Overview

TF5000 TwinCAT NC PTP is the basis for controlling simple axes up to complex multi-axis systems.

Axis objects

The real axes are represented by axis objects. This results in a separation between physical and logical axis. Rotatory and linear, electric and hydraulic drives can thus be programmed in the same way. In addition, the axis object can simulate an axis. Initial program tests without physical hardware are thus possible. The control of the axes can be configured in various conformations (position or velocity interface) and various controllers. The axes are configured in TwinCAT Engineering.

Programming

For programming, the Tc2_MC2 library provides PLCopen-compliant administrative and motion-initiating function blocks. In addition to the pure movements of an axis from an initial position to a target position, movements of two axes can also be operated in a gear coupling. This is referred to as gearing.

A coordinated master-slave motion with non-linear relationships is called cam plate coupling. These can be added to the TwinCAT NC PTP by TF5050 | TwinCAT NC Camming.

TF5060 | TwinCAT NC FIFO AXES extends the TwinCAT NC PTP with a table coupling concept for arbitrary, usually not cyclically recurring processes. In this case, rather than having one master-slave table prescribed in advance, the latest axis positions are constantly "topped up" by a PLC program.

Another addition to the axis coupling is TF5055 | TwinCAT Flying Saw. Here, a slave axis is coupled 'flying' to a moving master axis at a specific position. As the name suggests, such couplings are often used when, for example, a board needs to be cut with a saw on a moving conveyor belt.

Further information