IDEC partners with AMCI for motion control solutions

May 30, 2017
The AMCI by IDEC product line includes controllers, stepper motors, and integrated solutions for the FC6A MicroSmart PLC

Advanced Micro Controls (AMCI) and IDEC have partnered to offer a range of stepper motion control systems including indexers, drives, motors, and a series of integrated controls.

AMCI brings 25 years of PLC-based motion control experience to the partnership. AMCI’s approach to PLC integration aims to make it easy for IDEC customers to add full motion control to their IDEC PLC without having to buy separate software; allowing them to take advantage of their PLC investment.

The AMCI by IDEC product line includes controllers, stepper motors, and integrated solutions for the FC6A MicroSmart PLC. Integration is a combination of two or more components that usually make up a system. For example, the AMCI by IDEC ISMD Series combines a controller, drive, and motor into a single product and communicates with the IDEC controller through Modbus-TCP. When combined with an IDEC FC6A PLC, these products allow users to quickly implement single and multi axis motion control in a wide range of industries and applications. Macro instructions are available. Macros are embedded in the IDEC WindLDR programming software, providing users with a shortcut to logic and code needed to put together motion profiles. These macros can be configured with drag and drop commands to perform control of up to 12 axes, reducing design and programming time.

According to AMCI, because all the components and the software modules are provided by IDEC and AMCI, users are guaranteed correct operation right out of the box, with no need to perform integration among the components. Applications that benefit from AMCI by IDEC products include linear systems such as conveyers, rail positioning, pushing applications/part eject, X-Y tables and filling stations. Rotary applications include indexing tables, material feed, cut-to-length, labelers and winding.