Many companies offer a range of products that are variations of a “base” model, using many of the same components, manufacturing methods, and processing steps to keep inventory and manufacturing costs under control while still providing customers with a range of choices to fit their exact needs. Automobiles are an excellent example. Take the Ford […]
PC-Based Controllers
Trends: PC-based controllers enable easy IoT connectivity, predictive maintenance
Rather than traditional standalone systems, modern motion systems are integrated into the overall machine environment, making for easier connectivity and IoT implementations. Here, Daymon Thompson, U.S. Software Product Manager and Sree Swarna Gutta, U.S. I/O Product Manager, Beckhoff Automation LLC, weigh in on how their technologies are enabling this transition. 1. What edge devices do you […]
TwinCAT/BSD offers alternative operating system for Beckhoff Industrial PCs
TwinCAT/BSD provides an alternative operating system for all of the latest Beckhoff Industrial PC (IPC) platforms. TwinCAT/BSD combines the TwinCAT runtime with FreeBSD, an industrial-proven and reliable open-source operating system. FreeBSD is Unix-compatible and is continually being further developed, improved and optimized as an open-source project by a large group of developers. The FreeBSD system […]
Maple Systems Inc. now offers new line of PC2300B Series industrial panel PCs
Maple Systems Inc. now offers new line of PC2300B Series industrial panel PCs — controllers with a built-in HMI screen. The industrial PCs are designed to resolve the toughest automation challenges in manufacturing, processing, and fabrication environments … … including those in automobile assembly plants as well as the food-processing industry. All Maple Systems PCs […]
Kollmorgen adds new controller to QMP-SynqNet controller series
Kollmorgen’s QMP-SynqNet Series is an ultra-high-performance multi-axis controller for precision applications. It incorporates a 64-bit 1.2-GHz processor for maximum axis count, with servo update rates up to 48 kHz supporting up to 64 axes and 64 SynqNet nodes. Kollmorgen recently introduced the QMP-LT (Lite), an economical version that offers the same features and functionality as […]
BMW to source industrial PCs and control panels from Beckhoff
Beckhoff Automation will supply the BMW Group with Industrial PC (IPC) technology for use in car manufacturing through 2030. According to the terms of the business agreement, Beckhoff will supply to BMW production facilities worldwide. This means that Beckhoff IPC technology will become a global standard for the BMW Group. The Industrial PCs and multi-touch […]
Embedded motion and frameless motors in collaborative robots
Collaborative robots are seeing exponential rise in use. “This trend is a perfect example of the so-called fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 … a term defined by chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab. It’s blurring lines between digital, physical, and biological spheres,” said Jonas Proeger of Trinamic Motion Control. Some of these […]
Beckhoff expands compact industrial PC line with C6032
To boost connectivity options in ultra-compact PC Control hardware, Beckhoff Automation has introduced the new C6032 Industrial PC (IPC). With dimensions of only 129 x 133 x 104 mm, the C6032 IPC enhances the scalability of the PC-based controller portfolio from Beckhoff. A high-performance device in a modular design, the C6032 adds two slots for […]
New entry-level PC-based controller from Beckhoff
The new CX7000 Embedded PC from Beckhoff opens up the convenience and efficiency of the TwinCAT 3 software environment to highly compact, DIN rail-mounted controllers. This further enhances the scalability of PC-based control technology from Beckhoff – ranging from mini-PLCs to many-core Industrial PCs. An advanced 400 MHz processor and built-in configurable I/Os mean this […]
PC-based control on industrial sheet-metal presses — a Casebook example
Sheet-metal workcells can deliver higher-quality parts in greater quantities than traditional builds when designed with centralized PC-based control and EtherCAT connectivity. That’s especially true of deep-drawing press applications (shown below) where modular hardware and software from Beckhoff maximize throughput and minimize tolerances. To review, deep drawing is the process by which sheet metal is placed […]
