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PROFIdrive & Encoder

PROFIdrive is a powerful and mature drive control profile for any kind of application and industry usage. Based on its modular structure and manufacturer-independent device profile, PROFIdrive is easy to handle, highly scalable by its six Application Classes and defined to achieve an utmost interoperability level.

PROFIdrive is the standard profile for drive technology in conjunction with the PROFIBUS and PROFINET communication systems. The use of open “application profiles” divided in Application Classes (AC) is a tried-and-tested way of using communication systems to connect drives and controllers from different manufacturers in an integrated and straightforward way. The way drives are integrated into automation solutions is heavily dependent on the drive application.

For this reason, the PROFIdrive profile defines 6 application classes (AC) that cover the entire drive application range.

A drive device can span one or more application classes, depending on the market segment and device implementation. In this way, PROFIdrive allows flexible, manufacturer-specific design of drive products to meet particular market requirements.

MinutePROFINET: PROFINET in Motion Control Applications | Drives, Motors, Robots, and More


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Through the flexibility and possibility of not only performing Speed setpoint movements (AC1) or Point to Point positioning, velocity & torque tasks (AC3), but also synchronous and interpolated multi-axis movements (AC4/5) , ProfiDrive always provides the right solution for the concepts of machine builders around the World.

From fans & compressors to pick and place and even up to highly precise gluing applications ProfiDrive provides a way to deal with this challenges.

The Diagnosis is easy and simple to program in the PLC, but the real advantage lies in the fact that every ProfiDrive device can be diagnosed in the same way.

That means that the program module for diagnosing a device can be reused with slight adoptions again and again.

This advantages can be provided because ProfiDrive is standardized in IEC 61800-7 and every ProfiDrive device has to pass a conformance test.

Beside the fulfillment of increasing requirements for axis-number and short cycle times, PROFIdrive allows also the support of flexible machine concepts for fast realization of user-specific requirements.

PROFIdrive has been continuously developed further by a PI working group with participants from different device manufacturers.

But some solutions need extended information and parameter. PROFIdrive has defined also a place for this information, based on the defined functions.
Conversely, in combination with PROFIdrive, PROFINET becomes a drive bus for the most stringent requirements that is without any limitation suitable for all other automation tasks.

Drive tasks of every conceivable type, each of which will have its own specific requirements, can be addressed in a standard yet flexible way thanks to the integrated technology, the integrated application programs, and the scalable communication performance. It is on this basis that PROFIdrive is able to achieve significant cost reductions over the life cycle of a plant or machine for: planning, installa-tion, operation, and maintenance as well as expansions and upgrades. The integration of PROFIdrive is made possible by the use of the standard communication protocols PROFIBUS DP and PROFINET IO, which are capable of meeting the diverse requirements of production and process automation and motion control and safety applications in equal measure.

The need for user-friendliness is fully met by ensuring the interoperability and interchangeability of devices from different manufacturers and the availability of standardized program libraries from well-known PLC manufacturers. The reliable operation of the devices is guaranteed thanks to independent certification by accredited test laboratories.


The need for user-friendliness is fully met by ensuring the interoperability and interchangeability of devices from different manufacturers and the availability of standardized program libraries from well-known PLC manufacturers. The reliable operation of the devices is guaranteed thanks to independent certification by accredited test laboratories.

The PROFIdrive parameter manager, which is operated via the acyclic communication channel, provides users with comprehensive services for accessing the PROFIdrive parameters. Besides reading and writing of parameter values, additional parameter attributes, such as a parameter description, can also be read. To improve performance in the acyclic parameter channel, a multi-parameter service is also defined for the parameter manager. The PROFIdrive parameter channel is thus the basis for the wide range of tasks in a drive application, such as:

  • Parameter assignment and commissioning ‚ Data backup for device replacement
  • Extended diagnostics, such as trace and
  • diagnostics buffer

The new PROFINET cycle time of 31.25 microseconds is barely tangible, and opens up many new opportunities.
No matter what the future holds in terms of development, the communication technology needed for it is already here.

PROFINET has always been a very fast communication system. PROFINET real-time communication (RT) uses the prioritization methods of Ethernet and can therefore be implemented on standard Ethernet controllers. With a data rate of 100Mbps and full-duplex transmission, bus update times that are faster by several factors compared with today’s fieldbuses are possible. As a result, RT is usually more than sufficient
for typical factory automation applications. But, once an application’s requirements include the need to synchronise nodes to within 10–100us or to form a highly dynamic control loop via the bus, additional measures become necessary. The highly accurate isochronous real-time (IRT) synchronisation process was developed for this purpose. This process enables Ethernet transmission delay times of differing and fluctuating lengths to be eliminated.

In addition, there are also specific applications that will place even more stringent requirements on communication performance in the future. That is why mechanisms were defined in PROFINET Specification V2.3 that make communication with PROFINET even faster. With Fast Forwarding, Dynamic Frame Packing, and Fragmentation, it is possible to achieve short cycle times as fast as 31.25us, together with high-precision isochronous operation. Thanks to this feature and its openness, PROFINET is further cementing its position as the leading Industrial Ethernet standard.

So just how fast is a cycle time of 31.25us?
LEDs react too slowly to present this speed, and only an oscilloscope is able to visualise the cycle time of 31.25us as well the slight jitter over the entire system. This cycle time makes PROFINET an interesting candidate for highly dynamic measuring equipment applications, since sampling rates up to 32kHz over the network are possible.

PROFIdrive gives the unique ability to reuse program modules not even for similar projects/applications but also for devices from different vendors.

This makes it possible to us a Servo drive from vendor A, a Servo drive from Vendor B and a ServoLite drive from vendor C, with the same reusable program module, as the PROFIdrive interface between PLC & drive is standardized and has the same meaning for the drives from Vendor A,B &C.

This advantages can be provided because PROFIdrive is standardized in IEC 61800-7 and every PROFIdrive device has to pass a conformance test.

PI certification ensures that the devices of different manufacturers with different functional scopes conform to the PROFIdrive profile specification. The test report of a PITL serves as the basis for awarding a PROFIdrive certificate. The PITL uses the PROFIdrive Profile Tester to carry out the certification test. The Profile Tester allows the tests to be performed automatically to a great extent.

 

The PROFIdrive Profile Tester is available to device manufacturers for development support and for preliminary testing purposes. It thus helps manufacturers to achieve fast, systematic implementation of the PROFIdrive profile into products.

Because PROFIdrive has been standardized in IEC 61800-7, international acceptance is guaranteed and investments enjoy extensive long-term protection. This protection is further reinforced by the fact that PROFIdrive is based on the world-leading PROFIBUS and PROFINET technologies. The fact that PROFIdrive has been standardized in IEC 61800-7 and is recommended by various international institutions such as OMAC means that its future as an internationally accepted standard is guaranteed.

Interoperable, Standardized and Manufacturer-Independent Interface

The PROFIdrive Profile Covers all Applications Relevant to Industry in the Respective Application Classes (AC).

 

Application Class 1

In the simplest case, a main setpoint (e.g., speed setpoint) is used to control the drive in PROFIBUS DP or PROFINET IO. Speed control is handled entirely within the drive. This application case occurs predominantly in conventional drive technology (e.g. frequency converters for pumps, fans, compressors).
The “standard drive with technological function” application class offers a high degree of flexibility for implementing automation applications. With this class, the entire automation process is broken down into several sub-processes and distributed among the drives.
 

The automation functions are then no longer run exclusively in the central controller, and the PROFIBUS DP or PROFINET IO interfaces take on the  character of high-level technological interfaces.
 

Of course, the decentralization of the technological processes requires the ability for multi-directional communication. Thus, slave-to-slave communication between the technological processes of the individual drives is possible, in particular. Specific examples of applications are setpoint cascades, winders, and speed synchronization applications for continuous processes that involve a continuously running material web.
 

PROFIdrive – Live Demo for Application Class 1


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This video of a live demo shows the interoperable PROFIdrive interface and a simple diagnosis.

Application Class 3

In this class, the drive features positioning control in addition to the drive control (speed and position control). The drive thus acts as an autonomous single-axis positioning drive, while the higher-level technological processes run on the controller.

Positioning tasks are transferred to and started on the single-axis positioner and drive via PROFIBUS DP or PROFINET IO. Positioning drives have a wide range of applications, e.g. twisting bottle caps on and off during bottle filling or positioning of blades in a film cutting machine.

The programing of positioning, velocity & torque tasks in AC3 is very easy and fast ether by using the existing function blocks for positioning or sending the commands directly via the bits and bytes of the control and status words of the corresponding telegrams.

PROFIdrive – Live Demo for Application Class 3


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The PROFIdrive advantage of the high-performance parameter channel is shown in the video of a live demo.

Application Class 4 and 5 = AC4/5

Application class 4 defines an interface between the speed setpoint interface and actual position value interface, where speed control is executed on the drive and position control on the controller, as it is typically required in robot and machine tool applications. The motion control for multiple axes is performed centrally, for example, by numerical control (NC). The position control loop is closed by means of the bus. Clock synchronization is required to synchronize the clocks for the position control in the controller and for the speed control in the drives (PROFIBUS DP-V2 or PROFINET with IRT).

Application class 5 is comparable to the above description except that a position setpoint inter-face takes the place of the speed setpoint inter-face.

Typical named as "Motion Control" defined by servo drive with isochronous closed-loop speed and positioncontrol with central motion control. The system has to handle the synchronized motion through clock-synchroneous communication, multiple axes, e.g. for machine tools or robots or printing machines.

PROFIdrive – Live Demo for Application Class 4


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This video of a live demo shows the standardized application interface for motion control and encoders - PROFIdrive - as well as the interchangeability of devices.

Make or buy - This is a suggestion for how implementation can be approached

  1. Specify requirements
     
  2. Check the requirements and fill out the PROFIdrive implementation guide
     
  3. Check the PROFIdrive profile source code
     
  4. Decide whether you will carry out the implementation yourself or purchase implementation: “make or buy”
     
  5. Build a test environment
    5.1 PROFIdrive profile tester
    5.2 PROFIdrive reference setup with available devices
     

The PROFIdrive Working Group has taken up this task!
 

Aids here include:

  • Implementation guide: A guide to the things I actaully want to implement
     
  • Reference implementation as license-free source code: Controller & device, Usable on different platforms and operating system
     
  • Examples: To make getting started even easier
     
  • Tested with the PROFIdrive profile tester

Community Project

  • PROFIdrive profile device source code
    • Drive application class 4 & encoder class 3
    •  

      Current version: 3.0

  • PROFIdrive profile controller source code
    • PROFIdrive Controller AC1   V1.1.0

    • PROFIdrive Controller AC4   V3.1.0

    • PROFIdrive controller isochronous operation   V2.1.0

  • FAQ & version overview
    • What was found in the software, starting with which version etc.

  • File download
    • Software, manuals, meeting protocols etc.

Certification

PI supports accredited PITLs worldwide for the certification of products with a PROFIBUS/ PROFINET interface. As institutions of the PI, they are independent service providers and adhere to the mutually agreed regulations. The testing services provided by the PITLs are regularly audited in accordance with a strict accreditation process to ensure that they meet the necessary quality requirements. A list of the current PITL locations can be found on the web site.

 

  • PI certification ensures that the devices of different manufacturers with different functional scopes conform to the PROFIdrive profile specification. The test report of a PITL serves as the basis for awarding a PROFIdrive certificate. The PITL uses the PROFIdrive Profile Tester to carry out the certification test. The Profile Tester allows the tests to be performed automatically to a great extent.

  • The PROFIdrive Profile Tester is available to device manufacturers for development support and for preliminary testing purposes. It thus helps manufacturers to achieve fast, systematic implementation of the PROFIdrive profile into products.

Support

Accredited PI Competence Centers around the world are available to help you in case of technical questions and support requests. For additional information on the technologies and on workshops, technical documentation (e.g., system descriptions) and products please visit our download section.

Workshops

PI Training Centers and numerous technology providers and manufacturers offer workshops on PROFIBUS and PROFINET and their related profiles. 


Over the years PROFINET IRT Drives vendors  community has become a powerful association with a huge product variety offering – further growing fast.

The
future proof concept  of PROFINET and PROFIdrive is only one reason for this boost – just consolidating the PROFINET IRT  Drives vendors community.

Future enhancements of
Standard Ethernet and PROFINET will link both standards even closer – becoming the two sides of  one medal.


Here is an overview of companies being part of this large growing.

PROFINET IRT - Drive Vendors Community

Please click on a vendor name below to be directed immediately to the related Product Finder Pages.

Realization

A realization of PROFIdrive is based on an existing implementation of PROFIBUS and PROFINET. Depending on the chosen application class there are different functions realizable.

In order to support device manufacturers a tested source code is provided by the

PROFIdrive Community for free and can be integrated into devices. Thus, device manufacturers are able to integrate PROFIdrive quickly and efficiently into their devices.

To give you a short overview of the Community Project and the currently available technology suppliers and service providers we compiled the most important information in the following flyer:

PROFIBUS is a standardized, open, digital communications system for all areas of application in manufacturing and process automation.

PROFINET is the innovative open standard for Industrial Ethernet. It satisfies all requirements of automation technology.

MTP Module Type Package enables modular production in which individual components can be flexibly combined.

IO-LINK is an independent sensor / actuator interface solution for use with all automation technologies.

omlox is an open technology standard for real-time indoor localization systems for industrial manufacturing.