May 2004

The IEC 61131-3 standard defines a set of languages which are commonly used to program PLCs, namely Instruction List, Structured Text, Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram & Sequential Function Chart.

The Quin SERVOnet system can now be programmed using the IEC 61131-3 languages making it accessible to PLC programmers who are already familiar with this style of programming.

Quin have created a library of nearly 100 motion control Function Blocks which cover everything from registration and tension control to non-linear electronic gearing. Many of these Function Blocks are compatible with the PLCOpen standard for motion control.

Most PLCs use a single processor to both execute the PLC program and to perform motion control functions. This has the disadvantage that the PLC scan time gets slower as more axes are added to the system as the processor has to spend more time performing motion control functions. The result is slower reponse times for larger systems.

In contrast the Quin SERVOnet system distributes the motion control functions to the drives so that adding extra axes to the system has little effect on the PLC scan time and response time to events.

As well as the standard IEC 61131-3 graphical programming system, the Quin SERVOnet system comes with additional support tools such as the Motion Generator, QDrive set-up and PTS Scope. Unlike conventional PLC programming systems the Quin system also includes a facility to execute motion control functions interactively, making motor tuning, fault finding, diagnostics and machine set-up much easier.