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Terms and Acronyms
CK3E-series Programmable Multi-Axis Controller Hardware User’s Manual (I610)
Terms and Acronyms
Term or acronym
Description
CNC
The acronym for Computerized Numerical Control.
A method to numerically control machining processes in production by using computers.
CNC has been further automatized over conventional numerical control machine tools (NC
machine tools).
CPU
Central Processing Unit. Core hardware mounted in computers that executes instructions
from computer programs.
ESI file
ESI is the acronym for EtherCAT Slave Information. The ESI file contains information
unique to the EtherCAT slaves in XML format.
ENI file
ENI is the acronym for EtherCAT Network Information. The ENI file contains the network
configuration information related to EtherCAT slaves.
Ethernet
A network communications protocol used in TCP/IP networks.
EtherCAT
The acronym for Ethernet for Control Automation Technology.
EtherCAT is the real-time Ethernet protocol standards.
EtherCAT master
The EtherCAT master node that manages the EtherCAT network, monitors the status of
slaves, and exchanges I/O data with slaves. It has one output port.
G-code
A type of language used to create NC programs.
Modbus/TCP
A protocol used for the Modbus communication on TCP/IP.
PLC
Programmable Logic Controller
PMAC
The acronym for Programmable Multi-Axis Controller
USB
Universal Serial Bus
Servo Drive/Encoder input
slave
Any of the EtherCAT slaves that is assigned to an axis.
Vision sensor
A sensor that calculates the area, center of gravity, length, position, and other feature quan-
tities of objects by processing images captured using a camera, and outputs the data and
judgment results.
Axis
A functional unit within the Motion Control Function Module. An axis is assigned to the drive
mechanism in an external Servo Drive or the sensing mechanism in an external Encoder
Input Slave Unit.
Node address
The node address is used to identify Units connected to EtherCAT.
General-purpose slave
Any of the EtherCAT slaves that cannot be assigned to an axis.
Programmable terminal
A human-machine interface used to facilitate the operation and control of machines.
Motion control
Motion control can achieve intended operation by providing a target value to the axis to be
controlled, or by controlling state transitions.