A3200 MotionPAC

Aerotech Inc.

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PITTSBURGH, Dec. 13, 2011 — Aerotech Inc.’s A3200 MotionPAC is a software-based programmable logic controller (PLC) that is integrated with the company’s A3200 motion controller to increase programming efficiency and decrease development time.

It can be used independently for full machine control or in conjunction with AeroBasic programs, and it complies with IEC 61131-3, .NET and PLCopen. Users can program in ladder diagrams (LDs), function block diagrams (FBDs) or structured text (ST). The integrated automation reduces programming and commissioning time by 30% to 50% and is suitable for machine control program development.

The tight integration with the A3200 motion controller allows users to command asynchronous, coordinated, blended, geared or cammed motion directly from LD, FBD or ST, or directly start or stop AeroBasic programs. Moves can be specified as relative or absolute in user units (English or metric). Computer numerical control or G code also can be called from the PLC program.

Programmers can create shared variables and tags that are referenced by name in all of the A3200 tools, Operator Interface, AeroBasic, C or .NET programs. Memory management is automatically handled by the MotionPAC for all tags and variables. The programmer is free to view the memory addresses or even assign addresses if desired, but it is not necessary.

MotionPAC tools such as user-definable libraries (LD, FBD, ST or .NET), integrated axis manager for readout and manual control, global tag database, automatic memory management and virtual execution of the PLC increase programming efficiency and quality. PLC and .NET programmers can seamlessly collaborate through MotionPAC to deploy machine control applications because the .NET programs can be packaged as an LD, FBD or ST that runs in the real-time common language run-time protocol.

Standard field buses, drive input/output and high-end data acquisition are integrated into the MotionPAC and can be shared among all applications by name. Toolboxes are provided for each language for drag-and-drop programming, or the user can just start typing on the palette, and the editor will assist in the programming. The free-form programming palette enables function blocks and functions to be used on a ladder diagram rung as well, even motion function blocks, making programming easy. All of the usual hardware associations, task assignments and programs are organized in an easy-to-use tree structure.

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Published: December 2011