Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 System Manual page 31

System overview
3.1 What is the SIMATIC Drive Controller?
Scaling with modularization
Modular machine concepts offer many advantages, such as standardization, flexibility and
scalability. A production line that consists of multiple machine modules each with a controller
and drives requires synchronization of the drives.
SIMATIC Drive Controller have the cross-PLC synchronous operation functionality. Cross-
PLC synchronous operation allows you to implement synchronous operation across devices.
This allows you to split axis configuration limits between multiple CPUs or implement
modular machine concepts.
In modular machine concepts, you can distribute the functionality between multiple machine
modules, each with its own controller. You can distribute the master value source and
synchronous axes between the various controllers. Coupling between the master axis/an
external encoder and the following axis is isochronous via PROFINET IO with IRT. The
clocks of the axes are synchronized.
Figure 3-5 Example: Modular machine concept with SIMATIC Drive Controller and cross-PLC synchronous operation
Scaling with technology I/Os and technology modules
The integrated eight digital input/outputs (interface X142) provide configurable technology
I/Os.
Of the integrated eight digital input/outputs of the SINAMICS Integrated (interface X122/132),
you can also use eight digital inputs as measuring inputs.
To expand the integrated technology I/Os high-performance technology modules in the
ET 200MP and ET 200SP distributed I/O systems, for example for additional measuring
inputs and output cam outputs.
Information on technology objects for measurement sensing inputs and output cam outputs
can be found in the section Technology functions of the CPU (Page 44).
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SIMATIC Drive Controller
System Manual, 11/2019, A5E46600094-AA