ADLINK Technology, Inc. (www.adlinktech.com) unveiled its first programmable automation controller (“PAC”) solutions, using the IEC 61131-3 programming standard, for automation applications — the PACwiz series. It provides a platform offering the convenience and performance of PAC development to automation application developers, with IEC 61131-3 syntaxes full compatibility, including five programmable logic controller (“PLC”) programming language standards. Using Pacwiz, PLC users can easily upgrade to a programmable automation controller platform without additional training as application development can be achieved in IEC 61131-3 languages, same as with traditional PLCs.

The PACwiz series features distributed I/O of up to 2016 points and distributed motion control of up to 256 axes, which are time-deterministic. It not only allows configuration of I/O topology and the entire motion profile based on application requirements, it also provides flexible wiring configurations which reduce and simplify wiring costs between modules by 20 percent by using standard Ethernet cables.
“PACs are now becoming the mainstream solution for automation controllers by providing better performance and flexibility by supporting low-cost PC peripherals such as RAM, CompactFlash, Ethernet, and standard monitors,” said Ethan Huang, ADLINK’s Senior Product Director. “PACwiz is derived from ADLINK’s extensive knowledge of full motion control and high-speed I/O design, combined with support of IEC-61131-3 programming languages to provide traditional PLC users an effortless means to upgrade to a powerful and robust PAC platform.”

The PACwiz series has two systems: open (“PACwiz-MXC”) and closed (“PACwiz-DPAC”). The open (“PACwiz-MXC”) system, powered by an Intel Atom (“TM”) N270 1.6 GHz processor, is made using a fanless expandable platform (“via PCI and PCIe slots”) by ADLINK. It is also made to operate as an I/O controller integrated with distributed motion modules (“Motionnet and HSL modules”) and/or I/O while providing the flexibility for additional modules like a frame grabber. The closed (“PACwiz-DPAC”) embedded system is made using compact and fanless distributed PAC by ADLINK with built-in I/O control and distributed motion solutions using HSL and Motionnet buses.