Baldor's Mint language for motion and machine automation now benefits from powerful program debugging facilities.
The company's Windows-based Mint Workbench toolsuite features breakpoints, single-step program execution and virtual hardware, all of which provides sophisticated tools for dealing with the growing complexity of machine design.
Mark Crocker of Baldor says: “Machine design is tending to become more complex with many axes, sophisticated HMIs, software configurability and factory integration issues. These new debug resources in Mint Workbench can dramatically reduce development timescales.
The new debug tools include execution break pointssingle-step (or 'step into' subroutines or functions) program executionexecute to cursor positionand sophisticated watch facilities that track the value of variables.
Another valuable resource is a 'hover over' feature. This allows engineers to see how a variable or task is declaredor the value of a variable while the program is runningsimply by positioning the cursor on a program line. It is also possible to jump to the definition of any variablesub-routine or task via a context-sensitiveright-click menu.
Code may be executed without connection to hardwaregiving engineers the means to start developing and test software before the hardware is ready. A new 'virtual motion controller' facility allows users to run the code as it would on most of Baldor's Nextmove family of motion controllerswhich includes PCIbus cardsstandalone controllersand Ethernet Powerlink compatible systems.
Crocker comments: "The simplicity and ease of programming is increasingly a critical factor in automation project success. These new debugging resourcescombined with the rich range of development tools in Mint Workbenchprovide automation engineers with the same kind of sophisticated facilities that you can see on PC languages - providing a tangible breakthrough in productivity that can dramatically reduce machinery project timescales and cost."
The Mint language has been developed over nearly 20 years and today offers a high-productivity development environment for automation applications. Its use of high-level English-like commands simplifies program writing and comprehension. These commands include one of the richest motion control programming facilities available worldwidewith 'keywords' that effectively provide templates or 'canned' software functions for common motion/movement related functions. The broad range of Mint's motion control functions - when compared with 'open' industry software - is said to greatly simplify complex machine design projects. The software also comes with its own license-free multi-tasking operating systemand free ActiveX components for easy connectivity with PCs.
For more informationvisit www.baldor.com
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