Motion Project Example: Cartesian Robot

The following example shows how to define Cartesian robot properties using softMC Configurator and how to make a circular movement with the robot.

Download Example Files

Description	Download
Download the ZIP example project file, extract all the files, and then use ControlStudio to open and run the example project. Refer to the file descriptions and instructions below.

System Setup

The example uses the following system:

• softMC 7
• Three CDHD drives connected to three linear motors
• Cartesian robot (XYZ)
• Computer with ControlStudio and softMC Configurator.
• Example files - Programs, setups, properties and more (See below for descriptions)
• Wiring as shown in the image below:
  

The motor parameters are calculated according to the manufacture specifications in the Excel file.

	NOTE
	When using drives other than CDHD, you must insert the motor pitch value, provided by the motor manufacture, to the softMC Configurator, to obtain a suitable Position Factor.

softMC Configurator - Setup

Upload the example setups. Use the sofMC Configurator to open the example .mcfg file. insert brief explanation about mcfg file – what it is, what it does, what it contains.

For more information on how to set up Cartesian robot parameters using softMC Configurator, refer to 3-Axis Group Setup in EtherCAT Network.

<strikethrough> After creating all project files with softMC Configurator or uploading an existing project, you can run the robot from ControlStudio or from softMC Configurator. </strikethrough>

This example generates a circular movement using an MC-Basic program, from the ControlStudio terminal.

ControlStudio - Program Execution

Upload the example setups. Use ControlStudio to open the example .apj file.
insert brief explanation about apj file – what it is, what it does, what it contains.

Once all required files are uploaded to your controller, use the ControlStudio terminal to enter the following instructions and run the example:

-->reset all
-->load AUTOEXEC.PRG   'wait until the program terminates
-->load CIRCLE.PRG
-->Stas CIRCLE.PRG     'when the program ends, you can find motion record file (CIRCLE.REC) in the controller

File Descriptions

User Files
File Name	Description	Upload to Controller
Properties table	Excel matrix that contains data for setting up your robot. Note which data you need to import from your system.	−
CONFIG.PRG	MC-Basic program that defines the basic data required for ControlStudio and sofMC Configurator operation.	+
HOMING.PRG	Executes a homing procedure for each axis.	+
AUTOEXEC.PRG	Executes startPRG.PRG program and HOMING.PRG program.	+
CIRCLE.PRG	MC-Basic circular movement program.	+

softMC Configurator Files - DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES
File Name	Description	Upload to Controller
AX_SETUP.PRG	Axes parameters setup program	+
CANSETUP.PRG	CANopen communication parameter setup program	+
EC_CDHD.LIB	EtherCat communication function and subroutine with CDHD library file	+
EC_USER.LIB	EtherCat communication function and subroutine library file	+
ETHERCAT.LIB	EtherCat communication function and subroutine library file	+
ECCONFIG.PRG	EtherCat configuration program	+
EC_SETUP.PRG	EtherCat communication setup program	+
RobLib.LIB	Robot function and subroutine library file	+
ROBOT.PRG	Robot parameter setup program	+
STARTPRG.PRG	Program that runs all other softMC Configurator programs	+
cartXYZ.apj	Project file - used to load an existing project from ControStudio	−
cartXYZ.mcfg	Project file - used to load an existing project from softMC Configurator	−
cartXYZ.dat	General project files	−
cartXYZ.asn		−
cartXYZ.pse		−