Combitronic鈩�: The Practical Solution for Complex Motion Control
April 30, 2019
Getting smart, distributed motion control just got easier. See why Combitronic鈩� technology commands the future of motion control.
Developed in 2011 by MoogAnimatics, Combitronic鈩� technology provides the foundation for easy yet powerful multi-axis system design, representing a major step in simplifying multi-axis motion control and motor-to-motor communications. As machine builders are increasingly pressured to reduce time to market, minimize machine footprint and improve machine reliability, will play a progressively critical role in machine design.
Learn how this tool helps improve efficiency, turnaround time and savings to keep you ahead of the competition.
What is Combitronic鈩�?
Watch this video for an introduction to Combitronic鈩� technology.
Combitronic鈩� is an innovative, proprietary communication protocol that allows up to 120 Moog servos to communicate on equal footing without needing a dedicated 鈥渕aster鈥� to operate. With Combitronic鈩� technology, servos become one giant parallel-processing system that shares all information and processing resources with motors across the network.
Why it's Unique
The ease of use and features provided by Combitronic鈩� are not available from any other motor manufacturer in the industry. Combitronic鈩� technology delivers customizable performance at your fingertips, without writing a single line of communications code or requiring detailed knowledge of the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol. In a traditional network, all commands local to a 厂尘补谤迟惭辞迟辞谤鈩� onboard controller are for that motor only. However, with Combitronic鈩� technology, those same commands can be applied to 鈥� and reference 鈥� other motors on the same network, as if all motors were being controlled by a central, multi-axis controller. This interface operates over a standard CAN bus and may coexist with either CANopen or DeviceNet protocols at the same time.
To simplify CAN bus network setup, MoogAnimatics also developed the , which works with Combitronic鈩� to provide single cable, point-to-point connection. With the CDS7, Combitronic鈩� technology can connect to RS-232 to auto-detect and connect to motors in minutes through a daisy chain network, instead of manually entering individual motor addresses through CANopen.
The diagram above illustrates how the CDS7 cable works with Class 5 厂尘补谤迟惭辞迟辞谤鈩� servos to simplify network setup.
听Benefits of using Combitronic鈩� technology:
- Eliminates PLCs from machine designs
- If PLCs are used, enhances performance by unburdening them from tasks
- No bus master required (but may be used if desired)
- No scan list or node list setup required
- 1 MHz network bandwidth
How it Works
Combitronic鈩� technology uses the typical local commands, amended with a colon and target node address, to allow any motor鈥檚 program to read from, write to or control any other motor simply by tagging a local variable or command with the other motor鈥檚 CAN address. When paired with any MoogAnimatics 厂尘补谤迟惭辞迟辞谤鈩� servo, Combitronic鈩� technology enables fully functional, bi-directional communications between each servo. Consequently, all 厂尘补谤迟惭辞迟辞谤鈩� units become one multi-tasking, data-sharing system. Moreover, each 厂尘补谤迟惭辞迟辞谤鈩� is capable of being a 鈥渕aster鈥� to multiple other servos on the network. The only prerequisite is to have matched baud rates and unique addresses.
See Combitronic鈩� technology in action!
Highlighting the versatility of Combitronic鈩�, this video features robotic artwork that utilizes 65 motors and Combitronic鈩� technology to execute complex and precise choreographed patterns of movement. A collaboration by artists Banny Banerjee, Matt Gorbet, Susan LK Gorbet and Maggie Orth, this motorized sculpture was located at San Jose International airport, Terminal B Gate 19.
Combitronic鈩� technology can solve diverse applications by supporting an array of operations that range from simple to complex, such as:
- Trajectory commands, moving from point 鈥淎鈥� to point 鈥淏鈥�
- Receiving data from other nodes 鈥� works with local and remote motors
- I/O commands across network
- No network configuration or host network manager required
- Can freely access and control data
- Data passes freely with full deterministic arbitration of all data packets
- Multi-axis linear interpolated and synchronized motion from any given axis
- Uses simple format, similar to single-axis profiles
- PTS command and Combitronic鈩� manage communications to associated motor addresses
- Synchronized motion with math calculations 鈥� achieves complex, synchronized motion with math function
- Multi-axis gantry
- Allows multiple pairs of motors to operate on same axis of motion
- Simply identify the address of the paired motors 鈥� no additional code required
- High axis count coordinated motion
- Motion control of large numbers of 厂尘补谤迟惭辞迟辞谤鈩�-driven axes is easily coordinated through Combitronic鈩� technology
- Applications in aerospace, entertainment and more
Additional Benefits
Combitronic鈩� communications technology combined with the 厂尘补谤迟惭辞迟辞谤鈩� integrated servo provides simple, powerful and robust multi-axis system design:
Additionally, by integrating controls onto the motor, the MoogAnimatics 厂尘补谤迟惭辞迟辞谤鈩� reduces the size of the control cabinet and, in some cases, may even eliminate the need for one. When combined with our exclusive Combitronic鈩� technology, these improvements result in the following design and implementation advantages:
- Reduced machine size
- Improved savings with machine cost
- Less development time
- Quicker development cycles
- Get to market faster
- Increased competitive advantage
- Reduced down-time & field service
- Increased reliability
- Increased versatility
- Add more 厂尘补谤迟惭辞迟辞谤鈩� servos with minimal cabling and no additional cabinet space
- Access more I/O points and processing power 鈥� automatically provided by the additional axes