Automation1 iXC4 Drive-Based Motion Controller

Description

Design Features

• Unlock the full motion control power of our Automation1-iSMC intelligent software-based motion controller
• Features complete configuration & performance capability of XC4 servo motor drive
• Eliminate the PC from your control scheme
• Enjoy up to 12 axes of control by connecting more Automation1 drives over the HyperWire fiber-optic bus
• Expand your I/O by adding expansion board to the iXC4 or to other connected drives
• Available with Multi-axis Position Synchronized Output (PSO) (Single-axis is standard)

Motion. Control. Together.

The Automation1-iXC4, a hardware platform for running the Automation1-iSMC intelligent software-based motion controller, features a servo motor drive. That means it has the ability to run your entire machine’s control, act as a servo drive for a single axis and control up to 11 added axes of motion over our fiber-optic HyperWire motion bus. Combining this technology on a single hardware device lowers your machine costs, reduces machine size and increases reliability. 

The iSMC, which runs on the iXC4, is programmable in AeroScript from the Automation1 Studio application and several available APIs. 

Automation1

The iXC4 is a part of the user-friendly Automation1 motion control platform, which includes the following:

• Development Software
• Controls
• Motor Drives
• Fiber-Optic HyperWire® Communication Bus

The iXC4 PWM servo drive with motion controller is the right choice for your precision machine or system. It begins with superior motion control technology. The Automation1-iSMC (configured separately and installed on the iXC4) contains technology once reserved for high-end PC-based architectures.

That’s not the only reason the iXC4 is a game-changer. It also contains our XC4 single-axis PWM digital drive -- within the same compact package. You can also add up to 11 additional axes of control over the HyperWire® fiber-optic motion bus.

The iSMC controller can connect to, command and control any other Automation1 servo motor drive. The iXC4 and additional servo motor drives can be configured with I/O expansion boards, giving the iSMC controller the connectivity required to take full control of your machine or system.

The iXC4 PWM amplifiers control brushless DC, brush DC, voice coil or stepper motor types at up to 340 VDC operating voltage and 30 A peak current capability. The current loop and servo loop are closed digitally at 20 kHz, assuring the highest level of positioning accuracy and repeatability. Digital and analog data collection and position capturing occur at the same 20 kHz rates. Axis and process data is quickly communicated to the motion controller for processing in real time.

Standard drive features for the iXC4 include safe torque off (STO), a data array consisting of over 4 million 32-bit elements (16.7 MB), digital and analog I/O (see table), one-axis Position Synchronized Output (PSO), dedicated home and end-of-travel limit inputs, and an enhanced current sense device. Encoder support includes squarewave, sine-wave and absolute encoders.

The standard iXC4 accepts square-wave encoder feedback at rates of up to 40 million counts-per-second. Sine-wave encoders can be multiplied by up to 16,384 -- producing high resolution position feedback -- with the optional encoder multiplier feature. Each single-axis iXC4 can be configured with the MX1 encoder multiplier, enabling higher levels of position and velocity control.

Each drive-based controller has an optional I/O expansion board, significantly increasing the number of I/O points. This I/O board includes a dedicated PSO output and a PSO synchronization input, which are often used to synchronize process control with an external mode locked frequency. Upgrade the drive’s PSO capabilities by adding Three-axis Part-Speed PSO.

Platform Power

More than just hardware, the iXC4 gives you access to the complete power of the Automation1 motion control platform. This includes the Automation1 motion development kit (MDK), the intelligent software-based controller (iSMC) and the powerful AeroScript™ programming language with integrated RS-274 G and M code support. The Automation1 iSMC can also be programmed by various controller APIs, providing flexible methods of integrating the iXC4 and the machine and axes it controls into your system architecture.