New processors transform motion control New processors transform motion control by Greg Paula, Associate Editor Electronic processors that cost less and have more capabilities are changing motion control dramatically, expanding applications and fostering the move toward open architecture Powerful new processors now on the market have affected motion control drastically. Manufacturing companies are producing more components per hour with higher accuracy, so their control systems require these more-powerful processors. Smart motors from Animatics Corp. have the encoder, amplifier, power supplies, 32-bit programmable controller, PLC, and network manager built into the back of the motor.
Users can program the device to control position, velocity, and acceleration.
The XMP motion controller by Motion Engineering Inc. in Santa Barbara, Calif., for example, has 120 megaflops on a single board. The XMP can control 16 axes and handle very complex applications. Its 5-kilohertz update rate allows the controller to handle heavy loads faster and more precisely. Also, computer algorithms now compensate for problems such as backlash, so users can employ less-expensive components. The effects on low-end users are even more pronounced.