ACS Motion Control has developed a customizable CNC HMI Platform for high precision machining and processing applications. Designed with simplicity, flexibility and ease of customization in mind, the SPiiPlusSMC (smart motion commander) software platform significantly reduces the effort and time spent by the machine builder on developing and maintaining HMI software. Leveraging a SPiiPlus EtherCAT® […]
Controls
Patented ServoTrack technology — driver-controller products for dynamic closed loop motion control
DINGS’ MOTION USA now offers its patented ServoTrack technology in a new line of products. ServoTrack technology provides both dynamic closed loop control for your motion control system and torque or force control as an integral part of the technology. ServoTrack’s simplified SnapTrack programming software makes it easy to design motion profiles and do it smarter. The ServoTrack product line provides its […]
PC-Based AGVs support warehouse renovation
Relying on PC-based PLC system from Beckhoff, America in Motion’s iBOT Automatic Guided Vehicles break new ground with path planning system. When one thinks about automated guided vehicles (AGVs), their imagination often stirs up images from science fiction. Tiny robots, scurrying about and completing the menial tasks of their human bosses. Today, we are seeing […]
New controller from Siemens simplifies complex motion control
Siemens has matched its new advanced Simatic S7-1500 T-CPU controller with its popular Sinamics servo drive system, simplifying complex motion control tasks. The matched controller and drive system are integrated into Siemens TIA Portal engineering framework, making them suitable for electronic gearing, camming and other advanced motion control applications. The new controller is also suitable […]
How to use servo drives with asynchronous (induction) motors?
With high construction costs of rare earth permanent magnet synchronous servo motors, asynchronous (induction) motors are more acceptable, when possible. By Craig Dahlquist • Application Engineer at Lenze Americas One way to get servo control of an asynchronous motor (on 400 to 480 Vac supply voltage) is to use a conventional 230/400 or 230/460 Vac (delta/wye connection) […]
Latest motion applications: Controllers in new designs
Motion controllers range from single-axis smarts to programmable automation controllers (PACs) that synchronize hundreds of axes and plant data communications. These precision command centers are central to today’s motion-system innovation. Consider how last year, the Composite Material Laboratory at Inholland University in the Netherlands installed a Moog Portable Test Controller for analysis of composite materials. […]
FAQ: How do proprietary and open-source PC control software programs compare?
The central issue with anything that is programmable is the programming itself. Regardless of whether the system is open source or proprietary, the key to successful control applications is to correctly program the design intent. Capturing the full intent at the start of a project is impossible, especially if the project has not been done […]
FAQ: Why do so many PC controls integrate HMIs?
By Steve Meyer || Previous generations of control relied on Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) for information displays as part of programming terminals. Those unfamiliar with CRTs should read the Wikipedia articles and check Google Images for representations of how the CRT works. It is an interesting part of the history of control. CRTs use high-voltage power supplies […]
Choosing between automation technologies based on industrial PC control
Today’s state-of-the-art PC-based controls deliver performance that exceeds most industrial machine-control requirements. Processor power and memory continue to expand — following Moore’s Law and doubling in capability every couple years. What’s more, cost per processor continually declines as performance increases. Whenever control manufacturers update their electronics, it makes more power available to end users. Here’s […]
FAQ: What is tag naming and the point of defining data types with PAC programming?
By Steve Meyer || Tag naming starts with naming the I/O in a control system. The names might only serve as a bookkeeping convenience for documenting in ladder programs, but in the complex environment of today’s PLC and PAC platforms, tag names are more significant. Tag names can serve as a referent for I/O points in totally […]