Work with us](https://automationreviewed.com/work-with-us): how brands partner with AutomationReviewed for reviews and reader codes
- [How we test](https://automationreviewed.com/testing-methodology)

## Topics
- [Robots & cobots](https://automationreviewed.com/category/robots): Collaborative robots, industrial arms, SCARA and delta robots, mobile robots and robot selection.
- [PLCs & controllers](https://automationreviewed.com/category/controllers): Programmable logic controllers, micro PLCs, HMIs, industrial PCs and communication protocols.
- [Sensors & vision](https://automationreviewed.com/category/sensors-vision): Photoelectric, proximity and laser sensors, machine vision cameras, barcode readers and measurement.
- [Safety & planning](https://automationreviewed.com/category/safety-planning): Safety scanners, light curtains and relays, risk assessments, ROI calculations and working with integrators.

## Buying guides
- [How to Calculate ROI for an Automation Project](https://automationreviewed.com/guides/automation-roi-calculation): Add up the full project cost: equipment, tooling, safety components, integration, training and downtime during installation. Then estimate annual savings from labor reallocation, scrap and rework, throughput and overtime. Simple payback is total cost divided by annual savings. Test your assumptions on shifts, uptime and cycle time, since those drive the result more than the robot price.
- [Choosing Industrial Sensors: Photoelectric, Proximity and More](https://automationreviewed.com/guides/choosing-industrial-sensors): Choose sensors by what you need to detect and where. Inductive proximity sensors detect metal at short range; capacitive sensors detect most materials, including liquids through containers; photoelectric sensors detect objects at longer range; ultrasonic and laser sensors measure distance. Then match sensing range, output type (PNP, NPN, IO-Link, analog), connector and IP rating to the machine and environment.
- [Cobot vs Industrial Robot: Which Fits Your Application?](https://automationreviewed.com/guides/cobot-vs-industrial-robot): Collaborative robots (cobots) are designed to work near people with force and speed limits, are quick to program and redeploy, and suit small batches, machine tending and packing. Industrial robots are faster and carry far heavier payloads, but usually need guarding and more integration. Choose by payload, cycle time, how often the task changes, and the safety measures your risk assessment requires.
- [How to Choose a PLC: I/O, Protocols and Programming](https://automationreviewed.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-plc): Count your inputs and outputs (digital and analog), add room to grow, and choose a PLC family that expands to cover them. Confirm it speaks the protocols your machines and drives use, such as EtherNet/IP, PROFINET or Modbus TCP. Then check programming software, IEC 61131-3 language support, HMI integration, and the local support and parts availability your team will rely on.

Contact: info@automationreviewed.com