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Everything is changing, some systems getting easier, some getting more complex, 1-Axis today, 40-Axes tomorrow, PCs getting faster (Still waiting for PC Control train to leave the station), PLCs being a commodity, sensors being boring, Software integration, Motion Controllers handling I/O and PLCs doing Motion Control, and the everyday heard words: connectivity, connectivity, connectivity and WHERE IS MY ETHERNET.... where is Motion Control going? Where is the future?
I strongly feel that SERCOS will be the path all motion controllers will or should be going. Faster, less wiring, no more analog, ease of connectivity, torque control across multi-axis, drive status back to controller, centralized control, Soft Motion, SoftPLC...these are just some of the advantages SERCOS can offer. With PCs being faster and faster, what will be the future of PLCs and Motion Controllers? Maybe SoftPLC and SoftMotion? I see EtherNet (Modbus/IP, EtherNet/IP, maybe others) being the PC to PLC, PLC to Motion, OIT to PLC, I/O to PC/PLC type use but not used for motion "control." I feel that SERCOS will be the choice for servo to controller (PC, PLC, SA-Box). Why use SERCOS and not Fire Wire or some other weird network? SERCOS has been around for a long time and is proven its reliability. So now you’re asking, "If it has been around for so long, why has it never taken off?" My answer to that is lack of education and the failure of the general motion control market to "change." Another huge influence is that it typically has not been cost effective on smaller 1-4 axis machines.
SERCOS is digital, open, proven, expandable, fast, "plug & play", cross-vendor compatible, supported worldwide!
I currently don't use SERCOS (never had), but looking into it heavily. I am trying to convience others in my company that we need to use this technology and prepare ourselves for the future.
Are you using SERCOS?
Do you agree with my thoughts above (If you don't, tell my why)?
Are all SERCOS systems compatible? I keep hearing that AB has SERCOS but is not cross vendor compatible? Is that true? If so, how can they call it SERCOS then? Does the standard just have minor requirements and then you can modify your system to do more?
If you use SERCOS, please tell me why you use it and how you use it if you can?
Thank you.
I strongly feel that SERCOS will be the path all motion controllers will or should be going. Faster, less wiring, no more analog, ease of connectivity, torque control across multi-axis, drive status back to controller, centralized control, Soft Motion, SoftPLC...these are just some of the advantages SERCOS can offer. With PCs being faster and faster, what will be the future of PLCs and Motion Controllers? Maybe SoftPLC and SoftMotion? I see EtherNet (Modbus/IP, EtherNet/IP, maybe others) being the PC to PLC, PLC to Motion, OIT to PLC, I/O to PC/PLC type use but not used for motion "control." I feel that SERCOS will be the choice for servo to controller (PC, PLC, SA-Box). Why use SERCOS and not Fire Wire or some other weird network? SERCOS has been around for a long time and is proven its reliability. So now you’re asking, "If it has been around for so long, why has it never taken off?" My answer to that is lack of education and the failure of the general motion control market to "change." Another huge influence is that it typically has not been cost effective on smaller 1-4 axis machines.
SERCOS is digital, open, proven, expandable, fast, "plug & play", cross-vendor compatible, supported worldwide!
I currently don't use SERCOS (never had), but looking into it heavily. I am trying to convience others in my company that we need to use this technology and prepare ourselves for the future.
Are you using SERCOS?
Do you agree with my thoughts above (If you don't, tell my why)?
Are all SERCOS systems compatible? I keep hearing that AB has SERCOS but is not cross vendor compatible? Is that true? If so, how can they call it SERCOS then? Does the standard just have minor requirements and then you can modify your system to do more?
If you use SERCOS, please tell me why you use it and how you use it if you can?
Thank you.