Introduction
Transport System Components Overview
34
MagneMotion
Rockwell Automation Publication MMI-UM007F-EN-P - September 2020
Transport System Components Overview
This section identifies the components of a QuickStick HT transport system as shown in
and described after the figure.
Figure 1-2: Simplified View of the QuickStick HT Transport System Components
•
DC Power Cables and Communication Cables
– Distributes DC power to the motor
drives and carries communications between the components of the transport system.
•
High-Level Controller
(HLC) – Software application that is enabled on one node
controller. This application handles all communication with the user-supplied host
controller and directs communication as appropriate to individual node controllers.
•
Host Controller
– Provides user control and monitoring of the Quick Stick HT trans-
port system. User-supplied, it can be either PC-based or a PLC.
•
Stator
– Refers to the QuickStick HT linear synchronous motor (LSM).
•
Motor Drive
– Refers to the QSMC motor controller or the QSHT 5700 inverter.
•
Network
– Ethernet network providing communications (TCP/IP or EtherNet/IP
™
)
between the host controller and the HLC (TCP/IP is used between node controllers).
•
Node Controller
(NC) – Coordinates motor operations and communicates with the
HLC. Several types of node controllers are available. All node controllers support
Ethernet communication with the host controller and the motors, and depending on the
model, provide up to 12 RS-422 ports for communication with the motors. Some node
controller models also provide Digital I/O and/or Serial I/O for external devices such
as switches, E-stops, light stacks, and interlocks.
•
Power Supply
– Provides DC power to the motors.
•
Vehicle with Magnet Array
– Carries a payload through the QSHT transport system
as directed. The magnet array is mounted to the vehicle facing the motors and interacts
with the motors, which move each vehicle independently.
Host Controller
(PLC or PC)
Vehicles
Stators
Motor Communication
Node Controller
(and High-Level Controller)
Network
(Ethernet)
Motor
Drives
Power Supply
DC Power Cables
Cables