July 15,2009 - ACS Motion Control developed a fully integrated machine control solution that provides superior performance while reducing the footprint and cost when compared to many network based multi-axis solutions. Optimized for machine automation, the MC4U includes the motion controller, drives, power supplies and high speed PLC in 9", 11" and 19" units.The MC4U can directly drive up to eight highly coordinated axes with network extension capability of 64 additional network nodes for a total of up to 72 axes.
The integrated universal amplifiers can directly drive any stepper (in open loop or as closed loop servo with sinusoidal commutation), DC brushless, DC brush, or AC induction motor (as closed loop servo with sinusoidal commutation) from 100W to 5kW with standard digital quadrature or Analog Sin/Cos encoder. The MC4U's integrated architecture utilizes dedicated servo processors on the controller board to provide real time servo control of each axis including position, velocity, current servo loops, and sinusoidal commutation.The dedicated motion programming language (ACSPL+) that runs on the MC4U controller provides a simple environment for users to program motion.
Some of the standard motions available include 3rd order vector point to point moves (one to eight axis), two and three dimensional geometric shapes, electronic multi-axis camming, non-Cartesian kinematic structures (hexapod, delta robots, SCARA robots), complex eight dimensional paths and splines, multi-axis master/slave and much more.In addition, the standard software package features a full motion controller simulator that allows users to develop application code and a host front end, all from the PC, without hardware. The MC4U also supports the five standard IEC-61131-3 languages running on a high speed virtual PLC, allowing programmers who are familiar with this environment to easily develop PLC programs.
Full transparency between the PLC and ACSPL+ environments provide users with the opportunity to utilize the strengths of both languages to develop an entire machine control application quickly and efficiently.Applications involving demanding requirements for multi-axis motion coordination and servo control, as well as high speed PLC functionality can benefit from the integrated MC4U architecture.
Some applications where the MC4U can successfully improve performance and throughput include large format gantry inspection systems (flat panel display, solar, Inkjet, Web handling), small to large scale imaging machines (nuclear, magnetic, interferometric, and ultrasonic), semiconductor and PCB assembly (printed circuit boards, wire-bonding, wire-EDM, pick and place robots), biomedical laboratory stations (DNA handling/sequencing, surface patterning, molecular printing) and general industrial automation (load-cell testers, food packaging, document sorters, etc.)
