Category: Education

Create a Machine Training Video with this Hack

Creating a training video for your HMI doesn’t have to be difficult. Here’s an easy hack.

If you’ve ever wanted to create an instructional machine training video for one of your HMIs to use in operator training but aren’t sure how to go about doing that, we have a simple hack for you–actually, two.

Close up of an EA7-T6CL HMI from Automation Direct. There are simple ways to create machine training videos for HMIs.
The EA7-T6CL HMI from Automation Direct.

The first hack is to use software that allows you to record the screen of your computer and edit it as you need to, like OBS Studio or Flashback Recorder. This type of software will allow you to easily record, edit, and share your machine training video even if you have little video production experience. Many of these software platforms have free versions that are entirely adequate to create your training video, as well as premium versions with more bells and whistles, like the ability to record from several monitors, add a watermark to protect your work, and to create a higher performance recording.

The second hack is to use the Game mode on your computer. This only works if you are running Windows 10, as it was a new feature with the Creators Update. But once you’ve activated this built-in tool you will have the option to record by pressing the red record button. You can toggle this button again to stop recording or use the Windows Key plus Alt+T. Then you can record the screen as you access the HMI remotely. Videos are automatically saved in your Videos\Captures folder as .mp4 files. There is also an option in settings that allows you to toggle on background recording.

If you need to repair or replace your current HMIs or PLCs, contact AX Control for more information.

AX Control Inc has a wide variety of surplus and reconditioned HMIs in stock.


Need replacements for legacy HMIs? We can help with that! Talk to our team today.

Hacks for Working From Home

We know many of you have employees working remotely, so we’ve created this Infographic focusing on some hacks for working from home. These quick tips should help with productivity during this difficult time.

Feel free to use and share.

Download a hi-res PDF of this file below.
Hacks-working-from-home-1Download

The AX Control team is ready to help with all your industrial automation part needs. Let us know what you need and we’ll have it boxed and on its way to you in a few hours.

Cardboard is Everywhere These Days

A person buried under cardboard boxes.
The number of boxes can become overwhelming.

As we all adjust to new rules for social distancing in this new economy, the corrugated box industry has worked tirelessly to move necessary products safely from place to place. Not only do businesses rely on well-made cardboard packaging for the shipment of goods, but hospitals and pharmacies also receive essential products like masks and medicines in carefully packed shipments. Now, too, many individuals have turned to online venues to provide them with cleaning supplies, food, and paper goods, increasing the demand for cardboard shipping boxes.

How are boxes made?

Cardboard manufacturers use recycled or virgin paper to create a flute. That’s the name of the wave-shaped structure you see inside the walls of a cardboard box. Paper feeds through a corrugated roller machine to make the fluted cardboard. The roller machines use a similar technique previously used to add ruffles to hats. Many different kinds of flutes provide different levels of strength and cushioning to finished boxes. Boxes can have one or two layers of fluting.

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