Basic functionality

SIMOTION C provides the following basic functionality for a wide variety of automation requirements:

• SIMOTION runtime system
  • User-programmable with several languages conforming to IEC 61131
  • Various methods of program execution (cyclic, sequential, event-driven)
  • PLC and arithmetic functionality
  • Communication and management functions
  • Motion Control functions (Motion Control Basic)
• Testing and diagnostic tools

This basic functionality can be expanded with loadable technology packages, if required.

SIMOTION technology packages

A special feature of SIMOTION is that the operating system functionality can be expanded by loading technology packages, such as:

• Motion Control with the functions:
  • POS – Positioning
  • GEAR – Synchronous operation/electronic gear
  • CAM – Cam
  • PATH - Path interpolation
• TControl – Temperature controller
• MIIF – Multipurpose Information Interface
• Vibration Extinction (VIBX)
• OACAMGEN

Since the technology functions have modular licenses, you only pay for what you use.

Configuring/parameterizing/programming

SIMOTION SCOUT is a powerful and user-friendly engineering tool. It is an integrated system for all engineering steps, from configuring and parameterization, through programming, to testing and diagnostics. Graphical operator prompting, using dialog boxes and wizards, as well as text-based and graphical languages for programming, considerably reduce the familiarization and training periods.

Operator control and monitoring (HMI)

Communication utilities which support user-friendly data exchange with HMI devices are integrated in the basic functionality of the SIMOTION C Controller. The HMI devices can be connected to a SIMOTION C via Industrial Ethernet, PROFIBUS or PROFINET (for C240 PN). They are configured by means of SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal).

The SIMATIC NET communication software provides an open, standardized OPC interface for accessing SIMOTION from other Windows-based HMI systems.

SIMOTION IT provides SIMOTION C with an integrated web server on which, for example, user-specific web pages can be stored. Read and write access can be made to the Motion Controller variables. Java scripts or applets also allow the implementation of active operation and display functions in the web pages that can be executed on a client PC with an Internet browser.

Process and data communication

Thanks to its integrated interfaces, SIMOTION C supports both process and data communication. The SIMOTION SCOUT engineering system is provided for user-friendly communication configuration and diagnostics.

Open-loop control and motion control functions

The open-loop control and motion control functions are executed centrally on the SIMOTION C controller.

The functionality ranges from simple positioning to complex motion control tasks over cams and interpolation.

Position-controlled motion control

Setpoint output/actual value acquisition

• Position control with analog setpoint output
  Per axis, the SIMOTION C240 Motion Controller provides one analog output for the speed setpoint and one encoder input for cyclic detection of the actual position value. In the case of hydraulic drives, the setpoint for the positioning valve is specified via the analog output.
• Position control with pulse direction output for stepper drives
  Per axis, the SIMOTION C240 Motion Controller provides one pulse output for the position setpoint. Stepper drives can either be operated without an encoder or be positioncontrolled with an encoder.
• Position control with digital setpoint output
  The PROFIBUS DP interface with PROFIdrive or the PROFINET interface for the C240 PN is available for this purpose. The actual position value is retrieved and the speed setpoint output over PROFIBUS  DP or PROFINET.
• Position control with mixed setpoint output
  Analog, stepper and PROFIBUS drives can be used in a mixed configuration on the SIMOTION C240 Motion Controller. The channels of the 4 onboard interfaces can be used for analog, stepper or hydraulic drives. PROFIBUS and PROFINET drives can be operated as a mixed configuration with the C240 PN.
• Incremental position sensing (C240)
  Incremental encoders supply counter pulses for the traversed distance in accordance with their resolution.
  It is usually necessary to search for homing references.
  The following can be used:
  • Rotary encoders
  • Translatory encoders (length dimensions)
• Absolute position sensing (C240)
  Absolute encoders with a serial interface (SSI absolute encoders) can be used.
  It is not necessary to search for homing references.
• Position control/position sensing via ADI 4 or IM 174
  The ADI 4 (Analog Drive Interface for 4 Axes) or IM 174 (Interface Module for 4 Axes) module can be used to connect drives with an analog setpoint interface.
  The IM 174 also makes it possible to connect stepper drives with a pulse direction interface.?
  Both modules are connected over PROFIBUS DP.
  The following can be connected to one ADI 4 or IM 174 module:
  • 4 drives
  • 4 encoders
  • Digital inputs and outputs
• Isochronous PROFIBUS encoder