Decentralised motion control solutions
December 2008
Motion Control & Drives
Advantech’s AMAX-2000 series are categorised as master cards or slave modules. While the master card is kept in the host PC, the slave modules can be distributed so that they are next to motor drivers on the factory floor. AMAX-2000 series makes machine building with motion control easier. The savings made on wiring and programming effort, as well as the compatibility with a wide range of popular motors have already led to many orders.
Such automation intensive industries as automotive, packaging, semiconductor, and flat panel manufacturing, to name a few, increasingly make use of the technology. A key reason is that distributed control saves money and cuts installation time.
Prior to distributed solutions, automation designers had to contend with centralised control systems in which a host, such as a PLC, managed the movement of motors. A downside of this approach was the number of wires required. A servo motor may require multiple wires to carry signals such as encoder feedback, sensor output, and other information back from the motor location to the central controller; up to 25 wires per axis may be required, according to published estimates.
Another downside was the length of the cable runs. Because wiring ran from the central controller to the motor, each added metre of distance increased the chance of a wiring fault; likewise, each extra increment of length upped the price. Some automation systems in the material handling and manufacturing world have to span hundreds of metres. Given the number of wires needed, such runs could be extremely costly to build and service.
In contrast, a distributed motion control system eliminates or reduces many of these problems. Because the control functions are in or near the drive, there is less wiring and cabling that runs from a central point to every motion axis. Instead of having a bundle of dozens of wires strung between a motor and a PLC, a distributed motion system may need only one wire running from the overall control point.
For more information contact Elton Prytz, ProMicro, +27 (0)11 706 7913, [email protected], www.promicro.co.za
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