What SoftSERCANS Is SoftSERCANS is a software interface master function to SERCOS I and II based drives*, which runs on the Ardence (formerly VenturCom) RTX real-time Windows software. SoftSERCANS is a SERCOS interface driver to PC-based soft motion control, just as printer drivers are for a PC. With SoftSERCANS, the SERCOS interface accomplishes the complete unbundling of software and hardware. SoftSERCANS is both maintained and developed by the developer and owner of the source code, Bosch Rexroth. The object code of SoftSERCANS is made available in the form of a free-of-charge software module accessed via the homepage www.sercos.de and can simply be downloaded. The use of SoftSERCANS presupposes the acceptance of the license agreement, without which the installation of SoftSERCANS cannot be continued. The license agreement outlines the rights and the obligations of the SoftSERCANS user. SoftSERCANS Version 1.0 is downloadable from the web at no charge, making it easier and cheaper for CNC and motion control manufacturers to incorporate the fiber-optic SERCOS interface into softCNC or soft motion control products. SoftSERCANS initializes the SERCOS loop and manages the data communication on the loop, managing all SERCOS services such as real time data communication, service channel, and diagnostics. A real-time software (e.g., soft-CNC) based on Ardence's RTX establishes the communication with SoftSERCANS via DLL. Features of SERCOS allow SoftSERCANS to make Realtime Windows® a hard deterministic motion control platform. SoftSERCANS enables Realtime Windows to perform read and write functions within a relatively large time frame, designed by the time slot configuration to compensate for jitter. The SERCOS internal clock and the synchronization mechanism establish a rigid sub-microsecond time lattice, giving the data communication within the SERCOS loop the determinism necessary to satisfy the highest requirements of today's servo drive technology. SoftSERCANS allows the internal mechanisms of SERCOS to remain a black box to motion control development engineers. The only hardware requirement is a passive SERCOS card, presently available from several vendors for approximately $250. Sources for the card are listed in the SoftSERCANS manual, downloadable at no charge. * Note that SoftSERCANS is intended to control servo drives of any manufacturer, provided those drives have passed the SERCOS interface conformance test. What It Is Not SoftSERCANS is an important software component of a SoftCNC or SoftMotion Control, but it is not a complete control package that can be used as a stand-alone product. The SoftCNC/SoftMotion developer must still create his HMI and application packages, using SoftSERCANS to provide the black box interface to SERCOS interface drives and SERCOS interface I/O devices. SoftSERCANS was written in C++. The SoftCNC/SoftMotion developer should be familiar with C++ and Windows programming, have experience with realtime applications and have a basic familiarity with the SERCOS interface.