Both motion controllers and PLCs have a history of over 40 years, with PLCs having a longer history in comparison. Galil’s motion controller started in 1983, Delta Tau’s motion controller started in 1981, and TRIO’s motion controller started in 1987. Modicon launched Modicon 084 in 1968, and Siemens released Simatic S5 in 1983.
Manufacturers represented by motion controllers pay more attention to motion control itself, and PLC has more application objects. Motion control is only one part that PLC focuses on. The motion control faced by PLCs is relatively simple, while the motion control faced by motion controllers is more complex.
From the perspective of motion control, the gap between motion controllers and motion oriented PLCs in basic motion control is narrowing, but the accumulation and application scenarios of motion controllers in motion control are still deeper.
