Motion control applications typically require very high speed execution of precise motion sequences. These motion sequences also need to be executed in a very deterministic manner and should not be adversely impacted by other control tasks. For this reason CTC created an extension to its QuickStep language called QuickMotion.

QuickMotion is a specialized extension of QuickBuilder designed for motion control applications. It has been optimized to simplify the motion control process and to take advantage of the distributed architecture of the Model 5300 automation controllers. QuickMotion instructions are entered into specialized tasks called Motion Sequence Blocks or MSBs. The MSBs are controlled and monitored by QuickBuilder, while all high speed motion functionality is executed on the individual axis modules.

The MSBs are coded within the QuickBuilder environment in the same way as steps are coded in QuickStep: Drag the MSB symbol onto the graphical desktop, give it a name, and use the editor to add the appropriate instructions.

As a practical example, think of the common motion control operation of homing an axis. In older control schemes designers were either forced to write this homing code over and over in the program or call some generic homing routine hard coded by the motion control manufacturer. With QuickMotion it is easy to create a customized homing MSB once, give it a name, and then use a QuickStep statement to start that MSB on any axis whenever an axis needs to be homed.