All-in six-axis machinery control solution
A
Baldor product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Sep 26, 2002
Baldor has a new single-Eurocard motion controller for servo and stepper motors, providing engineers with an easy means of building tough systems for industrial and harsh environments.
Baldor has a new single-Eurocard motion controller for servo and stepper motors, providing engineers with an easy means of building tough systems for industrial and harsh environments.
Capable of controlling two servo and four stepper axes - or six servo axes if used with Baldor drives - the module includes onboard I/O and fieldbus connectivity and comes with a license-free multi-tasking operating system - providing an extremely economic platform for automation equipment.
Designated NextMove-ES, the motion controller is programmable using the popular motion language Mint - in its latest form using the onboard multitasking kernel - or optionally in C using a compatible library of Mint functions for motion, I/O, communications, networking, operator interfaces etc.
Based on an advanced Texas Instruments DSP core, the module delivers exceptional real-time performance.
As standard, it supports servo loops closure times of 200us with six-term closed loop control (PID plus velocity feedback, feed forward and acceleration feed forward) - supporting very accurate positioning.
'Open architecture' facilities built into Mint, together with the use of field programmable FPGA logic, add another dimension to performance, as they allow move types to be adapted to suit individual applications.
This gives substantial flexibility to OEMs, effectively allowing users to configure a custom multi-axis motion controller for the price of a standard product.
Another advantageous aspect of the new controller is its choice of form-factor.
Based on the compact 100 x 160mm single Eurocard, with the reliable pin-in-socket DIN41612 connector, the module is naturally durable, and is easily integrated into systems using the wealth of options offered by the 19in racking and enclosure industry.
Baldor offers mechanically compatible Eurocard drives to complement the new motion controller.
Onboard I/O completes the board's capability, allowing users to employ the module for machine control as well as motion - potentially eliminating the need for a separate controller such as a PLC.
The I/O comprises 17 digital inputs, 12 digital outputs, two 12bit differential analogue inputs, an isolated output, and a high-speed serial port (115kbaud RS232 as standard, or optionally USB).
The I/O may be expanded easily by means of the controller's CAN-compatible fieldbus port.
The module's integral Mint language capability provides flexible Basic-style programming for automation builders that allows application software to be developed and tested in a few hours.
Mint provides ready-to-use keywords for many common motion tasks from simple profiles to advanced movements such as software cams and flying shears.
These prewritten functions can substantially reduce time to market.
The latest version of Mint supplied with NextMove-ES additionally includes a multitasking kernel.
This further simplifies development cycles, allowing complex machine control requirements to be divided into smaller tasks such as motion, man-machine interfacing, and I/O handling.
This software is royalty free, helping OEMs to reduce the bill of material costs for equipment designs.
Users seeking ultimate speed of execution may alternatively program the card using Texas Instruments' C compiler and Baldor's free library of C-compatible Mint functions.
Firmware may then be embedded in the controller, or called as required from a host such as a PC.
NextMove-ES's mixture of servo and stepper axes provides broad application versatility.
Systems can employ servomotors where performance needs dictate, with stepper motors available for slower axes.
The step and direction outputs of the stepper axes may also be used to drive servo motors when employed with Baldor's FlexDrive amplifiers, potentially providing up to six axes of servo control.
With this extensive precision motion control capability, the controller could, for example, provide a single-board x-y-z axis positioning solution supported by three stepper axes and I/O for material handling and machinery control.
Among the target applications for NextMove-ES are high-speed printing, packaging, labelling and machine tools, and common automation needs including robotics, rotary knives and positioning stages.
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