Recently, Schneider Electric, a digital transformation expert in the field of global energy management and automation, released the new generation Modicon M310 motion controller. As the latest masterpiece of Schneider Electric's motion control family products, the Modicon M310 motion controller is developed based on the Intel X86 hardware platform and Codesys 3.5 SP19 software platform. It supports the EtherCAT bus, has strong computing power, high usability, and high flexibility, and can help industrial enterprises build high-end manufacturing equipment and automated production lines.
Under the tide of developing new quality productive forces, China's industrial transformation is constantly accelerating, and the manufacturing industry is ushering in new development opportunities. As one of the core components of industrial automation motion control, the importance of motion controllers for intelligent manufacturing is self-evident. With the rapid development of the industrial market, the previous generation of motion controllers has become increasingly difficult to meet the complex application needs of equipment manufacturers for higher precision, faster response, and more axis synchronization. At the same time, EtherCAT bus systems and ecological products are becoming increasingly popular in the industry, and the market's recognition of open bus systems is constantly increasing. Therefore, manufacturing enterprises urgently need to update and upgrade the motion control schemes of production line equipment, promote the improvement of production quality and efficiency, and accelerate the development towards high-end.
Bringing three major values to customers from the inside out
Based on Schneider Electric's deep technical accumulation in the field of automated motion control over the years, the Modicon M310 motion controller is equipped with an advanced processor, adopts a standardized development platform, and supports the EtherCAT bus. It can bring customers three major values: strong computing power, convenience and ease of use, and flexible embedding, achieving cost reduction and efficiency improvement.
Strong computing power: The Modicon M310 motion controller adopts Intel 4-core 2Ghz processor, 2GB DDR memory, 16GB eMMC flash memory, built-in UPS and other hardware configurations, bringing strong computing and motion control capabilities - the calculation and execution speed of a single instruction is only 3.3 nanoseconds, supporting up to 64 axis synchronization, and the shortest synchronization cycle can reach 250 microseconds. This series of products offers three models, covering three specifications: 16 axis 250 microseconds, 32 axis 0.5 milliseconds, and 64 axis 1 millisecond, to meet the needs of different customers for response speed and control accuracy.
Convenient and Easy to Use: Developed on the standard Codesys 3.5 SP19 software platform, the Modicon M310 motion controller provides rich motion control function blocks (based on PLC Open Part I&II), and supports mainstream programming languages such as IL, LD, FBD, SFC, ST, CFC, etc. It has standard position (positioning, electronic gears, electronic cams), speed and torque control functions, which not only makes it easy for developers to quickly get started, but also allows for on-demand deep development and expansion of application scenarios.
Flexible Embedding: The Modicon M310 motion controller provides rich communication interfaces and body I/O and encoder interfaces, including Ethernet, EtherCAT, CANopen, RS232, and RS485 ports, which can be seamlessly embedded into existing Schneider Electric or third-party control systems, ensuring smooth iteration of equipment architecture. In addition, in the third quarter of this year, Schneider Electric will also release EtherCAT Bus Couplers to assist customers in more flexible I/O expansion.
Local R&D+EtherCAT ecological integration, targeting user pain points directly
As a localized product developed by Schneider Electric China R&D Center, the design of the Modicon M310 motion controller fully considers the usage habits and pain points of domestic users. Firstly, the controller supports two installation methods: DIN rail and backplane, making it convenient for users to complete the equipment; Secondly, users can quickly obtain electronic information such as product manuals and certification certificates by scanning the QR code on the front of the device. By observing the indicator light on the right side of the device, they can also intuitively grasp the operating status of the device. In addition, the controller is equipped with a spindle encoder, so customers do not need to purchase additional encoder option cards to further optimize the cost of the solution.
In addition, as Schneider Electric's first EtherCAT motion controller specifically designed for high-performance machines, the Modicon M310 motion controller can seamlessly collaborate with Lexium 18E bus type servo drives and motors to form a motion control triangle based on the EtherCAT ecosystem, helping customers in industries such as packaging, electronics and electrical engineering, and machining to create highly adaptable and stable motion control systems.
Cheng Xiaoli, Product Management Manager of Schneider Electric's Industrial Automation Business in China, said, "Under the guidance of the 'China Center' strategy, Schneider Electric has always been driven by innovative technology and guided by customer needs, constantly bringing stable and reliable high-quality product solutions to the industry. The release of the Modicon M310 motion controller this time is another innovative work of Schneider Electric based on the real needs of local enterprises. In the future, we will continue to launch more comprehensive and advanced automation product solutions to help the high-end development of China's manufacturing industry."