IEN: What improvements are expected in motion-related technologies in customized solutions for optimal application form factors? Common standards for interfaces, programming, and physical connections? Smaller motion device footprints? Feedback technology? Other areas?
Hammer: There is no longer additional hardware for motion control and the PLC. The drive becomes the machine control and has all capabilities (logic control, motion control, and drive control) in a very compact form factor. The control unit and power units are separated and can be distributed to get the optimal form factor for the machine (e.g. different shapes, different cooling methods, different IP classes) -- the controls do not define the shape of the machine, but the components can be put where they are needed or where space is left. Even if it is "only" drive hardware, it has all features (IEC611 programming languages and more) and interfaces (fieldbus: Profibus, ProfiNet; regular Ethernet) of a programmable device. Plug and drive makes setup easy since all components have electronic nameplates and are recognized and parameterized automatically.
IEN: How can users implement preventive or predictive monitoring in motion solutions?
Hammer: First of all, accessibility to maintenance parameters is necessary. User or standard software can include the methods for maintenance and monitoring tasks. A web server on the drive hardware offers the interface to the WWW for HTML, FTP, and eMail clients. As a result, diagnostics and machine operation can be done using regular Internet Explorer. The device (drive) is able to send emails, Fax, and SMS to alarm the right persons to become active, etc.
IEN: Please discuss the benefits and drawbacks of centralized and distributed architectures.
Hammer: The main thing is that the control architecture is adjustable to the machine architecture (central machine architecture or modular machine concept). If the machine architecture is decentralized (modular machine concept), then a distributed control architecture offers many advantages. Each module has all the necessary parts (control, I/O, drives, motors. . .) and is independent of the other modules and can be independently commissioned. The entire machine consists of a selection of modules out of a module box. Individual customer orders can be manufactured easily by combining these modules. The connection between modules for data exchange, as well as for distributed motion control, is only a fieldbus cable, resulting in a substantial reduction of wiring. These kinds of modular machine concepts with distributed architectures require fast and isynchronous fieldbus communication. With Profinet IRTE, all resources are available to support the best practice.