Smart And fleXible Control Solutions

SAXCS is a highly customizable real-time software application for advanced motion control. It enables fast development of cutting-edge high-tech equipment and optimizing production and operations.

High-tech equipment is becoming increasingly complex with cutting-edge mechatronics, intricate sensor systems, many IO and intelligent machine software. Ever stricter requirements concerning performance in speed and accuracy demand a better understanding of the equipment’s physics to successfully implement algorithms for compensation and correcting of position errors. Active in different fields - e.g, medical, semiconductor, analytical - Sioux has been developing equipment for many years. Together with its customers, Sioux experienced the challenges of bringing groundbreaking technology to life. To deal with this, Sioux created SAXCS.

What is the SAXCS?

The SAXCS toolchain enables the development of highly customizable real-time software applications for advanced motion control. Among its features are high sample frequencies that enable high controller bandwidths, MIMO control, iterative learning control and setpoint shaping. It connects to system behavior layer via a Sioux proprietary communication framework (AxChange) and the sensor/actuator layer via EtherCAT.

Infrastructure

  • The SAXCS IDE is based on MathWorks Simulink Real-Time. Control engineers can compose and verify the motion control application, including the envisioned plant characteristics. The controller can be deployed on the target using code generation tools, without assistance of an embedded software engineer.
  • The modular infrastructure allows the creation and interaction of multiple motion axes. The vast reference architecture templates that are available and extensive SAXCS building block libraries, facilitate easy designing any control strategy and quick validation on an integrated simulation model or actual hardware. The platform seamlessly integrates tools for managing module behavior, configurability, tuning and diagnostics.
  • Based on the interface files, Application Programming Interfaces are generated automatically for most modern programming languages (C++, C#, Python, LabView, Matlab, et cetera)
  • The powerful combination of the built-in configurable user interface and the Python automation language creates limitless possibilities for integration, calibration, diagnostics, service, and maintenance.
  • A test framework for continuous deployment and integration, ensuring quality and detecting issues early in the development process.

Why SAXCS pays off 

SACXS enables creating motion control software in parallel with the mechanics and electronics development. It facilitates agility, short development cycles and continuous integration without the need for actual hardware. In this way the time to market of equipment can be shortened, while ramping up quality and reducing costs.

 

  • In the early phases of product development uncertainties exist. To mitigate risks, creating experimental setups and FUMOs is the logical choice. They need to be developed fast and should be easy to change, extend and diagnose. SAXCS simplifies the creation of test setups and FUMOS and keeps the domain experts in control.
  • During the concept phase multiple concepts are imagined. Simulation is a powerful tool to analyze and compare their behavior, to make choices and give demonstrations to customers. SAXCS embraces simulations as an integral part of the analysis. It enables domain experts to use the same software in the simulation that will be used on actual hardware.
  • During the integration phase unforeseen issues will occur. For example, components may be delivered late, parts may be connected differently, or small redesigns may be needed. To tackle these issues effectively, extensive diagnostics and flexibility are essential. SAXCS’ user interface, diagnostics capabilities and scripting interfaces make troubleshooting easy, help proof gathering, calibration scripting and validation testing.
  • Continuous performance improvement is essential to stay ahead of the competition, also later in the lifecycle of equipment. Unforeseen issues concerning the availability and quality of components, process behavior, degradation and failure may occur. These can be mitigated with SAXCS. Its flexibility supports replacing end-of-life hardware during the production phase and rolling out performance improvements in the field when instrumentation changes are involved, advanced compensation and correction mechanism are needed or even when the complete control architecture is changed. Moreover, SAXCS supports extensive data gathering. This can be used for statistical process and quality control during manufacturing and advanced control and preventive maintenance through operations.