Consider a dominant form of machine control today — multicore industrial PCs or IPCs built around x86 and ARM system-on-chip processors. For discrete automation, these run deterministic control and a general-purpose OS on the same silicon. Machines advanced enough to justify such hardware include industrial networking via SERCOS III, EtherCAT, PROFINET, or EtherNet/IP to carry […]
Software
Advanced monitoring coming soon to a machine near you with maxon MIND
Soon, a new “motion insights and diagnostics” service from Swiss precision-drive specialist maxon called maxon MIND will help machine builders and plant engineers add condition monitoring and diagnostics capabilities to their equipment. Electric motors are often the best sensor in a machine. After all, the motor signals a controller already reads reflect the condition of […]
Beckhoff marks 30 years of TwinCAT automation software
Beckhoff introduced its TwinCAT automation software in 1996 as part of its PC-based control platform. The software moved from DOS to the Windows operating system, supported PLC programming in accordance with IEC 61131-3 and combined engineering tools in one environment. The platform was built around separating hardware and software functions. Today, TwinCAT includes PLC, motion […]
Yaskawa releases Compass 2 CNC software solution
The Drives & Motion division of Yaskawa America, Inc. has announced the release of Compass 2, a CNC software solution for iCube Control. Compass 2 combines the scalability of an industrial PC for the user interface and path planning with the real-time motion and logic control of Yaskawa’s iC9200 machine controller, providing machine tool builders […]
Beckhoff launches TwinCAT MC3 motion control software for PCs
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 […]
Trends in software ecosystems for motion
Some of the latest developments in software ecosystems aim to make motion systems easier to design and commission. Artificial intelligence (AI) has made rapid inroads here. For motion systems specifically, the trend is to use AI for: Servotuning — before a system is put into service. Predictive maintenance — when a system is running in […]
Robotics design leverages motion development
Helping robotics companies bring their projects to completion, OLogic increasingly turns to Performance Motion Devices for motion control technology without limits. Silicon Valley–based OLogic has helped robotics and consumer electronics companies — from startups to industry leaders — bring products to market. Past customers include NVIDIA, Google, Hasbro, Panasonic, Toyota Research Institute, and Carnegie Mellon […]
Festo launches AX Motion Insights Electric for AI monitoring
Festo has introduced Festo AX Motion Insights Electric, an AI-based monitoring and predictive maintenance tool for electric axes and servo drives. The system is designed to reduce unplanned machine downtime by identifying wear and anomalies early. It supports improved reliability and operational efficiency in industrial environments. Motion Insights Electric enables maintenance teams to schedule tasks […]
Schneider Electric SpecLive Collaborate streamlines specifications
Schneider Electric recently launched SpecLive Collaborate, a first-of-its-kind platform, to modernize and streamline product specification and content integration for professionals. Developed in partnership with RIB Software, SpecLive Collaborate represents the next generation of collaborative, prescriptive solutions and is the latest offer in the Schneider Electric Specifier toolkit. Developing specifications is often a disjointed, manual process […]
Improved controllers, design software simplify smart machine development
Machine builders can save engineering time and costs with the enhanced Allen-Bradley Micro850 and Micro870 2080-Lx0E controllers using the latest Connected Components Workbench software from Rockwell Automation. The improved 2080-Lx0E controllers offer greater connectivity and design efficiency through the new Class 1 implicit messaging capability with up to eight EtherNet/IP devices support. The 2080-Lx0E controllers […]
