CTC has released the M3-40A two-axis servo control module for use in its 5300 Automation Controllers. The 40A provides high performance motion control functionality for fast point-to-point and gearing applications. It can also handle advanced applications that require features such as camming and changing trajectories on the fly.

The 40A is a single slot module with on-board processors that handle all motion related processing for two axes. To provide advanced motion control performance, CTC has fitted each dual axis module with a powerful RISC processor as well as CTC's new Motion Accelerator Chip (MAC). This gives the 40A the ability to run CTC's latest 64-bit floating point motion loops and handle local high-speed I/O events. Each axis has a precision 16-bit analog command signal that can command both torque and velocity mode drives giving the designer great flexibility in motor and drive selection. The encoder feedback rates can be up to 20MHz accommodating even the fastest linear motors. Each axis has five fast user assignable inputs and five fast user assignable outputs.

While the 40A's hardware is impressive, its software capabilities are what really set it apart from the competition. The software has been designed to simplify and speed every step of the machine development process. To setup a servo axis simply "drop" an axis object into the QuickBuilder resource manager. Then it can be easily configured using convenient user-units and other fill-in-the-blank properties. Dialog boxes and tuning wizards de-mystify the whole servo setup and tuning process.

Like everything else in QuickBuilder, CTC has taken a very modular approach to QuickBuilder's motion control capabilities. To create motion on an axis one or more motion commands are placed in an object called a Motion Sequence Block (MSB). After creation, that MSB can be used by any of the axes at anytime. A simple example would be a homing MSB – write it once, and then use it on as many axes as you like.

To further simplify the motion programming process, CTC has created an extension to the QuickStep language within QuickBuilder called QuickMotion with over 50 new commands and more than 100 specialized motion variables. QuickMotion makes programming motion applications very intuitive. For example, if you wanted to move an actuator 3.76 inches in 1.25 seconds the command would be: Move to 3.76 in 1.25. Of course 3.76 could just as easily be a variable or an expression that is calculated on the fly.

M3-40A Servo Control Features:

• Two axes of servo control per module
• Up to 64 axes per 5300 system
• Position loop update times of 500 usec / 2 axes
• Encoder Feedback up to 20 MHz
• 64-bit floating point loop control
• 16-bit analog command
• 5 user assignable inputs / axis
• 5 user assignable outputs / axis
• High speed registration capture
• High speed PLS outputs

QuickBuilder Servo Control Features:

• Axis objects configured in the Resource Manager
• New Tuning wizard simplifies tuning
• Monitor motion parameters in multiple watch windows
• Use QuickScope to chart motion and I/O timing
• Simple English commands
• Over 100 new motion variables.
• Full user-unit support
• Soft limits & Hard limits
• Asynchronous event handlers