EngNet » Press Releases » PC-based Control for woodworking machines: more flexible engineering with TwinCAT 3

At Ligna 2011, Beckhoff presents PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology as well as automation solutions for woodworking machines at Booth A24 in Hall 23. Every step in the woodworking process can be controlled via the open automation platform from Beckhoff. The XA architecture (eXtendend Automation) with the software generation TwinCAT 3 offers new automation possibilities: all editors for PLC and safety programming use Microsoft Visual Studio® as framework.

TwinCAT 3 is the new PC-based control software, with which the standard automation world is extended considerably. In addition to the object-oriented IEC 61131-3 extensions, the languages of the IT world are available with C and C++. The integration of Matlab®/Simulink® enables the application in scientific fields. The modules are executable in the different languages in a common runtime under hard real-time conditions, using multi-core technology and with 32- or 64-bit operating systems.

Due to the modular structure of the extended runtime and the predefined interfaces, TwinCAT 3 offers the possibility to instance the different controllers of the units of a woodworking line together on the machine’s central control hardware. These can be created independently of one another and in different programming languages.

TwinCAT 3 also contains a new engineering concept for safety applications, which increases flexibility through the free choice of programming language: in addition to the familiar function block diagram language (FBD), programming can also be accomplished in the high-level language C.

TwinSAFE from Beckhoff is a safety solution with scalable software and hardware components. In addition to the familiar safety logic terminals for Beckhoff I/O systems, the TwinCAT Safety PLC also offers a pure software solution.

A further highlight at Ligna is the servo terminal for the Beckhoff EtherCAT Terminal system. The EL7201 integrates a complete servo drive for motors up to 200 W in a standard terminal housing. The new AM3100 servomotor series is optimised for the use of the servo terminal in a power range from 50 to 130 W. With the servo terminal, the range of Beckhoff servo drives becomes even more finely scalable: from the miniature servo drive to the AX5000 EtherCAT drive series with up to 120 KW.