CapinWinky
Member
A coworker of mine keeps telling me that the PacDrive3 (Elau) is a PC based Motion Controller while the ControlLogix is a "real" PLC. I pointed out that both are running VxWorks as the OS, both are controlling servo drives, and both are handling all of the logic for their respective machines. I would call him dead wrong on the "PC based" part, but I'm a little fuzzy on when/why a controller would be called a motion controller (or if that term is antiquated). Are there actually things that only do motion and not machine logic? Is any PLC that is capable of servo control a motion controller?
Then I see the post about first scan something or other on a Beckhoff PLC and I see it described as an embedded PC controller. I know Beckhoff themselves say they are Embedded PC controllers, but I'm having trouble seeing what the difference is. I know they use Windows RT as their OS, but is that fundamentally different from everyone else using VxWorks (besides, in my opinion, VxWorks being the superior option)?
I'm most familiar with B&R, which also uses VxWorks for their runtime and they have everything from DIN mounted traditional looking PLC to HMI/PLC combo, to "Automation PC". All three of these form factors can come with Intel processors running only the VxWorks runtime, doing complex motion control and I'd argue that they are all "real" PLCs. They do have the option of running a realtime virtual machine (still the VxWorks runtime) along side Windows on the Automation PCs and I would definitely call that a SoftPLC situation, even though it is hard real time.
Thoughts? What is the dividing line between a PLC, a soft PLC, and an embedded PC? Clarification on what makes something a Motion Controller? I think ultimately, this forum is the largest concentration of multinational controls guys, so I would think a consensus here would be the official definition.
Then I see the post about first scan something or other on a Beckhoff PLC and I see it described as an embedded PC controller. I know Beckhoff themselves say they are Embedded PC controllers, but I'm having trouble seeing what the difference is. I know they use Windows RT as their OS, but is that fundamentally different from everyone else using VxWorks (besides, in my opinion, VxWorks being the superior option)?
I'm most familiar with B&R, which also uses VxWorks for their runtime and they have everything from DIN mounted traditional looking PLC to HMI/PLC combo, to "Automation PC". All three of these form factors can come with Intel processors running only the VxWorks runtime, doing complex motion control and I'd argue that they are all "real" PLCs. They do have the option of running a realtime virtual machine (still the VxWorks runtime) along side Windows on the Automation PCs and I would definitely call that a SoftPLC situation, even though it is hard real time.
Thoughts? What is the dividing line between a PLC, a soft PLC, and an embedded PC? Clarification on what makes something a Motion Controller? I think ultimately, this forum is the largest concentration of multinational controls guys, so I would think a consensus here would be the official definition.