MAG Instruction

Summary

In this informative video, Henry Gilland, an automation specialist at ES&S, explains the MAG (Motion Axis Gear) instruction in Studio 5000 Logic's Designer. The MAG instruction is essential for synchronizing multiple axes in motion control applications, ensuring they move together in a linearly proportional manner. The tutorial covers the instruction's parameters, including master and slave axis configuration, direction, ratio settings, and the clutch feature for smooth engagement. It also demonstrates how to implement the MAG instruction in ladder logic and test its functionality, providing a practical guide for motion control system design.

Takeaways

• 😀 The MAG (Motion Axis Gear) instruction in Studio 5000 Logic's Designer is used for electronically coupling two axes together for synchronized movement.
• 🔧 It's recommended to watch the Integrated Motion Basics overview video before using the MAG instruction for a better understanding of motion instructions in general.
• 🔄 The MAG instruction is ideal for applications requiring high synchronization between multiple axes, such as when two servo motors perform the same task.
• 🔑 The instruction involves configuring parameters for a master and a slave axis, establishing a leader-follower relationship where the slave follows the master's movements.
• 🗺 The direction field determines how the slave axis moves in relation to the master axis, with options for same, opposite, reverse, or continue the current direction.
• ⚙ The ratio field defines the proportional relationship between the master and slave movements, allowing for direct entry of real numbers or fractions.
• 📊 The ratio format field selects between real number or fraction formats for the ratio of master to slave movement.
• 🔄 The clutch feature allows the slave axis to ramp up to gear speed, preventing abrupt acceleration that could cause faults.
• 📈 Status indicator bits provide information about the instruction's execution, including enable, done, error, and in-process states.
• 🛠 To implement the MAG instruction, assign target axes, create a motion instruction tag, select direction, enter ratio, and configure clutch and acceleration settings.
• 📝 For successful execution, the slave axis must be in the running state, which can be achieved by an MSO instruction before running the MAG instruction.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the MAG instruction in ladder logic?

The MAG instruction is used for electronically coupling two axes together, allowing them to move in a synchronized and linearly proportional manner.

What does 'MAG' stand for in the context of motion instructions?

MAG stands for Motion Axis Gear, which is an instruction used for various applications requiring synchronized movement of multiple axes.

Why is it important to watch the Integrated Motion Basics overview video before this one?

The Integrated Motion Basics overview video explains how motion instructions operate in general, providing foundational knowledge necessary for understanding the specific usage of the MAG instruction.

What is the leader-follower relationship in the context of the MAG instruction?

In the MAG instruction, the master axis is the leader, and the slave axis is the follower. The slave axis is tied to the master axis and follows all its movements based on defined parameters.

What is the role of the 'Motion Control' field in the MAG instruction?

The 'Motion Control' field is for a tag of type motion instruction, which is used by the MAG instruction itself to perform its task of coupling the axes.

How does the 'Direction' field in the MAG instruction determine the movement of the slave axis relative to the master axis?

The 'Direction' field defines the direction of the slave axis movement with respect to the master axis. Zero means the same direction, one means the opposite direction, two means the slave reverses direction regardless of the master, and three means the slave continues its current direction regardless of the master.

What is the significance of the 'Ratio' field in the MAG instruction?

The 'Ratio' field allows the user to define the proportional relationship between the master and slave movements, determining how many position units the slave axis moves for every unit the master axis moves.

What are the two different types of ratio entries in the MAG instruction, and how are they selected?

The two types of ratio entries are 'Real', where a direct numerical value is entered, and 'Fraction', where the ratio is entered as a fraction using 'Slave Counts' and 'Master Counts' fields. The selection is made using the 'Ratio Format' field, which has a drop-down menu for choosing the format.

What does the 'Master Reference' field signify in the MAG instruction?

The 'Master Reference' field designates which master axis position reference the slave will follow. It can be set to 'Actual', meaning the slave follows the current position as measured by feedback, or 'Command', meaning the slave follows the desired position calculated by the motion planner.

What is the purpose of the 'Clutch' feature in the MAG instruction?

The 'Clutch' feature allows the slave axis to ramp up to gear speed at a defined acceleration rate, preventing abrupt uncontrolled acceleration events that could cause faults when engaging the gear while the master axis is already in motion.

How can you test the clutch feature of the MAG instruction?

To test the clutch feature, engage the MAG instruction on the slave axis while the master axis is already running. The slave axis should slowly ramp up to speed, matching the speed of the master axis.