PacDrive Lexikon
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Absolute position encoder
Every point on the path is identified by a unique signal. A reference traverse is not required when starting systems with absolute position encoders. The encoder information is normally read with an additional coder disk, which records a maximum 4096 encoder revolutions. A simpler variation is to save the information with an integrated battery.
Analog signal
A number of process variables are available as analog quantities. A distinction is made between a voltage or a current signal. A computer requires an analog-digital converter to read analog quantities. The resolution of the signals depends on the precision of the AD converter.
Acceleration time
Acceleration time of the servo motor/amplifier combination from the stationary position to the rated speed with the peak torque without an additional external source of inertia.
AS interface
AS interface (ASI) is designed to be the simplest networking for automation technology. ASI has been optimized for the lowest field level and offers the option of linking intelligent slaves and simple analog devices in addition to binary devices. The AS interface handles less data volume than the field buses and does not compete with them.
ASCII
An abbreviation for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. It uses 7 bits display characters.
B
Baud
The transmission speed in baud is defined as the number of bits transferred per second.
C
CAN
CAN stands for Controller Area Network and was originally developed as a bus system for motor vehicles by Bosch and Intel. However, since then CAN has established itself in the field of automation technology as a field bus. Like practically all field buses, CAN is based on the OSI 7 layer model. CAN is only standardized for OSI layers 1 and 2 in ISO 11898 and is based on a bus structure. The transmission speed can be selected in the range between 20 kBit/s and 1 Mbit/s. The user layer is defined by the layer 7 protocols based on CAN such as DeviceNet or CANopen. Very powerful event-controlled systems based on the CSMA/CA access process and object-oriented addressing can be designed particularly effectively with CAN. In the CAN Multimaster system data can be directly exchanged between any number of users.
CE
The CE symbol documents that the product meets the requirements of all applicable European directives.
CNC
An abbreviation for computerized numerical control. CNCs are primarily used in machine tools.
COM
The "Component Object Model" defines the properties and methods of objects for data exchange between various software components and provides standard interfaces for communications.
Controller
A system in which signals only go in a forward direction from the input to the output. No check or correction of whether the actual system quantities conform to the setpoints is made.
ControlNet
ControlNet is an open controller network that meets the requirements of real-time applications with data throughput rates. It is used to connect controllers, I/O modules, PCs, visualization systems (HMI) and other intelligent devices. ControlNet sends data at 5 MBit/s and enables deterministic, repetitive transmissions of time-critical control data. The network access is controlled by the time slice algorithm "Concurrent Time Domain Multiple Access" (CTDMA).
CUL
Products that have the CUL symbol meet the safety standards for the Canadian market. Canadian safety standards may differ from the UL US standards in some details.
Curve rules
See setpoint generation
D
DCOM
The "Distributed Component Object Model" is the expansion of the COM for software applications distributed over various computer systems in a network.
Decentralized technology
In converter technology a distinction is made between centralized and decentralized technology. The difference is in the power supply. In centralized technology a power supply module generates the voltage for the individual amplifiers. In decentralized technology every amplifier or motor controller has its own power supply.
DeviceNet
DeviceNet is an open, manufacturer-independent field bus standard in automation technology for connecting programmable logic controls (PLC) with "intelligent" devices such as sensors, pushbuttons, I/O modules, simple user interfaces and drives with one cable. DeviceNet is an application protocol (OSI layer 7) based on the Controller Area Network (CAN). It provides high reliability for demanding applications with a large number of I/O modules. The transmission speed, depending on the type of cable and the length, is 125 kBit/s to 500 kBit/s.
Drive bus
Modern future-oriented systems transfer information between controller and drives in digital form. The most important technical requirement for the drive bus is a highly deterministic transmission of the motion data.
E
Electronic packaging machine
In an electronic packaging machine the mechanical main shaft is replaced by an electronic main shaft with individual flexible electromotor drives.
EMC
EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) is the capacity of an electrical or electronic device to function satisfactorily in its electromagnetic environment. Limit values for interference and interference resistance are specified in standards.
EN
Abbreviation for European Standard. National standards (such as DIN or VDE) are being replaced by European standards in the course of European harmonization.
Ethernet
Ethernet has existed since the beginning of the 80s and today is the dominant network technology. The end of the Ethernet dominance is not in sight. It is available for different cable media, fiber-optic cables and radio and offers data transmission rates of 10 Mbit/s to 1 Gbit/s. Components of all types and generations operate together in one network without problems. The principal disadvantage of its limited deterministic transmission characteristics is generally not significant for most applications (e.g. HMI) and can be ignored in view of its immense transmission capacity.
F
Field bus
Sensors and actuators are conventionally linked with a controller or analytical module via an analog or digital signal. A multicore cable is required for every connection between sensor or actuator and the controller in this technology. In addition, an input or output circuit (I/O) is required for every sensor and actuator in the controller. When implementing a field bus system all devices are connected to a bus cable. An interface module is used instead of the input/output circuits. The advantages of this procedure are clear. Commissioning and maintenance are simplified and the flexibility of the plant is improved. This generally provides cost advantages in comparison to conventional solutions. The varying demands on field bus systems, the variety of options for technical solutions and ultimately aspects of company policy have resulted in a very large number of different field buses and has militated against a unified international standard. ELAU GmbH devices support the following international field bus standards: CANopen, PROFIBUS DP, DeviceNet and ControlNet.
Following error
The following error is the dynamic distance between the calculated position setpoint and the actual position value. The following error depends on the controller structure and the amplification of the individual control loops. Minimum following error is ensured with precontrols for speed and current.
G
GSM
GSM is a European mobile communications standard for mobile telephones in the 900 MHz range set by the CEPT (Conférence européenne des administrations des postes et télécommunications). The GSM data services with their digital data transmission technology enable remote diagnosis of packaging machines via mobile telephone.
H
HMI
HMIs (Human Machine Interface) are systems for operating plants, monitoring processes and backing up data in industrial manufacturing processes. Smaller packaging machines have simple control units while powerful visualization systems based on industrial PCs are often used in complex packaging lines. Such systems display the operating processes in a machine as flow diagrams and allow more transparency in their monitoring. Important operational data are recorded and graphically displayed. If something is not running properly, an alarm is generated immediately.
I
IEC 1131
IEC 1131-3 is an international standard for programming languages for programmable logic controllers (PLC). The instruction list (IL), the function block diagram (FBD), the ladder diagram (LD), the structured text (ST) and the sequential function chart (SFC) are different languages under this standard.
Inverter Enable
Inverter Enable is a circuit section in the MC-4 motor controller that enables the "Safe Stop" operating mode. This operating mode prevents a stationary drive from starting accidentally because of a fault.
ISDN
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a common telecommunications standard in Germany and Europe. All information in ISDN is transmitted in digital form. This allows signals for speech, texts, images and data to be sent over the same telephone line. ISDN not allows the option of using conventional telecommunications service but it also supports new types of communications such as videophones. The high transmission speed makes ISDN an ideal transmission medium for remote diagnosis of packaging machines.
L
Loop
A setpoint of a process quantity is compared with the actual value and amplified and corrected so the difference is as near zero as possible. In contrast to a controller the influence of a disturbance variable is corrected in a loop. In principle, there is a distinction between the behavior of command variables and disturbance variables. In a servo drive the position, speed and current are controlled.
M
Main shaft
See electronic packaging machine.
Moment of inertia
The moment of inertia of a servo motor in kg/cm2.
Motor controller
An electronic module that contains a power gain and control loops for position, speed and current for a servo motor. The output quantity, the servo motor power connection, is changed in a specific relationship to the setpoint input quantity, the position setpoint.
O
OLE
Microsoft's OLE technology (Object Linking and Embedding) is used for integration within software applications and therefore to ensure a high degree of application compatibility by standardizing data access to software applications.
OPC
OPC is the abbreviation for "OLE for Process Control". The OPC Foundation has the goal of converting innumerable different interfaces used in process control and automation applications into one standardized form, and thereby ensuring a smooth interplay between control applications, the field systems and components and the business and office applications, enabling simple, fast and economical system integration. On the basis of Microsoft's OLE and COM/DCOM technology the OPC standard offers the manufacturer of hardware and software an option for developing a standard driver for data exchange with other systems, such as HMI or SCADA.
Open Control
The Open Control Foundation has taken on the task of developing future-oriented concepts for standardizing automation solutions based on the PC. An automation solution usually requires that different hardware and software components be integrated in an overall system, such as a field bus interface module for decentralized I/Os, a controller, a visualization system and various planning tools for PLC, field bus and HMI. The Open Control Foundation is attempting to use common data pools to establish continuity in planning data, avoiding errors and in general enabling cost savings in project planning.
P
PacDrive
The PC based automation system PacDrive is perfectly suitable for the complete automation of packing maschines. The IEC 1131 PLC and motion tasks (VarioCam) are realized with a central PC based intelligence. Interfaces for all standard HMI's are offered. The IO's of the PLC are realized by standard field busses. SERCOS is the Interface to the high performance Servo drives. A standard Ethernet-Port with TCP/IP allows remote control and sevice down to the motor shaft from all over the world.
Peak torque
The maximum torque that the combination of servo motor and amplifier can temporarily produce at the servo motor output shaft.
PLC
Abbreviation for programmable logic controller.
Position resolution
Position resolution indicates how many increments per 360 degrees of motor rotation are available. In principle, the following applies: The higher the position resolution, the better the position precision and control quality. In general, resolvers have a position resolution of 4 096 to 65 000 increments per motor revolution. High-resolution SinCos encoders, such as are used in the PacDriveT system, have a resolution of 1 000 000 increments per motor revolution.
PROFIBUS
PROFIBUS is a manufacturer-independent, open field bus standard for applications in production, process and building automation. The manufacturer-independence and openness is guaranteed by the international EN 50 170 standard. PROFIBUS enables communication without difficulty among devices from different manufacturers without requiring any special interface adaptations. PROFIBUS is suitable for both fast, time-critical data transmissions and also for comprehensive and complex communications tasks. PROFIBUS consists of a family of 3 compatible variations: PROFIBUS-DP, PROFIBUS-FMS and PROFIBUS-PA.
The PROFIBUS interface modules for the ELAU GmbH devices are based on PROFIBUS-DP. PROFIBUS-DP is specifically designed for communication between automation systems and decentralized peripheral devices at field level and is characterized by high speed and low connection costs. PROFIBUS-DP is based on a bus structure and uses RS-485-compatible technology or fiber optics. The transmission speed can be selected in the range between 9.6 kBit/s and 12 Mbit/s.
Protocol
The rules for data transmission between computer systems and other devices are referred to as protocols. A protocol defines the packaging of data, i.e. how many data bytes are sent at any one time, the handling of erroneous data (type of error protocol), the channels available for data transmission (full duplex -or half duplex procedures), information on the beginning and the end of a transmission and the type of compression of the data packets. The ISO (International Standards Organization) provides the OSI model (Open Systems Interconnection) as a reference model for all data transmissions between electronic systems. Under the OSI reference model a transmission protocol has seven layers.
R
Rated speed
Useful speed at the rated torque. The idle speed and the maximum mechanical limit speed of the servo motor are higher.
Rated torque
The rated torque is the continuous torque in Nm of a servo motor/amplifier combination at its rated speed. As a result of the speed-dependent losses, it is less than the nominal torque at speed 0. At an ambient temperature of 40°C there will be an overtemperature of 60°C at the motor housing depending on the thermal motor time constant.
Real-time operating system
In real-time operating systems, like conventional operating systems, process a number of parallel tasks, threads or processes. To meet the real-time demands of the control task, real-time operating systems apply special procedures for calculating time division. The predictability (determinism) of the system response, i.e. the guaranteed processing of a task within a preset period, is an important criterion for real-time systems. In addition, the management of the system resources such as common or exclusive memory segments, I/O devices, ports and time services with the task communications via semaphore, mailbox and event queues place special demands on the real-time operating system.
Real-time system
According to a DIN definition, a real-time system is a system that reacts to an external event in a defined manner under all conditions, with the answer being always generated within a specific time slot (sampling period). If time slots are exceeded, this is considered a failure of the entire system. If the process is uncritical, it may be permissible to exceed these limits. This case is referred to as "soft real-time". A soft real-time system is acceptable only if no danger for personnel or machine arises if the time limits are exceeded. In general, packaging machines are systems that place "hard" real-time demands on the controller.
RS-232
The RS-232-C interface is a standardized serial interface, which is largely identical with the V.24 interface (CCITT). It is designed for asynchronous data exchange between a computer system and a peripheral.
RS-422
The RS-422 interface corresponds functionally to the RS-232 interface, but uses a differential signal transmission that enables it to bridge greater distances with less interference even at high transmission speeds.
RS-485
The RS-485 interface is a standardized serial interface. It is functionally and electrically largely identical to the RS-422 interface and enables several terminal devices to be connected to one connector cable (bus).
S
Sampling rate
Time in milliseconds that shows the time in which the setpoints of an axis are calculated, compared with the actual values and then the differences are processed in the controller.
SCADA
SCADA systems (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) contain components for control, analysis, monitoring, storage and management of the information flow between the systems at the field level and the control level of a company. This ensures that the decentralized I/O modules and the machine controllers are linked to the office computers on the control level.
Servo amplifier
See motor controller.
Servo motor
Today a servo motor is defined as a brushless, permanent-magnet synchronous motor. A servo motor has a position encoder and is characterized by its extremely low inertia and high power density.
Setpoint generation
The motion functions of the individual axes of an electronic packaging machine are now implemented in the PacController with intelligent software. All motion rules defined in VDI 2143 and in-house defined motion rules can be changed on line.
Spline Interpolation
Chaining single tool center points with polynominals of the 3rd degree.
T
TCP/IP
The TCP/IP-protocol has existed since the 60s and has developed to an undisputed worldwide standard because of the Internet boom and the desire for open standards. It is used for internal communication within a company and also for the worldwide Internet communication. The TCP/IP protocol has also been implemented in automation technology in recent years. The technical stability of the TCP/IP protocol is unequaled by any other protocol.
Teleservice
Teleservice enables remote connection of controllers of packaging machines over telecommunications systems (ISDN, GSM) fur service, maintenance and also for commissioning and machine conversions. Machine designers can guarantee short service reaction times throughout the world with teleservice and thereby guarantee high availability of packaging machines.
Torque constant
Quotient of the nominal torque and the nominal current in Nm/A.
U
UL
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent testing and certification organization in the USA. Products that carry the UL symbol meet the UL safety standards.
V
VarioCamTM
The VarioCamTM-online-toolbox features a wide range of functions, including standard cams. There is no need for complicated modification and reloading of cams, since the cams are changed to the desired movement simply by setting parameters.
VxWorks
The MAx-4 PacController from ELAU GmbH is based on the VxWorks® real-time operating system from Wind River Systems. VxWorks® is the market leader in the area of real-time operating systems and meets the highest requirements with respect to real-time behavior, stability, operating time and memory efficiency.
W
Windows
A strong trend to Microsoft operating systems can be observed in automation technology today. This development confirms the direction towards transparent, open, scalable solutions for automation based on fast-developing PC hardware. Software has become the determining factor in automation solutions. The driving factor of this development is the 32-bit world of Windows operating systems, on which many manufacturers of industrial software have standardized in the meantime. In general, the products include the standard interfaces for graphics import, data exchange (DDE, ODBC) and integration of applications (OPC). These interfaces allow communication between individual software products to be implemented simply and easily.
However, the standard operating systems from the office area cannot meet the hard real-time requirements needed for a drive system. Windows CE, Windows NT and Windows NT Embedded in their original form can only be used for automation applications with "soft" real-time requirements. The MAx-4 PacController from ELAU GmbH is therefore based on the VxWorks® real-time operating system, which guarantees an absolutely deterministic response. With the integrated OPC interface, the MAx-4 PacController can be integrated into a Windows environment without problem.