The Beckhoff XPlanar planar motor system for floating product transport with up to six degrees of freedom was launched onto the market in 2018. Since then, its functionality has been continually expanded. The new multi-computing functionality, available through a simple software update, now enables modularisation of the overall system – and thus a greater number of tiles and movers per system – to handle applications on an extensive scale.
Modular expansion via XPlanar multi-computing opens up new dimensions in maximum system size.
With XPlanar multi-computing, the overall system can be divided into individual subsystems, each controlled by a sub-IPC, to implement large, modular XPlanar systems. This allows computationally intensive tasks to be distributed optimally to the corresponding system segments. The dynamic handover of a mover between two subsystems is ensured by the communication between the sub-IPCs, and the superordinate main IPC controls the operation of the entire system. It is also centrally responsible for application programming and diagnostics – that is, for using the familiar functionalities of TwinCAT 3 XPlanar (TF5890). Access from the application to the subordinate sub-IPCs is not required for this, nor is it necessary for the mover transfer during segment changeover, which makes creating applications and system operation as simple as before.
With XPlanar multi-computing, the number of XPlanar movers and tiles within an overall system can be increased to a practically infinite number. Beyond the basic system enlargement, further optimisation possibilities result from a modularisation of the machine, with the ability to couple new subsystems mechanically to the existing system if required. What’s more, the subsystem can be easily integrated into the overall system process by simply adjusting the program in the main IPC.
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