IPC-based CNC/PLC automation system is a high-performance tool, which allows complex applications to be comfortably operated, and offers significant advantages for PC-based control systems.

KUKA Controls, a provider of leading real-time extension technology for Windows XP, is reinforcing its expertise in industrial automation by supplying its latest Real-Time Technology to Schleicher Electronic.

This well-established automation enterprise has chosen KUKA Controls’ VxWin technology for its PC-based motion control solution ProNumeric.

The IPC-based CNC/PLC automation system ProNumeric is a high-performance tool, which allows complex applications to be comfortably operated.

KUKA Controls, a provider of leading real-time extension technology for Windows XP, is reinforcing its expertise in industrial automation by supplying its latest Real-Time Technology to Schleicher Electronic.

This well-established automation enterprise has chosen KUKA Controls’ VxWin technology for its PC-based motion control solution ProNumeric.

The IPC-based CNC/PLC automation system ProNumeric is a high-performance tool, which allows complex applications to be comfortably operated.

VxWin offers significant advantages for PC-based control systems.

For instance, by using standard operating systems (VxWorks from Wind River and Windows XP from Microsoft), VxWin offers developers an open platform.

They enjoy the benefits of proven, fully developed and smooth solutions also ensuring compatibility with next generations of VxWorks and Windows XP.

This guaranteed long-term availability stands for investment security and presents significant advantages in terms of competitiveness.

The high-performance ProNumeric automation system is the top-of-the-line model from Schleicher Electronic.

It consists of a computer box and a remote control panel and is delivered as a fully configured, ready-to-run version.

As such, the hardware and software concept of the control system permits simple user operation.

The single-processor system VxWin (the combination of VxWorks and Windows XP on a single CPU) controls - as a complete solution - all control tasks, from motion to processing to visual display.

Once the Windows environment has booted, VxWorks starts up automatically and assumes control, while Windows XP executes the visual display tasks.

“In developing our industrial automation systems, we put our trust in the technology from KUKA Controls,” emphasises Uwe Jacob, head of Technology at Schleicher Electronic.

“Integrating VxWin into our ProNumeric system enables us to significantly reduce the level of development time.

The developers can now focus on the features essential for competitive differentiation.” The strength of motion control systems depends on their performance, flexibility and range of available functions, as well as and particularly on the user-friendliness of the software modules that control the drive technology.

Compared with conventional solutions, PC-based motion control solutions score a hit thanks to their substantially higher level of user- friendliness.

Gerd Lammers, director of sales and marketing at KUKA Controls, explains: “Due to their open interfaces, PC systems allow a company’s specific application know-how to be integrated quickly and seamlessly.

Thanks to the VxWin technology, Schleicher control systems can exploit all the advantages of the PC technology, which has already been proven in over 80,000 real-time systems: the user friendliness of the Windows environment for visual display and operation in addition to the absolute stability ensured by the deterministic real-time operating system in the background.” Moreover, PC-based controls offer remote diagnosis and maintenance options and allow the installation of the commissioning tools from the drive manufacturers.

The linking of the CNC control system with a PLC according to IEC 61131, as this has been realised in the case of the Schleicher ProNumeric system, also ensures flexibility and high performance, which clearly outshine conventional control system combinations from a technological viewpoint.

* About Schleicher Electronic - Schleicher Electronic was established in 1937 and, thanks to innovations such as the quartz-controlled timer, the multi-functional time relay and the integrated CNC/PLC solution, now ranks among the pioneers in automation technology.

Today the company, which belongs to Wieland-Holding, develops and produces electronic components and system solutions for reliable automation.

A key focus of the product range is the XCx family of fully integrated PLC/CNC control systems.

The electronics range includes active system elements such as sequence, motion control and numeric control systems in addition to networking and visual display components.

The successful implementation of customer-specific developments and complete system solutions is based on decades of experience, precision application engineering and the close working relationship fostered with customers.

At the company base in Berlin, Germany, Schleicher constitutes the center of excellence for electronics and system engineering of t he Wieland group of companies.

* About KUKA Controls - KUKA Controls is a wholly owned subsidiary of KUKA Roboter , the number one European industrial robot manufacturer and a part of IWKA Group.

KUKA Controls specializes in real-time software, operating systems, motion control, graphical user interfaces (GUI), handhelds, dynamic algorithms, PC-based hardware development and application programming.

KUKA Controls globally markets real-time extension technology for automation and robotics as well as test and measurement instrumentation and medical devices and equipment.

KUKA robot controllers are developed and produced for the parent company.

* About KUKA Roboter - KUKA Roboter, Augsburg is an IWKA Group company and is the worlds’ leading manufacturer of PC-based industrial robots.

The company’s core competencies are the development, production and sales of industrial robots, controllers, software and linear units.

KUKA is the market leader in both Germany and Europe and ranks 3rd worldwide.

The KUKA Robot Group employs 1.650 people and is represented by over 20 subsidiaries in Europe, USA and Asia.

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