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 […]
PC-Based Controllers
Leading the trend toward integration in 2016: Motion controllers
Motion controllers are more integrated and programmable than ever, thanks to increasing capabilities on both ASICs and FPGAs to process inputs and outputs for motion control. Some electronics even let end users customize feedback for closed-loop control. Industries spurring controller innovation for all hardware types are packaging, paper and pump processing, and medical. The former demands […]
FAQ: How do PC-based controls differ from traditional motion controls?
Recently, our regular contributor Steve Meyer spoke to us about the history of motion control and how PC-based controls came about. Here’s what he said. Traditional motion controllers are the result of decades of slowly evolving electronics hardware and custom software libraries … dedicated to performing motion-control tasks. PC-based control systems are relatively recent, and […]
3 Omron engineers answer 7 FAQs on controllers and PC-based motion control FAQs
In a recent exchange with Omron Automation and Safety, we got the chance to speak with three industry experts in the field of motion controllers and industrial PC-based motion control: S.R. Ramadurai — product marketing manager, Controls for Automation Greg Dieck — product manager, Motion Control and Drives Clark Kromenaker — product manager, HMIs, IPCs, […]
Steve Meyer on the history of motion control and PC-based control
Recently, our regular contributor Steve Meyer spoke to us about the history of motion control and how PC-based control came to be. Here’s what he said. In the Industrial Revolution, machinery was mechanical. Production looms for weaving fabrics and floor coverings were programmed with mechanical memory in the form of hard stops and pins to make sizes […]
The hardware and software of a PC-based motion controller
Physically, a PC-based controller is made up the same kinds of hardware components as most personal computers — a processor, some memory and an interface bus. The interface bus is a high-speed dedicated bus that provides all types of information to and from the processor. In personal computing, the hardware I/O consists of a keyboard […]
Lenze’s Recent Release of Two PC-Based Controllers
Lenze Americas recently expanded its successful PC-based controller series with the recent release of the cabinet controller c300 and panel controller p300. Lenze will have the new c300 and p300 on display at PACK EXPO (booth S-6033), September 23-25, Las Vegas, NV. Delivering uniform engineering and superior system availability, our integrated controller portfolio makes motion […]
Trio Motion unveils two new motion controllers
Trio Motion (www.triomotion.com) has introduced two new motion and machine controllers that economically and flexibly provide new levels of multi-tasking stepper or servo control for high performance automation. Based on the 533 MHz ARM11 processor, the MC403 and MC405 controllers offers a vast array of performance enhancements enabled by the ARM11 core. With an optimized […]
Servo2Go Adds New DMC-1417 Econo PCI BUS Motion Controller from Galil
Greenville, Del. – Servo2Go.com has added Galil Motion Control’s new PCI BUS Econo Motion Controller, the DMC-1417, to its broad range of PCI-based motion controllers. The DMC-1417 can handle the most demanding applications with features such as an extra encoder input for electronic gearing, program memory with multitasking, uncommitted I/O and user-selectable stepper or servo […]
Lenze unveils “motion-centric” controller for complex machines
Lenze (www.lenze.com) has launched a controller for centralized control systems at the SPS/IPC/Drives show in Germany. The 3200C controller combines motion control, PLC logic and visualization functions. It is also intended at “motion-centric” automation of complex machines with multiple linear and rotary axes. Lenze’s I/O System 1000 is integrated with a 136mm-wide DIN-rail-mounting controller to […]
