Mitsubishi MELSEC-F, Training Manual

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The World of Positioning Control 1
1-1
1. The World of Positioning Control
1.1 Welcome to the new world!
The positioning controller, together with the programmable controller, personal computer and
operator interface, is one of the four main units of FA (factory automation).
Among them, the positioning controller is important as the basis of FA, and regarded as the
center of the mechatronics field in which many senior engineers have been playing active
parts.
Positioning is all about motion, and motion often involves speed and precision. As speed can
be related to productivity, it is an area of much development. But, when the machine speed
increases, a problem with the stop precision is often generated. In order to solve this problem,
diversified grades of position controllers have been required and developed.
Improvement of the machine efficiency generates immeasurable added value, including
reduction of labour and the machine floor area for the same quantity of production.
If there are no problems related to the positioning aspect of a machine, it may mean that the
machine is not running most efficiently. Here is where the science of developing an optimum
positioning control system comes in.
Positioning Control