Posted to News on 27th Feb 2012, 12:29
Combined machine and motion controller cuts development times
Aerotech's new A3200 MotionPAC brings together sophisticated machine control and advanced multi-axis motion control in a single development environment that can include IEC 61131-3, PLCopen, .NET, AeroBasic, G-code and many other programming languages. With easy-to-use diagnostics, debugging and I/O mapping tools, plus automatic memory management and offline program simulation, MotionPAC also allows the use of common tags and variables across languages with its Global Tag Database; for advanced motion and automation systems these features combine for greatly simplified commissioning and are claimed to reduce machine development timescales by as much as 30 per cent to 50 per cent.
The new MotionPAC is a part of Aerotech's Motion Composer development environment for the PC-based A3200 multi-axis motion controller. This 32-axis Windows software-based motion and machine controller includes optional modules for HMI, Vision, and I/O, as well as many other advanced functions that may be combined with MotionPAC through an easy-to-use GUI. These include configuration, status and diagnostics tools, in addition to library files and controller level algorithms that reduce move and settling times, eliminate machine resonance, increase contour speeds and accuracy, improve in-position stability and offer many more dedicated functions for increased throughput and improved dynamic performance. These advanced functions are combined with an IEC 61131-3 compliant PLC that can also be entirely programmed with .NET for levels of flexibility that Aerotech says was not previously available in one single motion and machine control system.
Aerotech's A3200 harnesses the high-speed FireWire (IEEE-1394) network to provide from one to 32 axes of decentralised motion control, directing tightly synchronised motion and I/O commands to advanced digital servo amplifiers, with no degradation in performance as the axis count increases. Aerotech's motion control capability includes state-of-the-art precision mechanics and is characterised by complete motion subsystems that offer sub-micron and nanometre levels of precision with the high-throughput performance required for today's demanding industrial and research applications.
MotionPAC and its close integration with the A3200 allows machine I/O events to be completely synchronised with advanced motion using industry-standard IEC 61131-3 and PLCopen formats that include Ladder Diagrams (LD), Function Block Diagrams (FBD) or Structured Text (ST). Users may also choose or combine .NET or AeroBasic to command motion or I/O and create shared tags and variables that are available and referenced by name in all of the A3200 Motion Composer tools and other programming languages. These Global Tags are of great benefit where the diverse functions of automated machine control call for specialised programs or where different programmers preferences need to be considered. PLC programmers and .NET programmers can collaborate in the same environment and use the programming language of their choice. Programmers may also create their own libraries from FBD, LD and ST or any combination of each. Not only are all variables available by name but their memory management is also taken care of automatically if required - helping to further eliminate programming errors, and minimise debugging and commissioning times.
Contact Aerotech for more information about the A3200 MotionPAC combined machine control and multi-axis motion control system.
