How would you like to spend only 1 hour programming a motion controller that coordinates the motion of 12 axes? How would you like software that automatically tunes your drives? Or, how about software that executes diagnostic routines on drives, motors, and integrated motion systems, and alerts engineers or operators to problems?

The latest features in many of today’s motion control programming and setup software give you the easy-to-use functions and prewritten routines that let you program 12 axes in 1 hour and automatically diagnose a system. Engineers no longer have to write lines of application code to program motion. In most software, all that’s required is for the engineer to fill in blanks on a computer screen. Simply enter data on desired final position, speed, number of axes, or position points, and the software does the rest.

Meeting a need

The popular Windows operating system is a large part of the reason why motion control software has become easier to use then earlier versions. Windows offers program- development tools and programming aids (such as Visual Basic, DDE, and others) that manufacturers can use to create application programs that almost write themselves.

The needs of engineers in downsized engineering departments to write application programs faster is the other part of why motor and drive manufacturers are offering easier-to-program software. With this software, engineers can set up two, three, or more systems in the time it used to take to set up one.

Engineering managers are finding that this software helps them deploy their limited engineering resources more productively. Says Karl Meier, marketing manager, Emerson Electronic Motion Controls, “We see that a large portion of motion control users are mechanical engineers rather than electrical engineers. Requiring mechanical engineers to spend time writing lines of computer code to program servo drives can be an unproductive use of valuable assets.”

What’s available

This easy-to-use software comes in a range of application capabilities. Some programs handle only single-axis linear motion. At the other extreme, some handle up to 40 motion axes, coordinated and interpolated. Some programs only set up and tune a drive or drive system.

As long as you do not need to program complex motion or custom motion, then your motion control manufacturer probably offers an easy-to-use software package for your motion control needs.

Do you know how to operate a personal computer? Then you have most of the computer skills you’ll need. Almost all use pull-down menus to navigate software features and capabilities, as well as the previously mentioned fill-in-theblank format. Other features you may find include:

Graphic icons. You link these icons, using them to describe the motion system in flow chart form. The software will convert the icon flowchart into code and transmit that code to the drive or motion system.

Integrated diagnostics. Digital oscilloscopes, spreadsheets, and real-time signal plots are some of these programs’ resident diagnostic features. For example, using the oscilloscope to set up servo drives can be a one key-stroke operation. Such a feature eliminates the time an engineer needs to find cables and wire up the scope, and reduces the time needed to measure the correct signals.

Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). The Windows operating system is too slow for real-time data capture required in motion control applications. DDE is an addition that helps eleviate this limitation. It captures and quickly transmits data from a device, such as a motion controller, to software applications such as spreadsheets, plotting routines, and operator interfaces.

File management. Some programs will also manage file uploading and downloading, and archive the application programs.

CAD interface. A few programs can receive files from CAD software. These programs will take the CAD data and create lines of code to manipulate the axes to trace the pattern.

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