Position control

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The position control ( also positioning ) is in the automation technology used to one or more axes to adjust a machine and monitor. It controls the positioning process from one position to the other or a sequence of positioning processes according to a route diagram. The next movement is only started when an axis has reached the target position with a certain tolerance. That is why it is also called route program control .

The position control continuously calculates position or speed setpoints for the downstream actuators from the specified positions while maintaining the speed , acceleration and jerk of the axes involved. The electric , pneumatic or hydraulic actuators move the machine axes and are often controlled with a cascade control loop.

In order to record the position or actual position values ​​of the axes, a position controller has fast counter inputs for incremental encoders or exchangeable interfaces for other position, speed or acceleration sensors. It has inputs that can be processed quickly for the reference point or the limit switch of the axis. In addition, a position controller can contain extensive additional functions for receiving, generating and processing messages, preparing position values, checking the travel range limits, and generating control signals and precontrol signals.

Positioning controls can be independent devices, implemented as hardware or software components of a PLC , or integrated into the control software of actuators or drive controllers.

There are the following types of positioning:

  • Point control : Here it is only important that the positions are reached. The way there is secondary. The computational effort is much less than with the path control. She is z. B. used in spot welding or when populating circuit boards.

See also