Machines and equipment placed on the EU market must be CE-marked, indicating conformity with the essential safety and health requirements of the Machinery Directive. The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC is a set of legal requirements for manufacturers and distributors of machines in or to the EU market that ensures the safety of operators, maintenance personnel, equipment, and […]
FAQs + basics
What are OSCAT files and how do they relate to CODESYS?
The IEC 61131-3 standard provides a vendor-independent, standardized programming interface for PLCs and automation controllers by defining five programming languages, along with rules for syntax and semantics. Using the languages and structure set out in IEC 61131-3, programmers and developers can more easily and efficiently define and build control software specific to their markets or applications. […]
Environmental effects on motion components in robots
Here we outline leading factors affecting the longevity and performance of industrial robot joints. Links refer to supporting research listed at the feature conclusion. Recent years have seen continuous demand in numerous industries — automotive manufacturing to computer, communication, and consumer electronics (3C) product fabrication — for industrial robots. Compared to automated dedicated equipment in […]
What does software for motion controllers look like?
Software for motion controllers can mean a few different things, so it helps to clear up exactly what is meant by the phrase. For one thing, it can refer to the programming of motion controllers; that is, telling the controller what exactly to do in a system. It can also refer to other aspects including […]
What are program organization units (POUs) in PLC programming?
The software model for PLCs, as defined in the IEC 61131-3 standard, Programmable Controllers – Part 3: Programming Languages, consists of, at the top level, a configuration. The configuration defines the hardware structure and logic of the PLC system and contains resources (the PLC or PAC, for example), which are able to execute programs. These […]
What do Lissajous figures tell us about encoder output?
As an encoder detects a change in magnetism (for magnetic encoders) or light (for optical encoders), it produces two analog sinusoidal voltages, phase-shifted by 90 degrees. These analog signals are interpolated (divided into smaller increments by the encoder electronics) to increase the encoder’s resolution and then converted to digital output signals. If there are errors in the […]
What is IEEE 1588 and why is it important for Industrial Ethernet networks?
Motion control systems operating over Ethernet networks, such as EtherNet/IP, typically involve time-based operations, and if the devices on the network, such as motion controllers, I/O devices, and actuators, are not operating with synchronized clocks, these operations will fail. The IEEE 1588 standard was developed to provide a method for ensuring a reliable, consistent time reference […]
Why is the instruction list (IL) language for PLCs falling out of favor?
The international standard IEC 61131-3 specifies programming languages for programmable controllers (aka programmable logic controllers, or PLCs), including ladder diagram (LD), structured text (ST), function block (FB), instruction list (IL), and sequential function chart (SFC). Of these, instruction list and structured text are considered textual languages, meaning they use text, numbers, and punctuation — like […]
What are jackscrews?
Jackscrews (also referred to as jack screws or screw jacks) are among several different kinds of linear motion actuators most often used for lifting or moving loads. They can also be used in any application needing linear motion, or where pushing or pulling along a linear axis is needed. Other common mechanical actuators include lead, […]
Deterministic, real-time control: What does it really mean in motion control applications?
Two terms are often used to describe the type of control that can be achieved with Industrial Ethernet networks: deterministic and real-time. Although sometimes used interchangeably, the terms deterministic and real-time refer to different, but related, characteristics of a network’s ability to transmit data or respond to events. Industrial Ethernet networks, such as EtherNet/IP, EtherCat, […]