Festo announces Multi-Axis Controllers and Drives

January 5, 2007 - The Festo SEC-AC-SMLC Multi-Axis Controllers is at the center of a complete solution that can meet all of your motion control, logic, and I/O needs.The SMLC is a fully-integrated control solution providing hardware and software building blocks that are engineered to easily plug together and work as a system. This allows engineers to focus on solving their application instead of integrating control components.Festo offers four models of the SEC-SDD drives with continuous output currents ranging from 2.4 to 14 A RMS/phase operating at 115VAC or 230 VAC. These digital drives make automatic loop adjustments based on motor and load inertia settings made via the configuration tool – ServoWire Pro, greatly simplifying servo system tuning.The programming platform – CoDeSys - for the SEC-AC-SMLC motion controller is based on the IEC61131-3 standard which offers a suite of programming languages (Relay ladder logic, Function Block diagram, Structured Text, Instruction List, Sequential Function Chart, and Continuous Function Chart) which simplify machine development and support. PLCopen Motion function blocks are available which cover both motion and administrative functions. Enhanced function blocks conforming to the PLCopen motion block definitions together with an option to develop application specific function blocks makes the SEC-AC-SMLC Motion system a very powerful, cost effective and efficient solution that will meet all motion control & I/O needs. The ServoWire digital drive (plug and play) network provides many advantages to the user. The digital network eliminates the need for multiple cables (set-point signal, encoder feedback cables from each drive, handshaking control signals) running between the controller and drive units thereby simplifying the implementation, reducing implementation time, reducing the chances of making implementation errors. It also makes it easier to troubleshoot. Access to real time data and diagnostic information via a single connection to the motion controller make configuration and performance monitoring convenient. Reduced cabling and implementation also results in reduced cost of cables and engineering. Highlights of SEC-AC-SMLC Multi-Axis Controllers