These Industrial computers are designed with a focus on reliability since their users can’t afford downtime, and usually, they have to work in situations where there may not be a lot of room for error. While most of the time these computers used the same operating systems as standard desktop PCs, they can also use specialized software that is tailored toward specific industries or tasks.
Industrial computers aren’t always one-size-fits-all though, because different businesses will need different kinds of features or capabilities that might not fit into what you would see in regular off-the-shelf versions. This means customizing them to meet your requirements should come naturally. Most companies try to match industry specifications as closely as possible.
Many industrial computer users like to make their own customized computers, which can work great for them if they are already familiar with the process of building a personal computer.
Industrial computers should be powerful enough to handle any demands you throw at it, since you need them to actually do something other than just sit there and look pretty. The faster it is the better, but keep in mind that CPUs may not always be upgradable so choose one within your budget.
Of course, 10 Best Industrial PCs for Business Owners: Tough and Reliable Computers and the different types of industrial PCs come along with different amounts of processing power, memory capacity, and storage space available on your system.
How to choose the right industrial computers
Industrial computers are industrial-grade computer systems that are designed to handle high mobility, tough working conditions, extended temperature ranges, and resistance to chemicals. Industrial computers are essential for industrial business owners who want to take their factories up a notch by installing industrial computers to automate processes or increase efficiency.
Alternative industrial computing solutions include industrial-grade Tablets and industrial-grade Notebooks. The main difference lies in the form factor of these devices: industrial notebooks have more resources at their disposal as industrial tablets have an ergonomic advantage over industrial laptops.
Industrial notebooks come equipped with advanced hardware that can be quite expensive for individuals but prove invaluable in any factory setting where their sturdiness is put into good use while they continue to give more precise data about industrial processes.
Industrial tablets, on the other hand, are designed to be portable and ergonomic. Workers can instantly submit information using industrial tablets in a factory setting where outdated pen and paper is still being used for communication between workers.
The benefits of using industrial computers in factories and other industrial settings Computers have been a part of industrial settings for decades, but in recent years they have become a more important and integral part of the process.
Industrial computers need to be able to stand up to some extreme conditions that consumer or standard business computers just can’t handle. With industrial computers being used more frequently in warehouses, manufacturing plants, oil rigs, and many other industrial settings their demand has risen significantly over the past few years. They need to be resistant to shock and vibrations along with extreme heat and cold which is something traditional office PCs really aren’t designed for this sort of application; however industrial-grade PCs are another story entirely.
The next step would be to see your supplier’s specifications
This step is crucial since the extra money spent here will help you avoid costly mistakes in the future when operating industrial computer systems.
Here are some considerations when choosing an industrial computer system for your factory: PLC compatibility, I/Os, speed, reliability, and software compatibility.
1) PLC Compatible – make sure that all of your machines are PLC compatible. The best way to do this is to ask the manufacturer if their PLC modules fit into any major control vendors’ controllers. If they don’t then it might be a good idea to use basic ladder logic programming so that the data can be read and written to any programmable controller.
2) I/Os – keep in mind the number of inputs and outputs available for your industrial computer.
3) Speed – find out what speeds are recommended for each type of application, such as whether 8 Mbps or 16 Mbps is more appropriate.
4) Stability – stability is important to ensure that your system doesn’t crash often. Your supplier should offer different types of hard drives with varying degrees of reliability depending on how much data you are trying to store. Make sure you choose one without a RAID level below 1 (RAID 0). Define important applications as critical applications, and give them a priority.
5) Software compatibility – check if your software is compatible with the computer system that you are going to purchase. If it’s not, then make sure there is a good reason why not. Make sure all computers follow the same standard architecture and allow for easy upgrades and replacements when necessary.
