Industrial automation · Panasonic
Panasonic motion controller GM1 and servo axes in India
The Panasonic motion controller GM1 brings multi-axis motion, networking and I/O into one compact unit. Industrisol supplies the GM1 and matching MINAS servo motors to machine builders in Mumbai and across India, and helps you confirm axis count, network and servo compatibility before you order.
- Up to 32 axes: 16 physical plus 16 virtual
- EtherCAT for servos, EtherNet/IP to the plant
- CODESYS programming to IEC 61131-3
- Cam editing, interpolation and axis synchronisation
Motion controller or PLC: when you need a dedicated Panasonic motion controller
A PLC with pulse outputs can position a few independent axes well. Once a machine needs several axes moving together, such as a rotary knife following a web, a flying saw, an X-Y-Z path or an electronic cam replacing a mechanical one, a dedicated motion controller is the better tool. It calculates coordinated trajectories every cycle and sends them to the servo drives over a fast deterministic network.
The Panasonic GM1 is built for this job. It combines what used to be four separate units, a positioning unit, a network unit, an I/O unit and a high-speed counter unit, in one housing, which saves panel space and wiring. It talks to servo drives over EtherCAT and to plant systems or HMIs over EtherNet/IP. For the servo side of the system, see Panasonic servo motors.
Panasonic motion control products we supply
Panasonic GM1 motion controller
A space-saving controller for multi-axis machines with demanding motion profiles. The configuration software helps you pick the right function blocks, edit cam curves smoothly and simulate and debug programs before the machine is built. Synchronous control supports 2- and 3-axis interpolation and coupling of axes, and high-speed response keeps data exchange fast.
| Axes | Up to 32 (16 physical + 16 virtual) |
|---|---|
| Servo network | EtherCAT |
| Plant network | EtherNet/IP |
| Programming | CODESYS, IEC 61131-3 languages |
| Functions | Cam, interpolation, synchronisation, simulation |
| Integrated | Positioning, network, I/O and high-speed counter |
Panasonic MHMF502L1G6M servo motor, three phase
A three-phase, 200 V class Panasonic servo motor for use with an EtherCAT MINAS driver under a motion controller such as the GM1. The driver uses IGBT PWM sinusoidal drive. Environmental limits below are as listed for this unit.
| Supply | 230 V, three phase |
|---|---|
| Control method | IGBT PWM sinusoidal wave drive |
| Ambient temperature | 0 to 55 °C |
| Storage temperature | -20 to 65 °C |
| Humidity | 20 to 85% RH |
| Vibration | 5.88 m/s² or less, 10 to 60 Hz |
| Altitude | Below 1000 m |
Applications for the Panasonic GM1
Packaging machinery
Flow wrappers, cartoners and fill-seal machines with cam-linked axes.
Printing machines
Register control and rotary knives synchronised to the web.
Robots and handling
Gantry pick-and-place and transfer systems with interpolated paths.
Semiconductor equipment
Precise multi-axis stages and handling units.
Machine tools
Auxiliary axes, loaders and coordinated feed motions.
Conveyors and automated machinery
Synchronised conveyors, indexing and tracking.
Sizing a motion control system
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How many real servo axes? | GM1 supports up to 16 physical axes |
| Do you need virtual (master) axes? | Virtual axes drive cams and gearing; up to 16 on GM1 |
| Which servo drives? | Drives must be EtherCAT-capable, such as EtherCAT MINAS A6 types |
| Interpolation needed? | 2- or 3-axis paths need coordinated motion functions |
| Connection to HMI / SCADA? | EtherNet/IP is built in for plant-level links |
| Programming team skills | CODESYS uses IEC 61131-3 languages familiar to PLC engineers |
What to send with your motion controller enquiry
Not sure about some details? Send what you have — we will ask the right follow-up questions.
- Number of servo axes and any virtual or encoder axes
- Servo drive and motor models (existing or planned)
- Motion type: point-to-point, cam, gearing, interpolation
- I/O count and any high-speed counter inputs
- HMI or SCADA to be connected
- Project timeline and delivery location
How many axes can the Panasonic GM1 control?
The GM1 controls up to 32 axes: 16 physical servo axes connected over EtherCAT and 16 virtual axes used inside the program, for example as a master for electronic cams or gearing. Plan some spare capacity if the machine may gain axes later, and check that each drive is EtherCAT-compatible.
What is CODESYS and why does it matter?
CODESYS is a widely used development environment for programming controllers in the IEC 61131-3 languages, such as structured text, ladder and function block diagram. Because many engineers already know it, using CODESYS on the GM1 shortens the learning curve and makes it easier to reuse code and function blocks across projects.
Can the GM1 run non-Panasonic servo drives?
EtherCAT is an open standard, so in principle other EtherCAT drives can be connected. In practice, Panasonic MINAS EtherCAT drives are the straightforward choice because they are tested with the GM1 and have ready device descriptions. If you plan to mix brands, check compatibility early in the design.
Do I still need a PLC with a motion controller?
Often not. The GM1 includes I/O and runs CODESYS logic, so on many machines it can handle both sequence logic and motion. On larger lines, a separate PLC may manage the line while the GM1 handles motion on one machine, linked over EtherNet/IP. The choice depends on I/O count and plant standards.
What is an electronic cam?
An electronic cam is a programmed profile that links a slave axis position to a master axis position, replacing a mechanical cam. It lets you change the motion profile for a new product by loading a different table instead of machining a new part, which is why it is common on packaging and printing machines.
Planning a multi-axis machine?
Send your axis count, servo models and motion type for a Panasonic motion controller quotation.