Virtual Commissioning is the exercise of reproducing the physical behavior of a machine or plant in a virtual way through a software simulation applied to the Digital Twin.
The ultimate target of the emulation is to test all the designed elements and related automations, technically controlled by PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), Motion Control, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) and HMI (Human Machine Interface) allowing
to test the development software to remove system errors before implementing component construction and the entire manufacturing process.
Current systems such as machinery, transfers, systems are increasingly automated, often including sophisticated tools, robots, transfer lines and other safety equipment and are all controlled by programmable solutions (PLC, Motion Control, CNC).
Virtual Commissioning significantly reduces the start-up time, for this purpose we use a "PLC Simulator" to test and optimize the software created in a virtual model that simulates the functions of the machine.
This allows the safe simulation and optimization of the plant programs on the computer, as well as the validation of the system control unit (simulation of the PLC program). Programs optimized with the help of this model are then transferred to the real
system.
The result is greater operational safety with better quality of the PLC software and the program, right from the start.
With virtual commissioning, the validation of the PLC software takes place during the simulation phase, before therefore the construction of the real line and the final testing, so as to avoid potential programming errors that could lead to breakages
and / or delays during commissioning.
