Press Release

The extension of the TwinCAT automation suite by robot kinematics enables the integration of robots and their interaction and synchronisation with the PLC and Motion Control functions. This results in the seamless integration into the overall control system as well as dispensing with additional robot CPUs. The software ‘TwinCAT Kinematic Transformation’ supports the following kinematics: cartesian portal, shear kinematics, roller kinematics (H Bot), SCARA, 2-D kinematics,
2-D parallel kinematics and 3-D delta kinematics.

Beckhoff is showing a new item in a live demonstration at Automatica: an extension of the TwinCAT software by 6-D kinematics for cable robots. The advantages of the cable robot for pick-and-place tasks result from its mechanical structure: elaborate carbon rods are replaced by economical ropes, the arrangement of the servo motors is flexible (e.g. also underneath the robot) and the workpiece gripper can be rotated and tilted.

EtherCAT – top performance on the basis of Industrial Ethernet

EtherCAT, the Industrial Ethernet system, has now become the process communication standard in many robots. The use of the fast fieldbus system in the field of robotics offers a number of decisive advantages: EtherCAT enables extremely short update times for the process image (50 µs); control loops (up to the current controller) can be closed via the bus. Control of the axes can take place centrally in the controller – including the coupled movement function. The EtherCAT system integrates redundancy, hot connect and hot swap options.

Beckhoff offers an extensive range of EtherCAT I/Os for the connection of the entire sensor and actuator systems into the robotics, assembling and handling technology. A complete range is available for all important types of signals in the EtherCAT Terminals in protection class IP 20 and the EtherCAT Box modules in IP 67. The compact design and small weight of the EtherCAT Box modules facilitates applications in which the I/O interface is moved, e.g. on a robot arm. In both I/O systems the EtherCAT protocol is fully retained down to the individual module, making it possible to realise extremely short reaction times.

As new products in the I/O section, Beckhoff is presenting, among other things, the HD Terminals – a new Bus Terminal generation with increased packing density. The ‘High Density’ EtherCAT Terminals contain 16 connection points in the housing of a 12 mm electronic terminal block. Also new are the EtherCAT Box modules with 16 channels, with which wiring and costs can be significantly reduced. The 16-channel box will be available in various input/output versions.

TwinSAFE – safe data transmission

The safe transmission of data up to SIL 3 of IEC 61508 is possible with the TwinSAFE protocol. Safe I/O modules are available for the EtherCAT Terminals and the EtherCAT Box. Up to 128 safety-relevant bus devices can be connected to the EL6900 Safety PLC for the EtherCAT Terminal system. Integrated into the Safety PLC are 256 function blocks that can be configured or programmed according to the application.

Green Automation Technology

One of the main topics of interest at Automatica 2010 is Green Automation. For Beckhoff, Green Automation Technology means contributing to the saving of energy in machines, plants and buildings with intelligent components and intelligent software. The universality of this approach is of particular importance if optimum successes are to be achieved. This means that the various components of an automation system, such as drives, bus systems, I/Os and software, must be precisely matched to one another. The Beckhoff product portfolio fulfils this requirement in a special way: at Automatica, Beckhoff is presenting solutions and products for energy data monitoring, Motion Control applications with modern servo technology, XFC (eXtreme Fast Control Technology) for fast and precise process reactions for the avoidance of energy losses, as well as Industrial PCs with energy-saving CPUs on Intel^® Atom™ basis.