CODE™
The Cimetrix Open Development Environment (CODE TM ) is a suite of open architecture machine modeling and motion control software products designed to control the most challenging multi-axis machine control applications. CODE has been successfully deployed on a wide range of demanding applications in various industries-from surface mount (SMT), semiconductor, and electronic assembly to multi-axis robots, packaging and machine tools.
CODE is a complete off-line/on-line machine modeling, development & control package for use with motion intensive applications such as robotics, high-speed chip placement machines, assembly cells, and packaging machines. CODE runs on Windows platforms, provides a unified simulation and control environment that compresses project time-lines, and is programmed via a feature-rich Application Programmers Interface (API) tailored to developers of SMT, Electronics Assembly and Robotic Automation equipment.
CODE can reduce time to market by up to 50 percent through the use of innovative features such as a powerful simulation environment, a machine model that abstracts machine design from the application software, and world-class machine control that solves the complex issues such as kinematics and calibration, allowing the software application to be written more quickly by programming in ideal Cartesian space.
CODE 6 contains both a powerful, easy-to-use off-line simulation development environment (CIMulation TM ) and a robust, real-time motion and I/O control system (CIMControl TM ). Since the same application software runs with CIMulation and CIMControl, software applications written and tested using CIMulation are guaranteed to work with CIMControl. Applications can be developed using computer languages such as C++, Visual Basic, or Delphi-or in PLC languages such as ladder logic or flow charts.
The sections below provide more information about:
Key Benefits The CODE Architecture CIMulation CIMControl Support Tools Core Motion BenefitsKey Benefits of CODE
Reduce Support Costs- by liberating your development team from homegrown control solutions - focus them on value added. Reduce Hardware Costs- with a single modular, scaleable solution for all your machine control requirements. Reduce Software & Integration Costs- by using standard operating systems, development environments, and software languages. Reduce Time to Market - Compress project schedules by using CODE's unified approach to off-line and on-line application development. Reduce Development Costs- by preserving your valuable investments in software development.The CODE Architecture
Underlying CODE is Cimetrix's CIMServer TM technology - a unique client/server control engine that provides full motion & I/O control, and machine solid modeling. CODE lets you develop, simulate and test your application off-line - and then, without translation, use the same program to control the physical workcell or machine.
CODE is provided in either an off-line simulation version - CIMulation TM , or an on-line control version - CIMControl. Both versions include CODE Support Tools.
CIMulation
CIMulation is the development and simulation component of CODE that provides full 3-D solid-model simulation of automated machines and workcells. CIMulation provides a powerful off-line development environment for both building machine models and developing application software. First, the 3-D machine model is quickly built using CIMTools. Next, the application program is developed in Cartesian space and assuming perfect calibration. CIMulation is then used for machine testing, optimization, and "what if" scenario testing and analysis. Finally, the calibrated model and the same application are deployed with CIMControl.
Sample machine model in CIMulation
Perhaps the most important benefit of CODE is that it can dramatically reduce your development cycle through concurrent software/hardware development. Because CIMulation uses the same technology and API as CIMControl, customer-developed applications run with both CIMControl and CIMulation, enabling you to create an accurate machine model and start developing software before your hardware becomes available-or is even fully defined. Customers using this concurrent engineering capability have seen up to a 50 percent reduction in implementation times.
CIMControl
CIMControl is the real-time control component of CODE 6. Based upon open architecture standards, CIMControl uses standard PC hardware and standard operating systems-Windows 2000, NT and NT Embedded, and XP. VenturCom's RTX real-time extensions may be used when required.
CIMControl is a multi-threaded control engine that performs real-time motion and I/O control. CIMControl works seamlessly with off-the-shelf motion and I/O cards. CODE 6 with Core Motion allows new flexibility to connect directly to amplifiers and feedback devices.
CODE Support Tools TM
Deployment Utilities for CIMControl & CIMulationProvided with CIMControl & CIMulation, CODE Support Tools includes:
CIMTools - create, edit & manipulation CODE workcell databases Sample Application - pick and place sample including design and source code documentation CIMAppObjects - Object Oriented packages providing a framework for application developmentCore Motion
CODE 6 offers a breakthrough in motion control technology that eliminates the need for expensive specialized motion cards. This new technology takes advantage of the proven real-time extensions for Windows 2000 and NT and harnesses PC processing power to move the specialized software functions from the motion card to the PC. A network or low cost interface card that contains no local processing is all that is needed to interface the PC controller to the servo hardware. However, CODE 6 continues to support a number of third-party motion cards, allowing for flexibility in system configuration.
Click here for more information on Core Motion and the Core Motion Scope.
The CODE Benefit Summary
Cimetrix solutions provide unique advantages for the manufacturers of automated production equipment.
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1. Lower Hardware Costs. Since Cimetrix software products are based on
standard computer platforms and run on standard operating systems (Windows),
you benefit from the tremendous price/performance advantage of the PC platform.
In addition, the open architecture of Cimetrix software enables you to "mix and
match" components to obtain the optimal motion card, I/O subsystem, network,
and vision system for the application.
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2. Reduced Application Development Time. The CODE family utilizes an
extensive library of APIs to access the underlying Cimetrix motion control
algorithms, which enable application developers to program at very high levels
using industry standard development environments, such as Microsoft® Visual
C++®, Microsoft® Visual Basic® and Borland® DelphiT. This API is compliant with
the NEMI Low Cost Controller API Specification. Cimetrix customers estimate
this reduces development efforts for new applications by approximately 50%.
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3. Reduced Time to Market. The unique CODE family contains nearly two
identical versions, (i) an off-line simulation version with output to a video
driver ( CIMulation), and (ii) an on-line version with output to motion control
and I/O control card drivers for operating manufacturing equipment including
robots, machine tools and electronics equipment ( CIMControl). Unlike existing
systems, simulation and control are achieved with the same application software
and API set, enabling concurrent engineering and reduced time to market.
Cimetrix customers estimate the ability to develop, test and debug an entire
application in simulation mode prior to any hardware becoming available reduces
the overall time to market by approximately 50%.
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4. Customers Control their own Destiny. The Cimetrix software provides
all of the software source code hooks for you to implement your own custom
software or algorithms. This ensures that you control your own destiny and are
able to develop specialized or proprietary software to differentiate your
products.
End users of automated factory equipment also benefit. As the PC revolution descends onto the factory floor, a new wave of productivity and cost savings will be achieved.
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1. Reduced Time to Deploy Equipment. Whether you are commissioning new
equipment, or reconfiguring existing cells, CODE allows you to develop,
simulate and test your new applications and programs off-line and then without
translation, use the same software program to control the automated workcell.
With this concurrent engineering approach, new production lines reach capacity
faster, and existing workcells are retooled quicker.
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2. "Best of Class" Automation Systems. You choose the best mechanism,
machine vision system, I/O subsystem, programming language, etc. With CODE, you
have the flexibility to control the cost and functionality of your automation
project. Non-proprietary third party solutions are easily incorporated, and
industry standard CPU, video, and network cards can be quickly changed for
performance upgrades. Cimetrix will never limit you with proprietary thinking.
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3. A Standard Factory Floor. CODE can control all motion intensive
systems on your factory floor, whether it be placement machines, to robots, to
semiconductor equipment or packaging machines. Now you can standardize the GUI
to reduce training and safety costs. Easily add maintenance procedures to
reduce downtime, standardize network connections, and create standard programs
and recipes that can be used on multiple different mechanisms.
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4. Improved Engineering Productivity. CODE
provide engineers with the resources and tools to concentrate more on improving
their manufacturing process than mastering arcane programming languages and
operating systems. Programs and modifications can be developed using standard
development environments, such as Microsoft® Visual C++®, Microsoft® Visual
Basic® and Borland® DelphiT. Engineers can use standard procedural coding or
the latest in OO techniques.
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5. Focus on Leveraging your Core Competencies. CODE's open architecture
allows you to add unique technologies to the equipment control system. You can
now focus your engineering talent on continually improving, protecting and
adding value to your core competence. CODE takes care of all the technical
details like I/O polling, mechanism kinematics, and real-time motion control.
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6. Preserve Capital Investments. CODE lets you upgrade your systems
incrementally. The open architecture design of Cimetrix technologies makes it
fast and easy to support new hardware and software enhancements that are
commonplace today. Adherence to standards means that you can more easily
incorporate new products and technologies while preserving your valuable
investment in software. This can greatly extend the lifecycle of your capital
equipment.
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7. Reduced Downtime. With support for standard operating systems and
platforms, the Cimetrix system is one that all your personnel can understand
and manage. Your maintenance team will be able to take advantage of a common,
intuitive interface. Fault messages are clear and continually improved, uniform
methods for diagnostics can be implemented. You can even test your changes
off-line before they are introduced on the factory floor. The result is a
factory that is up and running.
Using CODE™
A look at machine control software development using the Cimetrix Open Development Environment...Step 1 - Project Planning
The seamless integration of an off-line development environment with on-line control gives CODE powerful concurrent engineering benefits. With application software development no longer tied to the availability of hardware, you can start your software development before hardware is available - or even fully designed.
Step 2: Workcell/Machine Modeling
Create your workcell/machine model using CIMulation and the efficient modeling tools provided with CIMTools, You can develop new models and import previously developed models - mechanisms, conveyors, tooling and fixtures.
Use your completed machine or workcell model to evaluate different layouts; alternative mechanism and tooling designs; and communicate key decisions to end-users and project team members. This model in encapsulated in the CIMServer and is independent from your application software. This benefit allows mechanical changes to have minimal effect on the application software, and enables the reuse of the application software on other mechanical designs or machine types.
Step 3: Architect Your Control Solution
CODE provides tremendous flexibility in designing your control solution.
Develop your application software, (operator GUI's, machine processes, error handling and recovery etc.), off-line, using your choice of programming environments and CIMulation. CODE supports MS Visual BasicT, Visual C++T and Borland DelphiT.
Step 5: Off-line Testing
Use CIMulation to test your application software - and optimize layout; test alternative work flows; predict cycle times; evaluate MMIs and operational sequences with end-users - all without the need to access physical hardware.
Step 6: On-line Integration
As hardware becomes available, go on-line with CIMControl. Test and continue development in parallel with your hardware team. No more graveyard shifts or battles over access to hardware - with CIMulation you can continue developing off-line.
Step 7: Celebrate Your Success!