TwinCAT 3 extends the standard automation world

In TwinCAT 3, Beckhoff introduces the newest software generation for PC-based control technology that will expand the world of automation with many powerful new functions. The broad term for this new technology is: eXtended Automation (XA).

 

The familiar TwinCAT features are continued with eXtended Automation Architecture (XAA). In addition, all widely used fieldbuses will be supported in the future. Motion Control, from point-to-point movements to CNC is still possible using XAA, of course.
The eXtended Automation Engineering environment (XAE) uses Microsoft Visual Studio® (TwinCAT 3 Integrated) or the Microsoft Visual Studio® Shell (TwinCAT 3 Standard) as framework. Alongside the already existing C/C++ languages, Beckhoff has also integrated the IEC 61131-3 programming standard into this globally-recognised development environment.
In the eXtended Automation Runtime (XAR), all modules written in IEC 61131, C/C++ or Matlab®/Simulink® are processed in real-time. The proven TwinCAT real-time extension for Microsoft operating systems is used here.

 

TwinCAT 3 Highlights
– only one software for programming and configuration
– Microsoft Visual Studio® integration
– more freedom in selecting programming languages
– support for the object-oriented extension of IEC 61131-3
– use of C/C++ as the programming language for real-time applications
– link to Matlab®/Simulink®
– open interfaces for expandability and adaptation to existing tool landscape
– flexible runtime environment
– active support of multi-core and 64-bit systems
– migration of TwinCAT 2 projects