Festo Motion Control Package: Making motion control setup and integration, quick and easy

The Festo Motion Control Package comes pre-assembled and pre-tested for exceptionally fast integration and setup of a Festo Cartesian handling system within an OEM’s machine or production system.

Mississauga, ON, September 2018 – The Festo Motion Control Package   (FMCP) gives machine and system designers the best of two worlds: a complete, optimized motion control kit for running a Festo handling system – and easy integration and setup of that robot through the user’s PLC, whatever the brand. The FMCP can coordinate motion of up to six axes for pick and place and other precision Cartesian robotic applications. Available as a pre-wired and ready-to-install control solution, it provides the kinematics for H-portal, T-portal, 2D, and 3D Festo standard gantry systems. At the PLC, OEMs configure Cartesian motion applications using the FCMP’s software function blocks – with no specialized programming knowledge required.

Two years ago, Festo unveiled the Handling Guide Online (HGO) configuration tool for streamlining design of Cartesian robots. By inputting basic application information such as load, cycle time, load voltage, and workspace size, an engineer utilizing this configurator specifies a single axis, 2D, or 3D Cartesian robot and receives a CAD drawing for that robot in about 20 minutes. Quotes arrive on average within 48 hours. OEMs then have the option of ordering a gantry fully assembled and pre-tested or as disassembled modules.

Now, Festo has taken HGO to a new level by offering the FMCP as a complete solution – robotic motion controller, cabinet, components, wiring and quick connection – that can be ordered during the same configuration process. The control cabinet arrives fully wired and ready to be installed.

With the FMCP, all the OEM has to do to get the Festo robot up and running is connect power, Ethernet, IO, and quick-connecting cabling to the gantry motors, then use the function block to fill in key motion parameters. No specialized or manufacturer specific programming knowledge is required. Basic motion can be taught through a webserver or IOS/Android app. The FMCP also offers a solution for end-of-arm-tooling. By including an IO-Link connection, the FMCP can control eight external digital inputs and eight digital outputs that are available in the standard function block.

Festo at a glance

Festo, the world’s leading supplier of automation technology and technical education, is deploying its products and services to meet the challenges of digitization and smart production. Established in 1925, the independent, family-owned company based in Esslingen, Germany, has been a driving force in automation for over 60 years. Some 300,000 customers worldwide in factory and process automation put their trust in the company’s pneumatic and electric drive solutions. In addition, Festo Didactic provides state-of-the-art training solutions for industrial companies and educational institutions.  The Festo Group registered sales of around €3.1 billion in the 2017 financial year and is represented worldwide at 250 locations with a total of 20,100 employees. About 8% of its annual turnover is invested in research and development.

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