Easier programming for control software
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Hayes Control Systems product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
May 1, 2002
TwinCAT Version 2.8 from Hayes Control Systems allows a standard PC to operate simultaneously as a powerful programmable controller and a versatile motion control system.
TwinCAT, the revolutionary software package from Hayes Control Systems, which allows a standard PC to operate simultaneously as a powerful programmable controller and a versatile motion control system, has now been upgraded to Version 2.8.
The new version has been specifically designed to make programming and fault-finding easier and faster, as well as to increase the versatility of TwinCAT-based systems.
Produced in Germany by Beckhoff, TwinCAT 2.8 is supplied and supported in the UK by Hayes Control Systems, Beckhoff's exclusive UK distributor.
Key enhancements in PLC functionality offered by TwinCAT 2.8 include incremental compilation for programs; criterion analysis to speed fault-finding; local language support for comments; variable names, etc.; and a program comparison facility.
The TwinCAT NC motion control module now provides greater flexibility in master-slave axis operation.
In addition, a TwinCAT SMS server is now available, which allows TwinCAT installations to report errors to any mobile phone by automatically sending text messages.
Incremental program compilation means that, when programs are modified, only the changes have to be recompiled, providing big time savings, particularly during the testing and commissioning phases.
Criterion analysis is also invaluable during these phases, as it captures the conditions which have, for example, caused the unexpected failure of a particular output to operate.
The conditions are stored as a string for ease of subsequent analysis.
Software modifications are easily checked with the new program comparison facility, which displays the differences, and allows them to be transferred from one program to the other.
Particularly useful for version control and updating, this feature is available for all IEC programming languages, including graphical languages.
Enhancements to the TwinCAT 2.8 NC server facilitate the decoupling of master-slave axes in motion control systems.
The decoupled slave can now be arranged to automatically reconfigure itself as a master, with no interruption to the operation of the axis.
A separate enhancement allows a single axis to work with more than one encoder and controller.
This is useful, for example, when it is necessary for the axis to switch from position control to torque control, using different encoders.
TwinCAT 2.8 is fully compatible with all software produced for earlier TwinCAT releases.
Those who wish to evaluate the extensive capabilities of the new package can download a fully functional 30-day trial version free-of-charge from www.beckhoff.com, or can call Hayes Control Systems on for a free CD.
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