Motion Control System is optimized for machine automation.
Press Release Summary:
Model MC4U includes motion controller, drives, power supplies, and high-speed PLC in 9, 11, and 19 in. units. It can directly drive up to 8 coordinated axes, with network extension capability of 64 additional network nodes for up to 72 axes. Integrated universal amps can directly drive any stepper, DC brush/brushless, or AC induction motor from 100 W to 5 kW with standard digital quadrature or analog sin/cos encoder. Dedicated servo processors provide real-time control of each axis.
Original Press Release:
MC4U Control System is Optimized for Machine Automation with Demanding Motion Control Requirements...
Fully Integrated MC4U Machine Control Solution From ACS Motion Control Reduces Footprint And Cost
EDEN PRARIE, MN (July 15, 2009) -- ACS Motion Control, an international manufacturer of advanced multi-axis motion and machine controllers, has developed a fully integrated machine control solution that provides superior performance while reducing the footprint and cost when compared to many network based multi-axis solutions. Optimized for machine automation, the MC4U includes the motion controller, drives, power supplies and high speed PLC in 9", 11" and 19" units.
The MC4U can directly drive up to eight highly coordinated axes with network extension capability of 64 additional network nodes for a total of up to 72 axes. The integrated universal amplifiers can directly drive any stepper (in open loop or as closed loop servo with sinusoidal commutation), DC brushless, DC brush, or AC induction motor (as closed loop servo with sinusoidal commutation) from 100W to 5kW with standard digital quadrature or Analog Sin/Cos encoder. The MC4U's integrated architecture utilizes dedicated servo processors on the controller board to provide real time servo control of each axis including position, velocity, current servo loops, and sinusoidal commutation.
"The integrated methodology is at the heart of the industry-leading motion control performance achieved with ACS products, as it enables the most advanced servo algorithms such as true gantry with decoupling of center of gravity and yaw, Cartesian cross axis compensation, and adaptive multi-axis control, which often requires access to servo data of multiple axes instantaneously," said Jason Goerges, Account Manager and Application Engineer at ACS Motion Control. "Compare this to a typical network based control solution that requires costly intelligence at the controller for motion programs, profile generation and user interfacing as well as at each drive node for servo loops, commutation, additional user interfacing. In addition, drive nodes on a network do not generally have real-time access to servo information of one another, severely limiting multi-axis performance in the most demanding applications."
The dedicated motion programming language (ACSPL+) that runs on the MC4U controller provides a simple environment for users to program motion. Some of the standard motions available include 3rd order vector point to point moves (one to eight axis), two and three dimensional geometric shapes, electronic multi-axis camming, non-Cartesian kinematic structures (hexapod, delta robots, SCARA robots), complex eight dimensional paths and splines, multi-axis master/slave and much more.
In addition, the standard software package features a full motion controller simulator that allows users to develop application code and a host front end, all from the PC, without hardware. The MC4U also supports the five standard IEC-61131-3 languages running on a high speed virtual PLC, allowing programmers who are familiar with this environment to easily develop PLC programs. Full transparency between the PLC and ACSPL+ environments provide users with the opportunity to utilize the strengths of both languages to develop an entire machine control application quickly and efficiently.
"Network based solutions that rely on a PLC or PLC-like software environment alone are limited in terms of capability and ease of use when it comes to programming multi-axis motion. Many motion paths are very difficult or nearly impossible to implement using IEC61131-3 function blocks," said Cameron Sheikholeslami, Control and Applications Engineer at ACS. "This lack of a dedicated multi-axis motion environment makes developing the multi-axis application much more demanding and time-consuming, increasing cost and time to market."
Applications involving demanding requirements for multi-axis motion coordination and servo control, as well as high speed PLC functionality can benefit from the integrated MC4U architecture. Some applications where the MC4U can successfully improve performance and throughput include large format gantry inspection systems (flat panel display, solar, Inkjet, Web handling), small to large scale imaging machines (nuclear, magnetic, interferometric, and ultrasonic), semiconductor and PCB assembly (printed circuit boards, wire-bonding, wire-EDM, pick and place robots), biomedical laboratory stations (DNA handling/sequencing, surface patterning, molecular printing) and general industrial automation (load-cell testers, food packaging, document sorters, etc.)
Typically available with a lead time of two to four weeks, please contact ACS for pricing information. ACS' free motion simulator can be downloaded at www.acsmotioncontrol.com.
For more information about the MC4U fully integrated machine control solution, contact ACS at 6575 City West Parkway, Eden Prairie, MN 55344; call 763-559-7669 ext.131; e-mail jasong@acsmotioncontrol.com; or go to www.acsmotioncontrol.com.
About ACS Motion Control
An international manufacturer of advanced multi-axis motion controllers, machine controllers and integrated control modules, ACS provides standard and custom products that combine power and precision to deliver flexible, economical, user-friendly motion and machine control solutions. Established in 1985, ACS' international headquarters is located in Israel and its North American headquarters resides in Eden Prairie, MN. ACS also has facilities in South Korea, Germany, and distributors worldwide that deliver dependable customer service and product support. ACS is an ISO9001 certified manufacturing facility, demonstrating its continuous commitment to providing customers with reliable devices that are thoroughly tested with the latest available techniques.
