SCOUT includes a number of diagnostic tools to make testing and startup of SIMOTION applications as simple as possible:

• Device diagnostics can be used to display program execution status, system load and memory usage.
• The diagnostic buffer is used to log the fault history. The following events are logged in the diagnostic buffer of the SIMOTION device:
  • All system status changes (RUN, STOP, etc.)
  • System interrupts with date and time.
• All error messages related to technology objects (e.g. axis errors) are displayed in the Alarms window of SCOUT with the fault number and description. • All SIMOTION system and application variables can be dynamically updated, monitored and controlled while online with the SIMOTION controller.
• All programming errors are displayed with the location and cause during compilation.
• The status display for programs with possible break points (LAD/FBD, MCC, ST) and additional step-by-step tracing (MCC) helps the user to troubleshoot and optimize their code. During program execution, the values of the variables are displayed as they arise, Not only at the end of the cycle when the sum of all changes has been implemented.
• Watch tables can be used to combine important variables of different objects in the project to monitor them, even those of different SIMOTION devices.

Axis control panel

The axis control panel can be used to commission the axes with SIMOTION SCOUT. The axes can also be traversed and optimized directly from SCOUT without any user programs.

Path control panel

SIMOTION SCOUT provides a path control panel for commissioning handling kinematics. This supports easy commissioning and optimization of kinematics directly from SCOUT, even without a user program.

Trace function

The most powerful tool for testing and commissioning is the trace function integrated in SCOUT.

In this manner, a selection of any of the data in the system (user variables, I/O variables, data of the technology objects such as actual position of an axis) can be recorded and traced, real-time. Up to 32 signals are possible in test mode.

Each SIMOTION device has a trace buffer which can be configured with the trace functionality of SCOUT. When the trace is started, the configured data is logged in the SIMOTION device. On completion of the trace, the contents of the trace buffer are read by SCOUT and displayed graphically.

The trace parameterization and the trace recordings can be stored in non-volatile memory on a memory card. In the system trace, up to 128 signals can be recorded time synchronized from several SIMOTION controllers.

Configuring the trace function

The trace function can be configured using the following parameters.

• Trigger condition (e.g. rising edge of a definable signal) and pre-trigger
• Time Limit Recording (a multiple of the basic cycle of the SIMOTION device)
• Continuous recording (or endless trace with ring buffer)
• System variables to be logged (system, I/O and user variables)

Evaluating the trace data

The logged data is displayed in the form of graphs over time for evaluation. The following functions are offered here:

• Different colors can be selected for the curves. Curves can be switched off and on again.
• The zoom function can be used to show details.
• Rules support the measuring of, for example, signal level and duration.
• Possible changes can be viewed by superimposing measuring curves from different trace logs.

Apart from recording, the trace function also offers a "function generator" and mathematical functions.

The traced curves can be stored or exported to Microsoft Excel as a table for further evaluation. Of course, the plots can also be stored for documentation purposes, inserted in documents or printed out.

Automatic optimization of the control loops

Automatic optimization of the control loops makes commissioning of the axes and drives particularly easy. For SINAMICS S120 drives, the parameters for the speed controller and the position controller are automatically determined (with DSC).

Integrated measuring functions

The integrated measuring functions support the recording of, for example, step responses for optimization as well as the detection of electromagnetic weak points or resonant frequencies (using, for example, bode diagrams and FFT analysis). Electronic filters can be optimally placed at these resonant frequencies to achieve higher dynamics.

Comparison function for projects

It is possible to compare and, if necessary, match the components of different projects.

It is therefore possible to perform a CPU-based comparison between the objects of a project.

An overview of the differences between objects is displayed. Objects with differences can be matched.

If necessary, to a highly detailed degree: Objects can be matched right down to data level also for individual data.

Advantages for practical working with SIMOTION:

• Online/offline comparisons allow the target device and project to be matched
• Offline/offline comparisons make it possible to merge programs
• Detailed differences between data can be identified in the detailed comparison
• Data missing from the engineering project are easy to restore if the source data are stored in the target system.

Detail comparison with ladder logic (LAD)