Machine builders who need to optimise the performance of a machine’s motion cycle typically rely on a dedicated motion controller. A motion controller achieves the fast and precise control of servo motors, often involving the coordination of three or more axes.
Dedicated motion controllers feature a real-time motion engine, executing motion commands and the coordination of servo motors over a high-speed, deterministic communications protocol. This also enables motion controllers to resolve interrupts at high speed – known as a touch trigger. When there’s an event on the machine that needs to be addressed, the reaction to the signal happens in microseconds.
Controllers designed for motion
Alternatively, a typical PLC scans the programme in a loop, addressing each event in sequence. This approach is ideal for dealing with logic commands, but it lacks the dynamism required for performance motion control.
A typical PLC scans in milliseconds, not microseconds, which makes a significant difference to machine performance.
Read the full article in DPA's March 2026 issue