Product category:
Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls
News Release from: Baldor UK | Subject: NextMove ESB
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 09 June 2003
One-box solution controls seven axes
A novel all-in-one motion automation solution offerers control for three servo and four stepper motor axes, together with onboard I/O and fieldbus connectivity.
A novel all-in-one motion automation solution offerers control for three servo and four stepper motor axes, together with onboard I/O and fieldbus connectivity Packaged in a ready to use panel-mounting box, the rugged module can provide an economical stand-alone solution for many machine building applications, or a motion control subsystem for use in conjunction with a PC host - by employing the controller's USB interface
With the controller's combination of servo and stepper control capability for instance, it could implement a stand-alone x-y-z axis positioning solution - supported by four stepper axes and I/O for material handling and machine control.
Moreover, if the module is used with Baldor drives, it is capable of controlling up to seven precision servomotor axes.
Known as NextMove ESB, the motion controller is programmable using the popular Mint motion language or C.
Among the target applications are high-speed printing, packaging, labelling and machine tools, and common process automation needs including positioning stages, robotics and rotary knives.
Based on an advanced Texas Instruments DSP core, NextMove ESB delivers exceptional real-time performance.
It supports servo loop closure times of 100 microseconds on three axes, with six-term closed loop control for accurate positioning (PID, velocity, acceleration feed forward, and velocity feedback).
The four stepper axes provide pulse and direction outputs at up to 500kHz.
Onboard I/O completes the 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 20 digital inputs, 11 digital outputs, two 12bit differential analogue inputs and a precision 12bit output, a CANopen-compatible fieldbus port, and two serial ports including a 12Mbit/s USB interface.
The high speed USB interface provides automation OEMs who build machines with PC hosts or user interfaces with new opportunities for enhancing the ruggedness of their equipment, and simplifying manufacture, by allowing the motion control subsystem to be panel mounted in the optimal location inside the machine - instead of in a PC expansion slot.
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 MintMT version of the language supplied with NextMove ESB additionally includes a multi-tasking 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.
The software is royalty free, helping OEMs to reduce costs for equipment designs.
'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.
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 for motion, I/O, communications, networking, operator interfaces etc.
Firmware may then be embedded in the controller, or called as required from a host such as a PC. Request a free brochure from Baldor UK ...
• Baldor UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
