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    Field Tools

    Controls & Automation Tools

    Pick a tool, type your numbers, get an instant answer. Every verdict is backed by IEC, ISA, NEC and NFPA standards and the official Siemens, Rockwell, FANUC and Haas references. No formulas, no spreadsheets.

    Live Tools

    Solve It on the Floor

    The tools a controls or automation tech reaches for during a job. Cross-vendor translation, signal diagnosis, motor circuit sizing, trip logic, and machining math.

    Cross-Vendor & Core

    Translate between platforms, scale signals, size motor circuits, check trip logic, and dial in machining.

    Siemens to Allen-Bradley Translator

    Pick a category to see a side-by-side equivalence table. Optionally type a Siemens address to get the AB-style equivalent.

    Category
    Reference perspective
    Concept
    Siemens (TIA / S7)
    Allen-Bradley (Studio 5000)
    Software environment
    TIA Portal
    Studio 5000 Logix Designer
    Ladder Diagram
    LAD
    LD
    Function Block Diagram
    FBD
    FBD
    Structured Text
    SCL
    Structured Text (ST)
    Sequencer language
    GRAPH
    SFC
    Statement list
    STL
    (no direct equivalent)
    Note: Both platforms support IEC 61131-3 languages. Siemens STL has no AB equivalent. Siemens SCL maps to AB Structured Text; GRAPH maps to SFC.
    Address converter (Siemens to AB)

    Analog Scaler

    Enter a raw PLC count and engineering unit range to convert to real-world units. Detects wire-break, overflow, and underrange faults.

    Platform
    Raw count
    EU min
    EU max
    Scaled engineering value
    50.00EU
    50.0% of nominal span (raw 13824 on Siemens S7 (0–27648))
    Healthy signal

    The raw value is inside the Siemens 0 to 27648 nominal band, so the conversion to engineering units is valid and the field signal looks healthy.

    Electrical for Compressors

    Select motor HP and voltage to size branch conductors, breakers, and overloads per NEC Article 430. Results are instant, cited, and ready for the field.

    Motor HP
    Voltage (3-phase)
    Recommended wire size (THHN 75C Cu)
    8AWG
    Min ampacity 42.5 A (125% of 34.0 A FLC)
    Inverse-time breaker max
    80A
    250% FLC = 85.0 A, rounded down to standard size
    Overload relay setting
    42.5A
    125% of nameplate FLA, assuming SF 1.15 or temperature rise 40 C or less (NEC 430.32)
    Conductor sized correctly

    The conductor meets or exceeds the NEC Article 430 minimum of 125% of full-load current for continuous motor duty.

    Safety note: Always de-energize and verify absence of voltage with a calibrated meter before working on motor branch circuits. Arc-flash hazard analysis per NFPA 70E is required before opening any energized enclosure. These calculations are a starting point, confirm with the authority having jurisdiction and a licensed electrician.

    Interlock Trip Checker

    Set each compressor interlock state to instantly see whether the package is ready, running, blocked, or tripped. Trips latch until a manual OFF to RUN acknowledge.

    High discharge temp switch
    Low oil pressure permissive
    High pressure switch
    E-stop
    Start command
    Package state
    Ready to Start
    All permissives healthy, waiting for start command
    Latching behavior: Compressor protective trips are intentionally latching. Once a trip is active, removing the fault condition alone does not restart the machine. An operator must confirm the root cause is cleared, then perform a manual OFF to RUN acknowledge cycle before the start circuit will seal in again. This prevents unattended restart after a safety event.
    Ready to start

    All permissives are made and no protective interlock is active. The start circuit will seal in on a valid run command.

    Source:NFPA 79

    Speed, Feed and G/M-Code Decoder

    Switch between speeds and feeds calculator and G/M-code quick reference. Instant cited results.

    Mode
    Cutting speed (SFM)
    SFM
    Tool diameter
    in
    Feed per tooth
    in/tooth
    Number of teeth (flutes)
    Machine max spindle RPM
    Spindle RPM
    2292RPM
    Within 10000 RPM limit
    Feed rate
    36.669in/min
    At 4 flutes, 0.004 in/tooth
    Within spindle range

    The calculated spindle speed is inside the machine's usable range, so the surface speed and feed per tooth will be delivered as programmed.

    Electrical & Safety

    NFPA 70E arc flash and approach boundaries, plus NEC voltage drop and conduit fill.

    Arc-Flash PPE and Boundary Picker

    Enter the incident energy from the label, or pick the equipment, to get the NFPA 70E PPE category, gear list and arc-flash boundary.

    Mode
    Incident energy
    cal/cm2
    Working distance
    in
    PPE Category
    2
    NFPA 70E arc-flash PPE
    Arc-flash boundary
    40in
    About 3.4 ft from the source
    PPE Category 2 required

    Incident energy is in the Category 2 band (over 4 up to 8 cal/cm2). Arc-rated shirt and pants or coverall rated at least 8 cal/cm2, plus face shield and balaclava or hood, are required.

    Required PPE, Category 2

    Arc-rated shirt and pants or coverall (arc rating at least 8 cal/cm2), arc-rated flash suit hood or face shield with balaclava, hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, arc-rated gloves, leather footwear.

    Shock Approach Boundary Lookup

    Pick the system voltage and get the NFPA 70E limited and restricted approach distances for safe clearance.

    System voltage (phase to phase)
    Restricted approach boundary
    1ft 0 in
    Qualified person + permit only
    Limited approach, exposed movable conductor
    10 ft 0 in
    Limited approach, fixed circuit part
    3 ft 6 in

    Includes 208V, 240V, 277V, 480V and 600V systems, the common plant range.

    Qualified person inside the restricted boundary

    Only a qualified person with the correct PPE and an energized work permit may cross the restricted approach boundary. Maintain the limited approach distance for unqualified persons.

    Voltage Drop and Wire-Run Checker

    Enter the load, run length and conductor to see the voltage drop against the NEC recommended 3% branch and 5% total limits.

    Conductor metal
    System
    Load current
    A
    One-way run length
    ft
    Conductor size
    Source voltage
    V
    Circuit type
    Voltage drop
    7.9V
    Across 100 ft one way
    Percent drop
    6.58%
    Target 3% for this run
    Excessive voltage drop

    Voltage drop on this branch circuit is well above the recommended 3%. Increase the conductor size or shorten the run. High drop causes motor overheating and nuisance trips.

    Conduit Fill Checker

    Pick the conductor, count and conduit size to check fill against the NEC Chapter 9 limits before you pull.

    Conductor (THHN)
    Number of conductors
    Conduit size (EMT)
    Conduit fill
    13.1%
    Limit 40% for this count
    Conductor area used
    0.040in2
    In 1/2 in EMT
    Within 40% fill limit

    Conduit fill is at or below the 40% NEC limit for three or more conductors. The raceway has room to pull without damaging insulation.

    Motors & VFDs

    VFD to motor cable length, nameplate decoding against NEC and NEMA, and power factor correction.

    VFD to Motor Cable-Length Checker

    Enter the lead length, motor type and carrier frequency to see whether reflected-wave voltage calls for an output filter.

    Lead length (drive to motor)
    ft
    Motor type
    Carrier (switching) frequency
    Safe length, no output filter
    50ft
    Current run is beyond this
    Consider a dV/dt filter

    This lead length is entering the reflected-wave zone. Use an inverter-duty motor or add a dV/dt filter at the drive output to protect the windings.

    These are conservative field rules. The drive manufacturer published cable-length table for your specific drive and filter always takes precedence.

    Motor Nameplate Decoder

    Enter the nameplate data to decode FLC for circuit sizing, poles and slip, design letter, insulation class and overload setting.

    Horsepower
    Voltage (3-phase)
    Nameplate FLA
    A
    Nameplate RPM
    RPM
    NEMA design letter
    Insulation class
    Service factor
    NEC FLC for sizing
    14.0A
    Table 430.250
    Poles / sync speed
    4/ 1800
    About 2.8% slip
    Nameplate decoded

    This is a 10 hp, 460V motor. NEC Table 430.250 full-load current for circuit sizing is about 14.0 A. Approximately 4 poles, 1800 RPM synchronous, about 2.8% slip. Design B: normal starting torque, normal starting current. The most common general-purpose design. Class F insulation allows about 155 C total. Service factor 1.15 means the overload should be set near 16.3 A (125% of nameplate FLA).

    Power Factor and Capacitor kVAR Helper

    Enter the load and the present and target power factor to size the capacitor kVAR needed, with an over-correction check.

    Load (real power)
    kW
    Present power factor
    Target power factor
    Motor no-load kVAR (optional)
    kVAR
    Capacitor kVAR needed
    47.4kVAR
    To move from 0.78 to 0.95 PF
    Correction sizing is sound

    Adding this capacitor kVAR raises the power factor to the target without over-correcting. This reduces demand charges and frees up transformer and conductor capacity.

    Enter the motor no-load kVAR to enable the over-correction check. Leave it at zero to size for a panel-level capacitor bank.

    Instrumentation

    RTD and thermocouple temperature, 4 to 20 mA loop burden, and transmitter range scaling.

    RTD and Thermocouple Reader

    Pick the sensor and enter resistance or millivolts to convert to temperature, with the IEC 60751 tolerance for RTDs.

    Sensor type
    Measured resistance
    ohm
    Temperature (C)
    25.7C
    IEC 60751
    Temperature (F)
    78.2F
    Converted
    Temperature decoded

    For a PT100 (R0 100 ohm), this resistance reads about 25.7 C. IEC 60751 tolerance is about plus or minus 0.20 C for Class A and plus or minus 0.43 C for Class B at this temperature.

    Source:IEC 60751
    Source:IEC 60751

    Loop Power and Burden Checker

    Enter the supply, transmitter minimum and loop resistances to check that a 4 to 20 mA loop can drive full scale.

    Supply voltage
    V
    Transmitter minimum voltage
    V
    Sense resistor
    ohm
    Wire resistance (round trip)
    ohm
    Barrier / other resistance
    ohm
    Max load the loop can drive
    545ohm
    At 22 mA headroom
    Total burden required
    270ohm
    Margin 275 ohm
    Loop has adequate headroom

    The supply can drive the loop with margin to spare at 20 mA. The transmitter will hold the signal across the full range.

    NAMUR NE43: a healthy signal sits between 3.8 and 20.5 mA. Below 3.6 mA flags a fault or under-range, above 21 mA flags over-range, and about 2 mA points to a broken wire.

    Transmitter Range Scaler

    Convert between 4 to 20 mA and engineering units, in linear or square-root flow mode, against your range.

    Signal type
    Direction
    Range low (4 mA = LRV)
    Range high (20 mA = URV)
    Loop current
    mA
    Process value
    50.00EU
    From 12.0 mA
    Scaled

    12.00 mA maps to about 50.00 engineering units on this linear range.

    Compressor Controls

    Diagnose trips, pick the right control mode, and match air quality to ISO 8573-1.

    Compressor Trip Diagnoser

    Pick the symptom and get the most likely causes plus a field check list, with a safety note for electrical work.

    Symptom
    Field checks
    • 1.Check oil level and quality, top up or change if old or dark
    • 2.Inspect cooler fins and clean any blockage, confirm the fan is running
    • 3.Verify room ambient is within the spec on the data plate
    • 4.Test the thermostatic mixing valve and coolant flow
    Likely cause

    Most likely low or degraded oil, a clogged or dirty cooler, high ambient temperature, a failed thermostatic valve, or low coolant flow.

    Compressor Control Mode Selector

    Describe the load profile and storage to get the recommended control mode and why it fits.

    Typical load
    Demand variability
    Receiver storage
    Recommended mode
    Variable Speed (VSD)

    Variable speed control matches motor speed to demand. It gives the best part-load efficiency and the smoothest header pressure for variable demand.

    Best fit for variable demand

    Variable speed drive control tracks a changing demand closely and gives the best part-load efficiency, typically 20% to 35% better than modulation at part load.

    Air Quality Class Picker

    Pick the application and the lowest line temperature to get the required ISO 8573-1 class and dryer type.

    Application
    Lowest line temperature
    C
    Required ISO 8573-1 class
    Class 4 (PDP at or below +3 C)
    Dryer: Refrigerated dryer

    General shop air and pneumatic tools run well on a refrigerated dryer at about +3 C pressure dew point.

    Dew point is below line temperature

    The dryer pressure dew point stays below the coldest line temperature, so the air will not condense in service. The selected ISO 8573-1 class fits the application.

    CNC / FANUC

    Tapping feed for G84, peck drill cycle selection, and work offset and tool comp decoding.

    Tapping Feed (G84)

    Enter the spindle speed and thread to get the synchronized tapping feed and a ready G84 line for FANUC rigid tapping.

    Thread units
    Spindle speed
    RPM
    Threads per inch (TPI)
    TPI
    Tapping feed rate
    25.00in/min
    0.0500 in per rev
    Sample G code

    M29 S500 (rigid) then G84 Z-.5 R.1 F25.00 S500

    Tapping feed set

    At 500 RPM the synchronized tapping feed is about 25.00 in/min. On a FANUC control, command rigid tapping with M29 S500 on the line before the G84 cycle so the spindle and feed stay locked together.

    Peck Drill Cycle Helper

    Enter the hole depth and drill diameter to get the right drilling cycle, speed, feed and a sample G code line.

    Hole depth
    in
    Drill diameter
    in
    Cutting speed
    SFM
    Recommended cycle
    G73
    Depth ratio 4.0x
    Spindle speed
    1222RPM
    Feed 6.72 in/min
    High-speed peck (short retract, chip break)

    G73 Z-1.000 R.1 Q0.250 F6.72 S1222

    Cycle selected

    At a depth to diameter ratio of about 4.0 times, use G73, high-speed peck (short retract, chip break). Set the peck increment Q near 0.250 in and keep the R plane about 0.1 in above the surface.

    Work Offset and Tool Comp Decoder

    Pick a fixture or compensation code to get a plain-English meaning and the one thing to watch out for.

    Code
    G54

    Work coordinate system 1. Shifts program zero to the stored G54 fixture offset. This is the most common first setup origin.

    Watch out

    Confirm the part zero in the G54 register matches where you touched off, a wrong offset crashes into the fixture.

    Decoded

    Work coordinate system 1. Shifts program zero to the stored G54 fixture offset. This is the most common first setup origin.