Beckhoff: TwinCAT 3 (TE1xxx Series)
TwinCAT 3 | eXtended Automation (XA)
Beckhoff created a global standard for automation with the launch of PC-based control technology in 1986. On the software side, the TwinCAT (The Windows Control and Automation Technology) automation suite forms the core of the control system. The TwinCAT software system turns almost any PC-based system into a real-time control with multiple PLC, NC, CNC and/or robotics runtime systems. TwinCAT 3 is the systematic further development of TwinCAT 2, with which the world of automation technology is being redefined.
only one software for programming and configuration
Visual Studio® integration
more freedom in selecting programming languages
support for the object-oriented extension of IEC 61131-3
use of C/C++ as the programming language for real time applications
link to MATLAB®/Simulink®
open interfaces for expandability and adaptation to the tools landscape
flexible runtime environment
active support of multi-core and 64-bit systems
migration of TwinCAT 2 projects
automatic code generation and project implementation with the TwinCAT Automation Interface
eXtended Automation Technology – TwinCAT 3 extends the standard automation world
eXtended Automation Architecture
supports all main fieldbuses
supports IEC 61131, C/C++, MATLAB®/Simulink®
supports Motion Control: from point-to-point to CNC
supports TwinSAFE configuration
supports Scientific Automation: robotics, measurement technology, Condition Monitoring
eXtended Automation Engineering
one tool – Microsoft Visual Studio®
integrated: IEC 61131 – worldwide standard in automation
integrated: C/C++ – worldwide standard in IT
integrated: TwinCAT System Manager – well-known configuration tool
link to MATLAB®/Simulink®: worldwide standard in science
expandable with other tools: editors, compilers
TwinCAT 2 projects can be migrated.
TwinCAT 3 modules: standardized programming frames
using the .NET programming languages for non-real-time capable applications (e.g. HMI)
eXtended Automation Runtime
IEC 61131, C/C++, MATLAB®/Simulink® objects in one runtime
integrated TwinSAFE runtime
extended real-time-functionality: min. 50 ìs cycle time and low jitter
enhanced performance: support of multi-core CPUs
future-proof: supports 64-bit operating systems
TwinCAT 3 is divided into components. The TwinCAT 3 engineering components enable the configuration, programming and debugging of applications. The TwinCAT 3 runtime consists of further components – basic components and functions. The basic components can be extended by functions.
TwinCAT Engineering contains the engineering environment of the TwinCAT 3 control software:
integration into Visual Studio® 2010/2012/2013 (if available)
support for the native Visual Studio® interfaces (e.g. connection to source code management systems)
IEC 61131-3 (IL, ST, LD, FBD, SFC) and CFC editors
IEC 61131-3 compiler
integrated system manager for the configuration of the target system
instancing and parameterisation of TwinCAT modules
integrated C++ debugger
user interface for the parameterisation of modules generated by MATLAB®/Simulink®
if integrated into Visual Studio®, instancing of .NET projects in the same solution (e.g. for HMI)
integrated Scope View Base as charting tool for machine commissioning in Visual Studio®
integrated Bode Plot Base for the optimization of drive axes
TE1110 | TC3 Simulation Manager
The TwinCAT Simulation Manager is a tool for simplified configuration of a simulation environment, which integrates into the TwinCAT system environment. It supports the creation of a “virtual machine”, which corresponds to a real one in its runtime performance.
TE1111 | TC3 EtherCAT Simulation
Virtual machine commissioning becomes possible if the EtherCAT cable of the machine computer can simply be plugged into a simulation computer, without the need for reconfiguration. With the TC3 EtherCAT Simulation function and a network adapter the simulation computer can simulate a number of EtherCAT slaves. For configuration purposes the EtherCAT slaves of the original machine configuration are inverted. The temporal processing is modelled with all the required EtherCAT features including distributed clocks. Since the communication protocols CoE and SoE are implemented, acyclic commands can also be processed in the simulation environment.
TE1120 | TC3 XCAD Interface
TC3 XCAD Interface serves the purpose of importing already existing engineering results from an ECAD program. The TC3 XCAD Interface enables the import of information about the structure of the I/Os and their links to PLC variables, which is exported from the ECAD tool by means of XML description. On the basis of this information a system manager configuration and a basic PLC program with the I/O variables used are generated. The generation of NC and CNC axes is also possible.
The TC3 HMI (human-machine interface) integrates itself into the well-known Visual Studio® development environment. Based on the latest web technologies (HTML5, JavaScript), it allows the user to develop platform-independent user interfaces that are “responsive”, i.e. they automatically adapt to the screen resolution, size and orientation at hand. With the graphical WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) editor, controls can be easily arranged via drag-and-drop and linked with real-time variables.
The HMI is extensible on all levels. Mixing standard controls with custom design elements makes designing your own HMI easy. User controls can also be created and configured by modifying the standard controls to create your own toolbox. To create more complex pages, predefined designer templates can be integrated.
On the client side, the HMI logic can be implemented in JavaScript or as a so-called server extension in C++ or .NET, which allows users to protect their know-how.
TE1300 | TC3 Scope View Professional
TwinCAT 3 Scope View is a software oscilloscope for the graphical display of data captured from several target systems. Scope View Professional extends the Scope View Base version which is included in TwinCAT 3 XAE by further functionalities. It can be used for tracking and monitoring processes over a longer period of time.
Long-term recordings, print-out function, trigger-controlled data logging and report generation are part of the functionality. Furthermore, Scope View Professional can be integrated into a user’s .NET-based visualization. Thus, seamless integration into an existing machine visualization is possible.
Like TwinCAT 3 XAE, Scope View integrates itself into Microsoft Visual Studio®. It can be used as a stand-alone project or in combination with a TwinCAT project within a solution. The cross-project work is simplified by the docking-window functionality. Variables can be delivered from the System Manager or directly out of the PLC into the Scope configuration.
TE1400 | TC3 Target for MATLAB®/Simulink®
The TwinCAT MATLAB®/Simulink® Target offers System Target Files for the use of the MATLAB®/Simulink® coder. It enables the generation of TwinCAT 3 runtime modules, which can be instanced and parameterised in the TwinCAT 3 engineering environment.
TE1410 | TC3 Interface for MATLAB®/Simulink®
The interface for MATLAB®/Simulink® provides a communication interface between MATLAB®/Simulink® and the TwinCAT 3 runtime. It supports the acquisition and visualization of real-time parameters. It can be used both for the simulation of hardware (“software in the loop”) and for the simulation of the controller (“hardware in the loop”).
data exchange between fieldbus devices and MATLAB®/Simulink®, for example for the simple realization of control loops or for HIL simulations with low real-time requirements
Data exchange between the TwinCAT controller and MATLAB®/Simulink®; this enables controller testing by SIL simulation, for example.
acquisition and visualization of process data via MATLAB®/Simulink®
configuration via graphic editor
various data exchange options, access via:
symbol name of a variable
configurable interface module
TE1500 | TC3 Valve Diagram Editor
The TwinCAT Valve Diagram Editor allows the linearization of non-linear curves of hydraulic valves with the aid of a graphical editor. On the basis of a few base points, straight lines or 5th degree polynomials can be determined that connect the points. The characteristic linearisation curve thus determined can be loaded into the TwinCAT NC real-time and taken into account when the voltages are output in the drive.
TE1510 | TC3 Cam Design Tool
The TwinCAT CAM Design Editor allows the generation and modification of cam plates with the aid of a graphical editor. These are composed of sections of laws of motion such as modified sine waves, harmonic combinations, or of various polynomial functions. Velocity, acceleration and jerk are displayed in addition to the slave position. The generated cam plates can be transferred to the NC as tables with specified step size or as so-called motion functions.
TE1610 | TC3 EAP Configurator
The TwinCAT 3 EAP Configurator is a tool for visualizing and configuring communication networks, in which data exchange based on the EtherCAT Automation Protocol (EAP) takes place or is to be established. EAP is used for master/master communication.
Model No.: TE1000, TE1110*, TE1111, TE1120, TE1200**, TE1300, TE1400, TE1410, TE1500, TE1510, TE1610
*Estimated market release 1st quarter 2017
**Estimated market release 3rd quarter 2016