Blazing fast PLC

-- Control Engineering, 3/1/2002

Vernon Hills, IL - Not just another PLC, Q-series is billed as an ''automation platform for the future.'' Designers can place up to four CPUs on a rack along with local I/O modules. The platform can compete with VME computers in semiconductor manufacturing or can combine process and sequential logic modules for batch control. Users choose from among five sequential logic controllers, two motion control modules, two process control modules, and a PC module. No programming is required to configure multiple CPUs on one rack. They also share memory across the backplane. Programming in IEC languages or C for custom control. Motion modules can control eight or 32 axes depending upon the model, and the system can control up to 96 coordinated axes. Modules communicate with servo amplifiers via Mitsubishi's high speed SSCNet, which allows daisy-chaining amplifiers in a network.

The PC module operates on either Microsoft Windows NT Embedded or Windows 2000. The industrially hardened PC (no fans) sports 100base-T Ethernet, two USB ports, two serial ports, two PC card ports, monitor, keyboard, mouse, FDD, HDD, and parallel ports. If multiple CPUs are located on a backplane, developer software assigns the I/O modules to the processor so that there is no conflict of which processor controls the module. Basic CPU configuration executes 1000 steps in 100 microseconds with the high performance model at 34 microseconds per 1000 steps. The platform supports both open networks like Ethernet, Profibus, and DeviceNet, as well as Mitsubishi's CCLink and Net/H.

Mitsubishi Electric Automation