Optimizing motion control software before the machine is commissioned
05/09/2017 Siemens plc
Optimizing motion control software before the machine is commissioned-€¢ New software version 5.1 for the high-end Simotion motion control system
-€¢ Simosim for simulating the user program in a virtual test environment - without connected hardware
-€¢ New elements for the object-oriented programming of modular machine concepts
Siemens has released the new software version 5.1 for the high-end Simotion motion control system including a facility for simulating user programs. With the Simosim simulation integrated into the engineering, users can now test their software without connecting any hardware. Program parts are optimized at an early stage of the development phase, which shortens commissioning times later on. The functions of the object-oriented programming (OOP) have been expanded in software version 5.1 to make the creation of software more flexible. The new, highly modular Simotion software simplifies the implementation of motion control applications ahead of machine commissioning - in favor of a shorter time-to-market.
Simosim for simulation in the engineering enables online accesses and test functions to be executed just as if a real controller was connected. In addition to the debugging capabilities, such as the status program, breakpoints and traces, and including the complete web and OPC UA server functionality, even axes can be simulated. This considerably speeds up the start of production, as it reduces time-consuming troubleshooting and program adaptations on the actual machine. Simosim is also a key component in the end-to-end digital process chain, from the configuration to the cloud-based services.
In software version 5.1 for Simotion, Siemens has added OOPelements for the flexible, library-compatible software structuring of modular machine concepts: Mechanisms for the direct connection of I/O components in the program code or for grouping functionally associated software elements in libraries are now supported.
For more information, please visit: www.siemens.com/simosim
Print this article
Process and Control Today are not responsible for the content of submitted or externally produced articles and images. Click here to email us about any errors or omissions contained within this article.