ACS Motion Control SPiiPlusSC motion controller

ACS Motion Control has developed a PC-based machine and motion control solution that meets high-performance motion control requirements while minimising costs.

Designated the SPiiPlusSC (soft controller), it features motion control software that uses the processing power of a modern PC and the connectivity of a real-time open industrial ethernet network.

It enables a standard PC to run the machine host application, the graphical user interface and the real-time motion controller and PLC without adding any hardware.

The control software runs on one of the multi-core PC processors and provides high-speed host-to-controller communication over shared RAM and virtual TCP/IP.

The controller manages all motor drives and I/O processes using one of the standard ethernet ports of the PC as the etherCAT master communications channel. The system simplifies connectivity by eliminating the dedicated controller hardware.

The controller is available in two versions: the SPiiPlusSC-HP for complex and performance demanding applications, with up to 64 axes; and the SPiiPlusSC-LT, an economical version that addresses the needs of one to eight axes. Both versions provide the same servo and motion performance.

The controller is complemented by a full range of etherCAT motor drives and of I/O modules that can provide thousands I/O points. In addition, the open architecture can support ACS and other vendors’ qualified etherCAT components. Programming in both PLCOpen IEC61131-3 languages and the ACSPL+ multi-tasking motion language is fully supported.

Full API libraries are also included for Windows-based host programming. A full controller simulator allows the user to develop the motion application and front end without any hardware.

The controller is suitable for applications including SMT assembly systems, semiconductor manufacturing and inspection equipment, FPD manufacturing and inspection, solar panel manufacturing, packaging machines, medical body scanners, robotics, wide-format printing and high-precision, motion-centric machinery.