Beckhoff has introduced TwinCAT MC3, the latest motion control software in its TwinCAT automation platform. The release builds on the platform’s long-standing multi-axis motion capabilities and is intended for use in applications that require coordinated control of multiple axes.
TwinCAT MC3 uses a modular architecture designed to support multi-core processing and multi-task operation. The software is aimed at enabling machine automation on a single industrial PC (IPC), including systems with high axis counts and performance requirements.
TwinCAT MC3 includes the functions available in the previous TwinCAT NC2 motion control solutions. It can also run in parallel with NC2 and MC3 axes, allowing new machine components to be implemented with TwinCAT MC3 without changing existing components.
The software uses a modular architecture that supports multi-core and multi-task operation and does not impose a fixed limit on the number of axes in a machine. It also supports full machine simulation for development work, enabling users to create an accurate simulation of a real machine with minimal rework.
TwinCAT MC3 can be distributed across multiple CPU cores on the controller to support synchronized motion. Axes can also run on the same CPU core at different cycle times based on their speed and function. This approach helps improve CPU utilization because the fastest axis does not determine the cycle time for all axes.
For more information, visit beckhoff.com.
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