MOTION CONTROL PLATFORM SELECTION GUIDE
Meet your motion control match.
Compare our motion control platforms to determine which is the best fit for your needs.
| Automation1 | Legacy | |
|---|---|---|
| Develop | Automation1 MDK Motion Control Development Kit Automation1 MachineApps |
Motion Composer Suite |
| Control | Automation1 iSMC Intelligent Software-Based Machine and Motion Controller | A3200 Software-Based Machine Controller |
| Drive | Servo Motor Hexapod* Galvo Scan Head |
Servo Motor – A3200, Ensemble, Soloist Galvo Scan Head – A3200 Piezo – A3200, Ensemble Hexapod – A3200 |
| Connect | HyperWire | IEEE-1394/FireWire – A3200 AeroNet – Ensemble |
*Hexapods can be controlled by servo motor drives.
General Tools
| Single Application for Configuring, Programming & Data Visualization | Yes | No |
| Application-Wide User Management | Yes | No |
| Deploy Custom Applications for Linux | Yes | No |
| Advanced Controller File System | Yes | No |
| All Controller Files Zip to Single Machine Controller Definition File | Yes | No |
| Device Manager (Catalog Manager) | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple Simultaneous Client Connections to a Controller | Yes* | No |
| *note: Multiple simultaneous connections are possible via the Automation1 APIs. | ||
Available Add-On Applications and Software Tools
| Motor Sizer (Free) | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Designer | No | Yes |
| HexGen Hexapod Sizer | Yes | A3200 |
| CADFusion | Yes | A3200 |
| Galvo CFC (Free) | Yes | A3200 |
| HMI Tool | Yes – MachineApps | A3200 – CNC Operator Interface |
Setup and Configuration Tools
| EasyTune 1-Button Servo Tuning | Yes | Yes |
| Axis Calibration | Yes | Yes |
| Sine-Wave Encoder Tuning | Yes | Yes |
| Loop Transmission/ Frequency Response Tool | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Diagnostics & Tuning | Yes | Yes |
| System & Controller Performance Checking | Yes | No |
| Drive Firmware Loading from Configuration Tool | Yes | No |
| Automatically Configure Drive Communication Bus | Yes | No |
| Machine Setup System Configuration Wizard | Yes | No |
Programming and Development
| Programming Language | AeroScipt | AeroBasic | ||
| Load, Compile & Run Programs | Yes | Yes | ||
| Numeric Data Type | Yes | Yes | ||
| String Data Types | Yes | Yes | ||
| Global Variables | Yes | Yes | ||
| User-Defined Functions | Yes | Yes | ||
| Variables & I/O Watch | Yes | Yes | ||
| Multi-Dimensional Arrays | Yes | Ensemble, Soloist | ||
| Program & Local Variables | Yes | Ensemble, Soloist | ||
| Structures | Yes | Ensemble, Soloist | ||
| User-Defined Libraries | Yes | Ensemble, Soloist | ||
| Intellectual Property Protection of Libraries | Yes | Ensemble, Soloist | ||
| Intelligent Autocomplete IDE | Yes | No | ||
| Real-Time Build Error Checking | Yes | No | ||
| Axis Data Type & Axis Arrays | Yes | No | ||
| Switch, Foreach & Break Statements | Yes | No | ||
| CNC Functionality/RS-274 | Yes* | A3200 | ||
| *note: G-Code was a paid option in the A3200 controller, but comes standard with an Automation1 controller. | ||||
Data Collection and Visualization
| 1D & 2D Data Visualizer | Yes | A3200, Ensemble |
| Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) | Yes | Yes |
| Save System Data Directly to A File | Yes | Yes |
| View 1D & 2D Data Concurrently | Yes | No |
HMI Software
| Dedicated Application for Viewing HMI | Yes | A3200 |
| Dedicated Workspace for HMI Development | Yes | No |
| Build Simple Interfaces for Operators | Yes | No |
| Apply Your Own Branding (Icons, Colors, Etc.) | Yes | No |
| Design Several HMI Screens per Controller | Yes | No |
| Execute Immediate Commands | Yes (can be hidden) | A3200 |
| Abort & Reset Buttons | Yes (can be hidden) | A3200 |
| Choose Your HMI Layout | Yes (user customizable) | No |
| Build Several HMI Interfaces for Each Controller | Yes (user customizable) | No |
| Camera Module (Video Feed) | Yes (user customizable) | No |
| Data Visualizer Module (Digital Scope) | Yes (user customizable) | No |
| Jog Pad Module | Yes (user customizable) | A3200 |
| Message Log Viewer Module | Yes (user customizable) | A3200 |
| Programming Module (Run & Debug Programs) | Yes (user customizable) | A3200 |
| Task Status Module | Yes (user customizable) | A3200 |
| Variables & I/O Module | Yes (user customizable) | No |
| Axis Dashboard/Manager Module | Yes (user customizable) | A3200 |
| Run Mode, Retrace Mode & Manual Feedrate Override (MFO) Module** | No | A3200 |
| Tool Table Module | No | A3200 |
| Access Control* | Yes | A3200 |
| View Modal Status | Yes | A3200 |
| Display Custom Messages | Yes | A3200 |
| Deploy Several Jog Pads at the same time. | Yes | No |
| State-Control of Button/Indicator Pages | Yes | No |
| State Control of Customizable Pushbuttons | Yes | No |
| Preview Button and Indicators in Design Tool | Yes | No |
| Keyboard Shortcuts | No | A3200 |
| Choose a Startup or Shutdown Program** | No | A3200 |
| * Currently only available for MachineApps deployed to PC-based controllers. ** Currently there is no canned HMI functionality for this feature. This feature can be deployed via custom pushbuttons and/or AeroScript code. |
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Controller Hardware
| Industrial PCs | Automation1 iPC | n/a | A3200-iPC | |
| Customer PCs | Yes* | n/a | A3200* | |
| Intelligent Drive-Based Controller | n/a |
Automation1 iXR3 |
Ensemble, Soloist** | |
| *PC must meet Aerotech’s specifications and adhere to all required setup procedures. **See list of drive hardware below. |
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General Features
| Programmable Coordinated Motion Trajectories | Yes, 32 Axes | Yes, 12 Axes | A3200, Ensemble | |
| Programming Tasks | 4 User Tasks (Std). 31 User Tasks (Opt.) 1 Reserved task |
4 User Tasks (Std). 9 User Tasks (Opt.) 1 Reserved task |
Varies | |
| PC-Based / Software Controller | Yes | n/a | A3200 | |
| Drive-Based Controller | n/a | Yes | Ensemble, Soloist | |
| Expanded IO Available | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Dual Loop Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Sinusoidal Commutation | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Fast Position Capture | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| High-Speed Registration | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| On-the-Fly End-Point Modification | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Data Acquisition | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Joystick Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Gantry Mode | Yes | Yes | A3200, Ensemble | |
| Signal Logging | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Coordinate Transformations | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Motion Trajectory Scaling | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Motion Trajectory Translation | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Motion Trajectory Rotation | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Motion Trajectory Mirroring | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| C-Based Kinematics | Yes | Yes | No | |
| AeroScript (Native Language) Kinematics | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| 3D Error Mapping | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Access Control | Yes | Yes | No |
Calibration
| 1D Calibration File | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accuracy Correction | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2D Calibration File | Yes | Yes | A3200, Ensemble |
| Orthogonality Correction | Yes | Yes | A3200, Ensemble |
| Straightness Correction | Yes | Yes | A3200, Ensemble |
| ThermoComp – Thermal Compensation | Yes | Yes | A3200 |
| Galvo Calibration & Power Factor Correction | Yes | n/a | A3200 |
Motion Features
| Servo Motor Trajectory Calculation Rate | 20 kHz | 20 kHz | 8 kHz – A3200 1 kHZ – Ensemble, Soloist |
|
| Galvo Scan Head Trajectory Calculation Rate | 100 kHz | n/a | 48 kHz – A3200 | |
| Point-to-Point Motion | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Contoured Motion | Yes | Yes | A3200, Ensemble | |
| Arbitrary Path Generation (PVT Motion Commands) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Multiple Axis Homing Routines | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Velocity Blending | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Velocity Profiling | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Electronic Gearing | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Electronic Cam Profiling | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Safe Zones | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Bezier Motion Commands | Coming Soon | Coming Soon | A3200 | |
| Cutter Radius Compensation | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Lookahead | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Acceleration Limiting | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Corner Rounding | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Parts Rotation | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Retrace (Block-by-Block) | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Tool Normalcy Control | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| SLICE Raster and Step Command* | Future | Future | A3200 | |
| Ellipses (G-Code)* | Future | Future | A3200 | |
| Work Offsets* | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Cutter Offset Compensation | Yes | Yes | A3200 | |
| Tool Tables | Yes** | Yes** | A3200 | |
|
*Automation1 includes the ability to write custom libraries. Several application-specific motion commands once handled natively by our controllers can now be accomplished via custom libraries. Our own libraries will be further developed over time. **Custom Tool Tables can be defined in Aeroscript. |
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Advanced Motion Features
| Enhanced Tracking Control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Friction Compensation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Command Shaping | Yes* | Yes* | Ensemble, Soloist |
| Cross-Axis Feedforward | Yes* | Yes* | A3200, Ensemble |
| Harmonic Cancellation | Yes* | Yes* | Yes |
| Enhanced Throughput Module Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gain Scheduling | Coming Soon | Coming Soon | Ensemble, Soloist |
| * Requires the Dynamic Controls Toolbox configuration option to be added to the Automation1-iSMC at the time of order. | |||
Process Tool Control Features
| Integrated Digital & Analog I/O Control with Motion Programming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Position Synchronized Output (PSO) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part-Speed Position Synchronized Output (Part-Speed PSO) | Yes | Yes | A3200 |
| Analog Power Control | Yes | Yes | A3200 |
| Distance Logging | Coming Soon | Coming Soon | A3200 |
Galvo Scan Head Controller Features
| Servo Control Rate | 200 kHz | n/a | 192 kHz – A3200 | |
| Galvo Scan Head & Voice Coil Motor Support | Yes | n/a | A3200 | |
| Infinite Field of View (IFOV) | Yes | n/a | A3200 | |
| Drive Array for Process Control & Data Acquisition | Yes | n/a | A3200 | |
| Barcode Datamatrix* | Coming Soon | n/a | A3200 | |
| *Barcode generation is supported via Windows fonts in CADFusion application. | ||||
Drive-Based Controller Hardware
| Servo Drives with PWM Amplifiers and Motion Controller | PWM Drive-Based Controllers | PWM Drives |
| Servo Drives with Linear Amplifiers and Motion Controller | Linear Drive-Based Controllers | Linear Drives |
| Drive Racks | Drive Racks with Motion Controller | Drive Racks |
| Servo Controllers with Motion Controller | Automation1 iXI4 | n/a |
Drive Hardware
| Servo Drives with PWM Amplifiers | PWM Drives | PWM Drives |
| Servo Drives with Linear Amplifiers | Linear Drives | Linear Drives |
| Drive Racks | Drive Racks | Drive Racks |
| Stepper Drives & Controls | Stepper Drives & Controllers | Stepper Drives & Controllers |
| Galvo Scan Head Drives | Galvo Laser Scan Head Drives | Galvo Laser Scan Head Drives |
| Dedicated Hexapod Controllers | Future | HEX RC |
| Servo Controllers | Automation1 XI4 | Nservo Nservo-OEM |
| Galvo Scan Head XY2-100 Interface | Automation1 GI4 | Nmark-SSaM |
Servo Motor Drive Features
| Servo Control Rate | 20 kHz | 8 kHz – A3200 20 kHZ – Ensemble, Soloist |
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| PWM & Linear Amplifier Options | Yes | Yes | ||
| AC Brushless, DC Brush, Voice Coil & Stepper Motor Support | Yes | Yes | ||
| Hexapod Support | Yes | A3200 | ||
| Backlash Compensation | Yes | Yes | ||
| Rollover Mode | Yes | Yes | ||
| Brake (Enable/Output/DisableDelay/EnableDelay) | Yes | Yes | ||
| Analog & Digital I/O | Yes | Yes | ||
| Drive Array for Process Control & Data Acquisition | Yes | Yes | ||
| Safe Torque Off | Yes | No** | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes | ||
| Analog Input to Servo Loop | Yes | Yes | ||
| Fiber Optic Alignment Routines | Yes*** | A3200 | ||
| Tool Center Point Programming Control | Yes*** | A3200 | ||
| Touch Probe Routines | Yes | A3200 | ||
| Velocity Mode | Yes | Soloist | ||
| Torque Mode | Yes | Soloist | ||
| Barcode Datamatrix | No**** | A3200 | ||
| *The Automation1 servo controller operates off of a 20kHz trajectory from the controller. Ensemble and Soloist have servo controllers that interpolate up to 20 kHz of servo control points from a 1 kHz trajectory. **These drives include an E-stop Sense input that alarms the drive of an external e-stop condition. *** Requires the AeroScript Plus configuration option to be added to the Automation1-iSMC at the time of order and for the desired routines to be purchased via the AeroScriptPlus product configurator. ****Barcode generation is supported via Windows fonts in CADFusion application. |
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Supported Feedback Devices
| None (Open-Loop) | Yes | Yes |
| Square-Wave Encoder | Yes | Yes |
| Single-Wave Encoder | Yes | Yes |
| Analog Input | Yes | Yes |
| Half-Effect Switches | Yes | Yes |
| EnDat Encoder | Yes | Yes |
| Biss Encoder | Yes | Yes |
| Resolver | Yes | Yes |
| SSI Encoder | Yes | No |
| Dual Loop | Yes | Yes |
| Dual-Loop with Sine-Wave Encoders | Yes | No |
General Specifications
| Motion Control Bus | HyperWire® | FireWire – A3200 AeroNet – Ensemble |
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| Physical Layer | Glass Optical Fiber | IEEE-1394 – A3200 Ethernet – Ensemble |
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| Communication Rate | 2 Gbps | 400 Mbps – A3200 12.5 Mbps – Ensemble |
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| Jitter* | <1 nsec | 60 – 680 nsec – A3200 20 – 180 nsec – Ensemble |
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| Master Clock Stability | +/- 5ppm | +/- 100 ppm – A3200 +/- 50 ppm – Ensemble |
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| Maximum Network Rate | 100 kHz | 8 kHz – A3200 1 kHz – Ensemble |
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| MIMO Communication Support | Gantry Control over HyperWire | No – A3200 No – Ensemble |
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| *Patented jitter reduction technology nearly eliminates drive-to-drive jitter and maintains constant low jitter for variable numbers of hardware devices on the communication bus. | ||||
Library Support
| .NET | Yes | Yes |
| C | Yes | Yes |
| C++ | Yes | Yes |
| LabVIEW VIs | Yes | Yes |
| MATLAB API | Coming Soon | Yes |
| EPICS | Yes | Yes |
| TANGO* | Yes | Ensemble, Soloist |
| Python | Yes | No |
| REST API | No | A3200, Ensemble |
| *note: please consult the factory for TANGO support. | ||
Industrial Bus Support
| EtherCAT | Yes* | A3200** |
| Modbus TCP | Yes | Yes |
| EtherNet/IP | Yes | Ensemble, Soloist |
| Web Server | No | A3200 |
| Ethernet TCP/IP | No | Yes |
| PROFINET | No | A3200 |
| RS-232 | No | Yes |
| *EtherCAT slave on drive-based controllers only. **EtherCAT I/O master on PC-based controllers only. |
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