Engineering Software aids design of motion control systems.
Press Release Summary:
MechaWare(TM) v4.0 enables software and design engineers to work together to design, test, and modify custom motion algorithms. Utilizing MATLAB®/Simulink® to identically models, it includes Bode Tool for characterizing system performance/tune motors and over 80 MechaWare blocks matched to controller firmware performance. Program enables users to eliminate mechanical vibration, map/compensate for error due to motor cogging, and match performance between control model and production.
Original Press Release:
Dramatically Improve Robot and Gantry Servo Motion Performance, and Accelerate Design Time, with MechaWare(TM) 4.0
Robust software utilizes control algorithms to minimize system weight and power consumption, and eliminate vibration for optimized mechanical system performance
Santa Barbara, CA - Kollmorgen introduces MechaWare(TM) 4.0 - the industry's only mechatronic "toolkit" that empowers software and design engineers to work together to design, test and modify custom motion algorithms in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional methods. This new upgraded MechaWare version leverages MATLAB®/Simulink® from The Mathworks(TM) to identically model and seamlessly integrate mechanical systems and control software design, resulting in faster design cycles, superior motion system performance with reduced power consumption, and faster time to market at a fraction of the cost of conventional methods - potentially saving OEMs thousands of dollars and months of development time.
"Motion system vibration can create significant problems by limiting throughput, creating noise and reducing component life. It further impacts machine quality and reliability, consuming excessive energy and forcing expensive mechanical structures to accommodate. With MechaWare 4.0, design engineers can rapidly design and implement unique control algorithms and generate embedded motion routines to engineer an exact-fit control solution, saving time, material cost and overall system cost-of-ownership," says Joshua Jensen, Product Manager. "Additionally, OEMs can test and validate their design using Matlab/Simulink's powerful simulation engine, and use integrated analysis tools such as Kollmorgen's Bode Tool to accurately characterize system performance and quickly tune the motors."
With over 80 MechaWare blocks optimized for motion control, and all of those blocks matched to controller firmware performance to ensure that control model behavior is nothing less than identical to the actual hardware response, MechaWare 4.0 promises significantly faster and more precise designs, increased throughput and reduced settling time to maximize mechanical system efficiency. And whether engineers are looking to implement and test a simple PID algorithm, or build a multi-axis controls model using pre-filters, observers and biquad filters, MechaWare 4.0 is also scalable to meet specific design needs.
The MechaWare 4.0 graphical interface allows controls engineers to reduce development cycles and simplify machine design. They are also able to embed inverse kinematic calculations in firmware for customized, real-time performance, define coordinate transformations to improve system accuracy based on registration mark or vision system input, and create motion and I/O routines in firmware for reduced latency and improved safety.
Specific advantages of MechaWare 4.0 include:
o Eliminate Mechanical Vibration and Reduce Settling Time - reduce or eliminate vibration with optimized algorithms to reduce settling time and improve system throughput
o Reduce Motor Cogging - tools to map and compensate for error due to motor cogging, with increased smoothness for constant velocity applications
o Protect Intellectual Property - direct download to firmware allows user to protect control IP
o Reduce Development Time and Expense - test motion system design and hardware before building costly prototypes with MATLAB/Simulink
o Matched Performance between Simulink Blocks and Firmware - matched blocks in firmware guarantees identical performance between control model and production
o Sample Models for Common Architectures - inverse kinematics, gantry systems, robot configurations
o Embed Axes Relationships - complete flexibility to implement MIMO control, inverse kinematics and axis translations
o Standard Control Blocks - PID/PIV, biquad, observer, matrix gain, lookup tables and more
o Motion and I/O Blocks - Sequence, Trigger, Motion and I/O through model for embedded routines
ABOUT KOLLMORGEN
Kollmorgen is a leading provider of motion systems and components for machine builders around the globe, with over 60 years of motion control design and application expertise.
Through world-class knowledge in motion, industry-leading quality and deep expertise in linking and integrating standard and custom products, Kollmorgen delivers breakthough solutions unmatched in performance, reliability and ease-of-use, giving machine builders an irrefutable marketplace advantage.
For more information download the PDF Mechaware brochure, visit www.kollmorgen.com, email info@kollmorgen.com, or call 1-540-633-3545.
