Integrated CNC/PLC

For over 40 years Mitrol has been designing and manufacturing numerical control systems for CNC control unit applications for machine tools in various sectors, from metal carpentry to plastic and glass, managing from the single plant/machine up to the most sophisticated automatic systems composed of lines processes that manage the interchange of production parts. Each control unit can control dozens of axes, even in interpolated mode, and thousands of digital and/or analogue I/Os, in synchronous mode up to 1 KHz, all connected in networks with CAN fieldbus (CANOpen protocol) and/or EtherCAT. One of the peculiarities of the Mitrol system is that of synchronously managing objects that reside on heterogeneous networks. For example, it is possible to interpolate a CAN and an EtherCAT axis.

The PLC is completely integrated with the CNC software, via shared variables that allow the management of many functions; Mitrol also supplies libraries of functional blocks to interface with the CNC for axis movement, alarm management, state control, etc.

The real-time performance monitoring software features:

• Linux operating system with real time Xenomai extension
• Main processor firmware loader
• Firmware loader of the master processor of the CAN and/or EtherCAT lines
• Software for execution in a multitasking environment of PLC programs developed using IEC 61131-3 languages
• Basic CanOpen protocol with the DS301 standard profile implemented, which in addition to supporting the product-specific standard profiles, allows any CAN device to be directly and easily interfaced
• CanOpen protocol for the following standard product profiles: DS401, DS402, DS404 and DS406
• EtherCAT Master
• Software and functions for axis movement management
• Interpolators up to 6 axes
• Alarm management software
• Software for compiling and executing user ISO programs

All our systems can be controlled via network by supervision or productivity or quality control systems using standard protocols (e.g. OPC-UA) to support Industry 4.0, or with proprietary protocols that achieve high performance, for which we provide the relevant communication libraries.

We also develop projects related to the IoT, creating specific sensors and related technologies that allow the improvement of the state of progress of production, preventive and predictive maintenance, consumption measurement, tool life management and quality control.

Two main types of systems are available:

1. With Windows IoT operating system with PC which also performs HMI, data storage and external interfacing functions. The PC communicates via a fast network with a real-time processor (Linux operating system with realtime extension) which carries out all the CNC/PLC and fieldbus management functions.
2. The other type, similar to the previous one, but based on a real time Linux single-processor system.

Tutto il know-how è interamente sviluppato da Mitrol, sia per quel che riguarda la progettazione hardware che per quella software.

Tools and development support

To support the software development of your applications with the systems, Mitrol offers a series of integrated software tools (IDE) with which it is possible to design and create the HMI interface in addition to the PLC software.

Over the years we have acquired experience on the integration and use of various communication libraries, such as for example libraries for communicating with anthropomorphic robots, thermal cutting equipment (Plasma, oxy-fuel and laser), laser equipment for measuring dimensional dimensions, inkjet printers for transferring production codes directly onto semi-finished products, etc. We have designed and created with our customers numerous applications in the fields of plasma, laser and oxy-fuel cutting, as well as in glass processing or plastic injection press technology.

We are at the forefront in the use of brand new languages and technologies intended for the design of multi-platform ‘web based’ HMI systems (PC, tablet, smartphone, browsing device) carrying out both back‑end and front‑end software development end, obtaining excellent results both in terms of performance and in terms of appearance and care of the Human Interface Experience (Red Dot Design Award).