Present at SPS Smart Production Solutions 2023 (November 14-16, 2023 in Nuremberg) and Productronica 2023 in Munich (November 14-17, 2023), Aerotech showcased its solutions, including the latest version of its "Automation1 - Precision Motion Control Platform" control software.
Automation1 is much more than just "motion control software": it takes over complete control of the machine and all its components. It has its own software-based motion controller, making it easy to control the various positioning systems and connected components.
Powerful, versatile and user-friendly - and, according to Aerotech, unrivalled on the market - the current version 2.5 of the platform was the subject of presentations at both German events.
For example, galvo and gantry control has been further enhanced and several new functions have been added, significantly boosting the platform's performance and user-friendliness. "With the additional functions and the improved, user-friendly interface, we are once again demonstrating our competence as a leading supplier of precision motion control and automation solutions."says Simon Smith, Aerotech's European Director.
This makes calibration of Galvo scanners much easier. Users can modify calibration and power correction files for Galvo laser scanners without resetting the control. Velocity feedforward adjustment and control has been improved, and the laser scan head drive now automatically interpolates the feedforward.
Gantry and encoder functions have also been enhanced. A new wizard lets you manage the gantry's original plug, and users can send quadrature signals or clock and direction signals from a specific encoder port. A user-friendly checklist facilitates gantry set-up and optimization.
Another interesting option is the camera module integrated into Automation1's MachineApp. This enables users to monitor the entire associated automation process live, in addition to motion control. And so that not all users can view production via the camera, specific MachineApps can be adapted directly in the control platform via the extended human-machine interface (HMI), and access can be restricted according to user rights or group membership.
A systems integrator and developer of software solutions, Aerotech (500 employees) has been offering motion control and positioning systems since 1970. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, USA, the company has offices in Germany (Fürth), the UK (Ramsdell), China (Shanghai City) and Taiwan (Taipei City).
While Productronica 2023 enabled the company to present itself as a supplier of solutions for microproduction in the electronics industry, SPS offered it the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to automation, positioning itself both as a supplier of high-quality motion control and positioning systems, and of complete automation solutions for SPS. Its XA4 and iXA4 PWM digital drives were shown to the trade public for the first time at the show. In addition, a gantry system with angular bridge control was presented to illustrate Automation1's motion and coordinate transformation capabilities.