Mechatronic development of PLC software with virtual machine tools

In order to cope with the increasing functionality of today's machine tools, software development for programmable logical controllers (PLC) needs systematic approaches for testing implemented routines. An automatic test machine executing test runs as workflows is able to fulfill the given requirements. A prototype, developed at Laboratory for Machine Tools (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University, combines mechatronic development with a virtual machine tool. With its help, PLC software and simulation models can be generated basing on a meta-model that allows an integrated engineering of software and functionality. It is thus possible to test software parts automatically and without need for a (real) machine tool.