SEPTEMBER 12--System integrators and OEMs using hardware-based automation solutions typically need to integrate a combination of PLC, HMI, and motion-control modules from different suppliers and combine them with motorized positioning tables or gantries, mechanical actuators and often pneumatic or hydraulic control systems. More complex machines might also involve vision systems for automated parts inspection or position measurement and even the simplest machines would involve specialist modules for such diverse requirements as temperature or pressure sensing, high speed position sensors, tension control units and a whole host of other process monitoring functions. While this is the most common approach to automated machine control, the use of several different hardware and software systems can be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive to build, often resulting in numerous sources of error and limitations in overall system performance.
By combining all of the major machine- and motion-control functions into a single, software-based solution that runs on a standard PC and by providing an open architecture for specialized 'bolt-on' modules, the A3200 Automation Platform from Aerotech (Pittsburgh, PA;www.aerotech.com) offers a choice of programming options for 32 axes of decentralized motion interfaced via a IEEE 1394 FireWire network with modules for HMI, PLC, and Vision. The complete system has been designed to be adapted to production and inspection applications and is supported by software development, diagnostic and commissioning tools.
Depending on application requirements, the A3200 Automation Platform can operate in real time (RTX) or under the Windows environment. Motion, HMI, PLC, and vision modules can be programmed in a choice of languages including Aerotech's own AEROBasic, RS274 G-code, C, C++, Visual Basic, Delphi, and Labview. For the creation of process-based user interfaces, a complementary software package provides preconfigured Active X components for Windows leading to a significant reduction in development time. By using a common language to program all of the machine control functions, the close connection between the individual control modules helps to maximize data exchange flexibility and process structure whilst maintaining real-time capability.
The main PLC module also can be programmed with the IEC-61131 interface or via Profibus with Siemens Step7. The image-processing module can be integrated at real-time level via a DLL and includes a wide selection of processing tools for part identification and measurements using the Matrox Imaging Library.
