Simulationsgestütztes Prototyping und Optimierung von Maschinensteuerungen

Short development cycles for machines especially in the field of special-purpose engineering require new ways in the engineering process. Traditionally, the fast development of efficient PLC programs is made more difficult by the sequential work on machine design and PLC programming. At the time of PLC programming changes to the machine are already related with substantial costs. Therefore, the PLC program is usually adapted to the machine and iteratively improved. Consequently, an overall optimization of both machine and control is hardly possible. In this paper a simulation environment is described which was developed in tight co-operation with a simulation software vendor and the engineering industry. The environment enables the development and testing of PLC programs together with the virtual machine prototype. The benefits in comparison to the traditional way of engineering are shorter development cycles, increased design reliability, and an additional argument for customer acquisition.