STEPPER MOTOR CONTROL, PLC VS VME

Abstract

Traditionally, EPICS-based accelerator control systems have used VME-based motion control modules to interface with stepper motors. For systems that include some Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), there is an option for using PLC-based stepper motor interface modules. As with all control system choices, there are trade-offs. This paper will delineate some of the pros and cons of both methods of interfacing with stepper motors.