Baumüller presents drive-integrated b maXX drivePLC control unit

Baumüller has expanded its automation and drive technology portfolio with the b maXX drivePLC, a drive-integrated control unit designed for highly synchronous motion control and decentralized machine topologies. Combining programmable logic control, motion coordination, and technology-specific software within the servo drive housing, the unit executes closed-loop tasks in real-time controller cycles down to 250 μs. Shifting execution into the local drive processor bypasses external communication bottlenecks, offloads cyclic bandwidth from the machine fieldbus, and enhances path precision and cycle throughput.

Decentralized Intelligence and Multi-Axis Cluster Control
Decentralizing automation control permits machine builders to segment complex production lines into autonomous, pre-assembled mechatronic modules. Subunits can be engineered, parameterized, and pre-commissioned independently prior to final system integration, reducing factory assembly schedules and commissioning overhead.

Operating as an EtherCAT Main Device (Master), the b maXX drivePLC directly commands subordinated servo converters and peripheral I/O modules, forming distributed machine clusters without requiring a central supervisory PLC. Multi-protocol fieldbus interfaces support integration into hybrid architectures alongside third-party programmable automation controllers.

Connectivity, Software Flexibility, and Cybersecurity Compliance
The platform operates on a Linux-based runtime environment engineered for open communication and custom application deployment. Supported industry interfaces include OPC UA, MQTT, EtherCAT, and Industrial Ethernet, allowing integration across physical machines, production execution networks, and enterprise cloud systems.

Security architectures embedded within the platform comply with industrial cybersecurity standards and assist equipment manufacturers in meeting European Union Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) mandates for long-term secure network operations.

Baumüller is presenting the b maXX drivePLC at SPS – Smart Production Solutions in Nuremberg from November 24 to 26, 2026, in Hall 1, Booth 560.

Additional Context
This section details technical specifications not included in the original news release.

Drive-integrated programmable logic controllers (PLCs) eliminate fieldbus jitter and propagation delays by co-locating the motion trajectory generator on the same digital signal processor (DSP) or field-programmable gate array (FPGA) fabric managing the pulse-width modulation (PWM) switching inverter. High-speed internal dual-port RAM interfaces allow the onboard PLC task to query instantaneous phase currents, DC link voltages, motor torque feedback, and encoder position vectors synchronously at the current-controller loop interval (often sub-62.5 microseconds). Operating as an EtherCAT master utilizing Distributed Clocks (DC) achieves multi-axis synchronization with jitter tolerances below 1 microsecond across subordinate servo nodes. To align with the European Union Cyber Resilience Act (Regulation EU 2024/2847) and IEC 62443-4-2 industrial security requirements, embedded Linux runtimes incorporate hardware-enforced secure boot via a physical Root of Trust (RoT), encrypted non-volatile memory partitions, role-based access control (RBAC), and standardized Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) tracking to protect against unauthorized firmware modification and remote network intrusion.

Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.