Methods,Industrial,Computing,M computer Methods of Industrial Computing
Gone are those times when the companies and the organisations didn't need a hi-tech system to handle them. Owing to the considerable increase in the business sector and thus, an enormous increase in the complexity of the organisational struc ----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as longas no changes a
Methods of Industrial ComputingThe requirements of an industrial PC are a lotdifferent to that of the needs for an office computer. The needs of anindustrial computer will also vary dramatically depending on the industryitself. Computers used in food manufacture may have to be waterproof andintrinsically sealed to prevent explosions in potentially explosive and dustyatmospheres whilst also being made of stainless steel or other easy to cleanmaterial; yet computers in heavy industry may have to also protect from dustand dirt but be able to withstand excessive temperatures, knocks andvibrations.Fortunately there are several options availablefor industrial computing.Protective Covers: If an industrial area is dusty but there areless of the other hazards that have been mentioned, then an inexpensivesolution is to use a conventional office PC fitted with protective dust covers.Although not designed for environments with thick dust and grime, for areaswith just a moderate dusty atmosphere they may add sufficient protection and canprotect keyboards from dust and fluids, preventing sticky keys (and many anunintended typo). Waterproof /dustproof Keyboardsand other peripherals (such as mouse) are also available. These covers andperipherals are only recommended to be used with a conventional PC in an areathat is only mildly dusty/damp and not heavy dust-filled atmospheres. Someprotective covers offer limited waterproofing for areas where there is a riskof minor splashing but they are not suitable for areas with larger quantitiesof fluids such as wet rooms or areasthat are to be hosed down.Industrial Computers: Long seen as the only option for manyindustrial applications, specialist industrial computers can be designed todefend from anything. Some areintrinsically sealed and completely airtight, allowing the machines to besafely used even in highly explosive atmospheres. Others are manufactured assolid state (without moving parts) making them rugged, enabling the computer towithstand severe shocks and vibrations.Some industrial computers are also built withextra cooling allowing them to be used in the most extreme heat whilst otherscontain heaters permitting their use in freezers or chillers. However, theseindustrial computers can be extremely expensive, even though they can be madebespoke to fit exact requirements. Also being sealed units, often with customsoftware installed, when they need repairing and upgrading, an engineer has tobe called with the possibility of production having to halt until the machineis back online. Also, as industrial computers are designed to last and cant beupgraded easily, they tend to offer poorer performance and fewer options than aconventional PC, mainly because they are usually fitted with outdatedtechnology or technology that soon goes out of date, particularly with theexponential rate computers advance.Industrial PC Enclosures: A far less inexpensive but an equally effectivemethod as an industrial computer is to us a conventional PC housed in anindustrial computer enclosure. These enclosures can perform the same tasks as abespoke industrial machine; protecting the PC from knocks, bangs, theft,tampering and vibrations, waterproofing, protection from explosive atmospheres,defence from dirt and grime, whilst heating and air conditioned enclosures toallow computing in extreme temperatures. These enclosures also can be madebespoke adding or subtracting requirements depending on the individual needs.The main advantage of these enclosures is thata conventional PC, with conventional software and components, is housed in theenclosure and can be replaced or repaired at any time -allowing administratorsto upgrade the IT and keep the machines up-to-date. Also it allows computeradministrators to choose what PC will best suit their requirements and whatsoftware is most efficient to run on it. Even budget PCs can be housed incomputer enclosures and as these enclosures can last for years it can makeindustrial computing as affordable as conventional computing.
Methods,Industrial,Computing,M