Siemens has released version 4.4 of its Simotion Motion Control System. The new version offers many new functions that make the engineering of Motion Control projects even easier and more efficient.
The new version offers improvements to the comprehensive support provided for Simotion in Siemens’ TIA Portal. These enhancements mean Simotion applications for the entire drive train can be efficiently and conveniently engineered, configured and commissioned through the Engineering Framework.
A link between the new Simatic HMI (Human Machine Interface) panels and Simotion has also been implemented. And, with the new version of Simotion and the integration of the easyProject project generator in Simotion Scout, users can configure even complex production machines in an easy-to-handle and standardised manner.
Within the TIA Portal, a wide range of Motion Control functionalities from Simotion can be used intuitively and quickly through the innovative user interface of the Engineering Framework. Users benefit from fully graphic configuration of hardware and networks, with visualisation of Simotion in the TIA Portal, together with all its interfaces and properties. All the parameters can be selected and modified easily by the click of a mouse and, in the network view, further automation components, such as the HMI or drives, can be connected to Simotion.
For the first time, the new Simatic HMI panels can also be operated with Simotion. Existing panels can simply be replaced by the new, high-resolution, user-friendly Basic Panels 2nd Generation and Comfort Panels.
Andy Hodgson, general manager – Drives & Motion Control for Siemens UK and Ireland, commented: “Complex Motion Control applications can be created more quickly using Simotion version 4.4. This is achieved by using standardised software modules stored in the easyProject project generator. Users can also benefit from a large number of new software modules for different industries and applications to help them implement their projects considerably more quickly and easily.”
The standardised, intuitive user guidance enables modules to be integrated quickly and easily into existing projects or to be put together for new projects. This means that a large part of the application just has to be configured, and no longer requires time-consuming programming. This not only markedly speeds up the engineering, but also greatly reduces the potential for making errors.
