SiMotion is Siemens' flagship motion control platform, a scalable high performance hardware and software system designed to control the automated movements of a wide variety of machines. It aims to provide user-friendly stuff which can be used by unskilled workers, covering a broad range of motion control issues with all the engineering functions in one system.
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It is part of Siemens' Total Integrated Automation (TIA) system, which aims to offer a "seamless, integrated platform" to implement customer-specific automation solutions in all sectors and across the entire production process, with integrated data management, engineering, and communications.
Software
SiMotion controllers are all programmed using Siemens SCOUT, a software package which is IEC 61131-3 compliant and supports a variety of programming languages including Ladder (LD), Structured Text (ST), and Motion Control Charts (MCC). It allows central or distributed machine concepts to be realized as well as PC, controller and drive-based solutions, and also includes tools for testing, commissioning, and diagnostics.
Hardware
The SiMotion controller comes in three different hardware packages: SiMotion C, P, and D. The modular SiMotion C is the most general and flexible platform, while SiMotion P is a PC-based controller suited for demanding motion control applications, and SiMotion D is a compact, bookcase style platform.
Communications between the controller and drives is done through PROFINET, PROFIBUS, or Ethernet.
Usage
SiMotion is used in a wide variety of industries, including: