Machine controller combines programming techniques
The PC-based MotionPAC, being launched by Motion control and positioning specialist Aerotech at the SPS/IPC/DRIVES Exhibition in Nuremberg later this month, is a single development environment machine controller that combines an industry standard PLC engine with IEC61131-3 programming capabilities such as sequential function block and structured text programming for I/O event handling with the company's multi-axis motion engine.
The resulting system is apparently very flexible and highly customisable and includes programming options such as adding custom function blocks using Microsoft's .NET Framework, or running AeroBASIC programs directly on the controller and interfacing with other interface software such as LabVIEW. Other useful features include the ability to position axes whilst acquiring high speed digital and analogue data from the controllers inputs, recorded against encoder feedback and ultra-precise output triggering based on encoder position.