Development software; part of the Automation 3200 platform
Deploy complex machine and motion control
Connect to and deploy programs to the A3200 software-based machine and motion controller
Provide powerful tools for setting up and configuring A3200 drive solutions
Manage sensors and devices via EtherCAT, PROFINET, and Modbus configuration tools
Simulate your process before going live
Deploy powerful real-time application solutions
A development environment for every member of your team
One Software. Many Solutions.
The A3200 Motion Composer Suite is the development solution your team needs. Part of the Automation 3200 machine and multi-axis motion control platform, the Motion Composer suite allows your team to deploy complex automation solutions. The suite includes the following applications:A3200 Configuration Manager
A3200 Motion Composer IDE
A3200 Digital Scope
A3200 Status Utility
Mechanics and Controls Under One Roof
Aerotech knows what software features are needed to drive performance. We have learned it from our engineering and manufacturing team living under one roof since 1970.
Not only do we design and build precision stages and controls in the same building, but we test and validate customer applications using a “system” approach. The A3200 software tools are designed to enable meeting those system specifications. As a company locked into the precision mechanics market, our software, controls, and drives continuously evolve to meet those demands.
Connect and Go
The A3200 Platform makes setting up your motion control solution easy. Quickly set up drives, motors, and stages with the Configuration Manager application. This is one of the several tools integrated in the Motion Composer Suite that makes your team fast and effective. Team members work together to quickly develop a new solution or they can work from an existing configuration with advanced parameter importing and exporting tools.
Develop and Test Real-Time Applications
Tune and Optimize Your Process
Getting Results
Relationship-Driven Support


Single-Button Drive Configuration
One of the benefits of Aerotech’s HyperWire motion bus is the simplicity of configuring drives to communicate on the bus. Use the HyperWire glass-optical-fiber cables to connect the drives, and then power on the drives. Hit the “program” button in the Drive Configuration tool to automatically assign the communication channels. You are now ready to program the devices!
Don’t Guess. Calculate!
Aerotech makes setting up an automation solution simple. Quickly program your system’s motors and stages with the Axis Parameter Calculator. All of Aerotech’s mechanical stage and motor drive products are included in a detailed database, accessible through the Axis Parameter Calculator. Choose your mechanics and verify the load, motor, drive, programming units, feedback type, servo-loop target performance, and (optional) current loop target performance. Click “apply” and you’re done. Your system is now ready for detailed tuning and optimization.
Setting up proper motor phasing
Correcting Lissajous errors from analog encoders
Tuning the motor
Running a loop transmission
Best-fitting filters based on a loop transmission
Know What You’re Working With

Feedback You Can Trust

EasyTune

Advanced Tuning for Advanced Users


More than Motion


Debug Your Automation Programs
The Motion Composer IDE includes powerful tools to help you review and debug your programs. You can insert breakpoints, run and pause your program, step into or step over subroutines, and toggle breakpoints.
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Optimize Your Motion


Built for Expansion
Want to add a device to your database? No problem. The Catalog Manager lets you add an unlimited number of devices to your library. Use the Axis Parameter Calculator to quickly set up the motors and stages that you added to your device database.
Connected Automation
Aerotech offers Modbus, EtherCAT, and ProfiNET capability on its A3200 controller. You can easily set up those networks in the Configuration Manager. Simply launch the appropriate configuration tool, map your device, and start creating AeroBasic definitions. AeroBasic definitions become accessible as you begin programming your real-time control applications in the A3200 Motion Composer IDE.
Robust Control Tools
The A3200 Motion Composer Suite contains many robust controls tools. Tools like filter calculators for analog and digital inputs allow nuisance electrical noise to be rejected and for your systems to recognize input signals that require a response, not those that should be ignored. Throughout all of Aerotech’s software tools, you’ll find solutions built off of decades of automation experience.
.NET, C, and C++ Libraries plus REST Interface
Aerotech’s standard controllers are flexible enough to handle almost any control application. From simple motion to coordinating and synchronizing the motion of multiple axes in your machine, Aerotech automation controllers provide the flexibility and power required for today’s automation challenges, and it is all accessible through powerful programming libraries.MATLAB® Library and LabVIEW® VIs
Users who program in MATLAB and LabVIEW can benefit from Aerotech’s powerful automation tools. Integrate into your native environment with well-documented libraries.
Full installation of Automation 3200 controller and selected software components on a new system Pricing is summation of selected products. Maintenance (software update) included in price for one year from date of purchase. A3200 is intended for deployment on desktop or industrial PCs. See website for PC specifications. Includes: A3200 Configuration Manager A3200 Motion Composer IDE A3200 Digital Scope A3200 Status Utility A3200 Console A3200 Firmware Loader A3200 Help Programming Help Contains both the A3200 Motion Composer Suite and the A3200 Software-Based Machine Controller Provides the ability to: Write, compile, execute, debug programs in AeroBasic or G-code Full access to .NET, C, and C++ libraries Full access to REST web interface Access full diagnostics, fault, and status information Access and set I/O, registers, and variables Collect, analyze, and save data View files from machine for analysis and record keeping Connect PC to machine directly with FireWire or HyperWire card Connect PC to machine remotely through Ethernet TCP/IP Install upgrades (firmware or controller) using loader Two axes of software motion engine control Simulate trajectory on PC Installs INtime on the PC Use the Configuration Manager to change parameter files, set the active parameter files, establish the correct connection settings, and load program automation files tothe controller. Network Explorer: Set up the controller and organize files. Viewer: Shows contextual information about the current selection in the Network Explorer. For example, when you select a parameter category, all of the parameters in that category show in the viewer. Editor: Modify the values of different items such as the name of a controller or the value of a parameter. Help Browser: Shows the help topic for the subject that you select in the viewer. Configuration Manager includes the following tools/wizards: A3200 Motion Composer IDE is an environment for developing and debugging AeroBasic programs for A3200 controllers. It has a feature-rich program editor with the following features: Line number indicators (for each line) Breakpoints (indicated by a breakpoint icon) Current Line indicator (indicates the next line to be executed) Status bar (indicates the file path, line, column, and character number) Syntax highlighting: Commands: Blue Strings: Red Variables and Registers: Brown Parameters: Purple Constants: Gray Comments: Green It also functions as a basic interface and can be used to do the following tasks. Command basic motion Inspect diagnostic information Do basic configuration (for advanced configuration options, use Configuration Manager) Editing Programs The Automation 3200 Platform allows you to test or debug programs without moving some or any of the axes, allowing you to develop or debug your motion program before hardware and motion mechanics are ready. Simulation mode occurs when you use Virtual or Null Axes. Virtual Axis: there is not a configured drive for that communication channel, so you don’t create motion or torque on an axis. Null Axis: the servo loop is bypassed, and the position and velocity feedback are set equal to the position and velocity commands, respectively. Position error and velocity error are always zero. Run the selected AeroBasic program Pause the active program Stop the program associated with the active task Stop all programs (on all tasks) Toggle a breakpoint Clear all breakpoints Toggle line highlighting Variable Watch View and edit the value of Global Variables, Task Variables, Program Variables, Virtual Binary I/O Bits, and Virtual I/O Registers Step Over Executes one line of the program that is associated with the active task For a subroutine call (CALL or FARCALL), it executes all of the subroutine and moves to the next program line Step Into Executes one line of the program that is associated with the active task If the program line is a subroutine call (CALL or FARCALL), it steps one level into the subroutine Issue Immediate Commands Asynchronous motion commands Setting parameters via AeroBasic commands Setting variables Setting modes (for example, absolute/incremental programming modes) Most immediate commands can execute on a task at the same time a program is running on that task. Some of the more complicated commands require that the task program is stopped. The A3200 Digital Scope is a system analysis and tuning application that lets you optimize system performance using a collection of advanced tuning tools and features. With system analysis tools, you can plot and graphically analyze system data. With tuning tools, you can automatically calculate servo-loop and feedback device parameters. The Digital Scope application includes a variety of utilities that let you perform analysis and tuning operations. Scope: A Powerful Digital Oscilloscope The Scope tool is used to collect and view 1D or 2D data. A Configure Data Collection tool gives you access to all Axis, System, and Task data items. Customize the signals that you are interested in seeing, the resolution of collection, the number of points, and how the signals will appear on your visual plotter. Enjoy zoom in, zoom out, zoom extents, and dual cursor controls as you evaluate your data in 1D or 2D format. Quickly switch between 1D and 2D and perform Fourier Transforms on collected signals. EasyTune: More Automatic than Autotuning EasyTune is a one-button tool that automatically tunes and optimizes an axis. When EasyTune is finished, the optimized servo gains and servo filters are committed to the controller. Loop Transmission: For Those Who Analyze Use the Loop Transmission utility to analyze the characteristics of the servo loop and the associated mechanical system. The Loop Transmission measures the response of the servo loop. Signals are sampled and displayed for magnitude and phase analysis. Warnings for feedback data that indicate unstable behavior Single button optimization of the servo loop gains and digital filters Single button assignment of all digital filters Graphical shifts of the predicted open-loop magnitude and phase Graphical additions of Low Pass, Notch, Lead Lag, and Resonant filters Direct editing of the digital filters in the frequency response plotter utility The ability to overlap multiple loop transmission plots Feedback Tuning: Removing Error from Precision Feedback Devices Axis status information, such as homing and enabled controller features Axis I/O information, including hardware limits, Hall effect sensors, and encoder feedback signals Diagnostic and status information for each connected Aerotech drive Detailed information and status concerning each connected Aerotech drive Current axis fault status Additional Information Status information about each task Controller information, including performance and internal counters Data collection status Customizable Interface Choose which axes to display and which tasks to display Keep your status viewable by choosing the “Keep Window On Top” option Export Customized Data Choose which data you want to export: axes, tasks, and/or other Export data directly to an HTML file The A3200 Console is a command line interface used for low-level system hardware debugging. It reads commands from text files (similar to batch files) so that you can execute multiple commands as if they were one command. It also provides a status and integrated Help. License Options Software-Based Controller Configuration Motion Composer Suite Add-Ons *Note: Aerotech strongly recommends the use of FireWire cables supplied by Aerotech (NCONNECT cables). These cables are tested to ensure proper performance. A single open PCI or PCIe card slot is required to accommodate the required FireWire PCI or PCIe card for Aerotech’s motion bus.Specifications
A3200 Motion Composer Suite Software License Specifications
Option Configuration Description A3200 Order Entry Point License Machine Machine Upgrade Use to change configuration options on an existing machine license
Requires the current license ID from customer
Price is based on the new options added
Maintenance extension is a separate line itemMachine Addition Increases the number of licenses associated with an existing key License Extension Extends the maintenance period on an existing license
Can be purchased in yearly incrementsMedia Only License ID distributed on the specified media A3200 Configuration Manager Features
Item Tools/Wizards Catalog Manager Create a catalog of motors and stages that are not standard Aerotech motors and stages Connection Settings Configure the Drive Communication card, configure the Fieldbus settings you want to use with the A3200, configure the Connection Mode of the A3200 (local or remote), and configure the advanced options of the A3200 Drive Configuration Assign communication channels and load firmware for the HyperWire drives that are connected to your controller Compiler Output Directory Set the output directory that the AeroBasic compiler uses when it compiles an AeroBasic program Axis Naming Tool Simple tool to assign customized axis names to controller axes 1 through 32. An axis name can be any string of letters, numeric digits, and underscores. Program Automation Automatically run programs or include them within other programs. These programs are automatically run, included, or downloaded when you start or reset the A3200. Fieldbus Mapping Tool Create and edit the Fieldbus mappings that are stored in your parameter file AbsoluteFeedbackOffset Calculator Calculate the correct value for the AbsoluteFeedbackOffset Parameter on piezo stages Analog and Digital Filter Calculators Calculate coefficients for the two filters on analog and digital inputs that are available on each axis Axis Parameter Calculator The primary calculator to use to configure an axis. You can use this calculator to configure axis types that include ball-screw stage, linear stage, rotary stage, voice-coil stage, and no stage (motor only). For each axis, you can specify information about the mechanics, drive, units, feedback, servo loop, and current loop. Encoder Resolution Changed Calculator Helps users to manage changes in encoder devices and encoder resolutions. This calculator comes into view when you change certain encoder and feedback parameters. Gantry Home Offset Calculator Calculates the correct value for the HomeOffset Parameter on the gantry slave Motor Phasing Calculator Calculates the correct values for parameters which allow you to compensate for motor wiring problems Scaling Factors Changed Calculator Scales other parameters that are entered in user units to match a new CountsPerUnit value A3200 Motion Composer IDE Features
Building and Loading Programs
Simulation Mode
Running and Debugging Programs
To run in Simulation Mode, simply set up the axes as virtual or null, as described above. To run and debug a real process, first make sure that the system is set up correctly.
The following actions are available for running and debugging a program:A3200 Digital Scope Features
Integrate data collection when you using Step Forward, Step Back, and Auto Step controls. These tools allow you to configure simple axis motion and coordinates data collection, as configured with that motion.
The Scope Tool also provides the capability to autotune the servo loop of an axis. Use autotune to calculate a set of servo loop gains. Simply excite the axis using a predefined input. The output is measured and new servo loop gains are calculated by the autotune feature.
Powerful “loop shaping” tools are available to the user. These tools work with the existing data and show a prediction of an updated loop transmission response plot should new servo gains and parameters be applied. These loop shaping tools include:
Add-On: Dynamic Controls Toolbox
Add-On: Enhanced Throughput ModuleA3200 Status Utility Features
The Status Utility is a machine optimization tool that displays the status of up to 32 axes, all controller tasks, and several critical controller status details.
Axis InformationA3200 Console Features

A3200 Firmware Features
The Firmware Loader shows all of the drives connected to the system upon opening or refreshing and determines if a new version of firmware should be loaded on the drive to maintain compatibility with Motion Composer and the Machine License loaded on the PC.
Ordering Information
A3200 Motion Composer Suite
Product Name Description A3200 A3200 Motion Composer Suite Option Description License -Machine A3200 software installation on a single PC -Machine upgrade A3200 software configuration change of license -Machine addition A3200 software increase license count for existing key -License extension A3200 software extend maintenance period of license -Media only A3200 software distribute current license on media Media -Download Installation media provided for download only -USB Installation media provided on a USB drive -CD Installation media provided on compact disk Version -Default Current version of software/controller -Legacy Legacy version of software/controller Maintenance -Maintenance-X-00 Software/controller maintenance for x year(s) after purchase where X is one through seven. One year is default. Option Description Axes -2 Axes Provides the ability to connect to 2 physical axes (default) -4 Axes Provides the ability to connect to 4 physical axes -6 Axes Provides the ability to connect to 6 physical axes -8 Axes Provides the ability to connect to 8 physical axes -10 Axes Provides the ability to connect to 10 physical axes -12 Axes Provides the ability to connect to 12 physical axes -14 Axes Provides the ability to connect to 14 physical axes -16 Axes Provides the ability to connect to 16 physical axes -32 Axes Provides the ability to connect to 32 physical axes Fiber Optic -Fiber Optic Fiber optic power scanning and virtual pivot point utilities Dynamic Controls Toolbox -Dynamic Controls Toolbox Aerotech Advanced Controls Enhanced Throughput Module -Enhanced Throughput Module Setup and monitoring screens for ETM modules CNC -CNC G and M codes plus other machine tool functionality Professional -Professional 31 user tasks, 1 library task, 31 Modbus connections EtherCAT -EtherCAT EtherCAT software driver for Hilscher-RJ45 PCI card PROFINET -PROFINET PROFINET software driver for Hilscher-RJ45 PCI card Enhanced Tracking Control -Enhanced Tracking Control Reduced dynamic following error and settling times Remote Server -Remote Configure A3200 as server Option Description CNC Operator Interface -CNC Operator Interfacer HMI CNC software for Windows. Includes the CNC option Motion Designer -Motion Designer Trajectory creation and evaluation software Motion Simulator -Motion Simulator Trajectory simulation, creation, and evaluation software LabVIEW -LabVIEW Includes LabVIEW 2010 (forward compatible) VI samples MATLAB Libraries -MATLAB MATLAB library for motion, parameters and data collection FireWire Communication Network (Items Ordered Separately)
Option Description NFire-PCIe NFire-PCIe Firewire communication network PCIe card (recommended) NFire-PCI NFire-PCI FireWire communication network PCI card NConnect-6P6P-xx* NConnect-6P6P-45 FireWire cable (4.50 meter length), 6P to 6P NConnect-6P6P-30 FireWire cable (3.00 meter length), 6P to 6P NConnect-6P6P-18 FireWire cable (1.80 meter length), 6P to 6P NConnect-6P6P-9 FireWire cable (0.90 meter length), 6P to 6P NConnect-6P6P-5 FireWire cable (0.50 meter length), 6P to 6P NConnect-6P6P-2.3 FireWire cable (0.23 meter length), 6P to 6P HyperWire Communication Network (Items Ordered Separately)
Option Description HyperWire-PCIe NFire-PCIe Firewire communication network PCIe card (recommended) HyperWire-AO10-xx HyperWire-AO10-200 HyperWire cable (20.0 meter length), SFP to SFP HyperWire-AO10-50 HyperWire cable (5.0 meter length), SFP to SFP HyperWire-AO10-30 HyperWire cable (3.0 meter length), SFP to SFP HyperWire-AO10-10 HyperWire cable (1.0 meter length), SFP to SFP HyperWire-AO10-5 HyperWire cable (0.5 meter length), SFP to SFP