We're excited to announce that the latest version of the KINGSTAR Soft Motion Platform is now available. Version 3.3 adds a variety of new functionality, like the KINGSTAR Tuning Console, as well as support for additional hardware and expanded documentation. It also resolves over 20 known issues.

KINGSTAR Version 3.3 Is Now Available - Heres What You Need to Know

Were excited to announce that the latest version of the KINGSTAR Soft Motion Platform is now available. Version 3.3 adds a variety of new functionality, like the KINGSTAR Tuning Console, as well as support for additional hardware and expanded documentation. It also resolves over 20 known issues.

Read the release notes below for all the details, or get in touch to learn more about how KINGSTAR Version 3.3 can benefit your business.
General Availability Release Date February 9, 2018
Product Overview

KINGSTAR products are designed for industrial machines requiring motion control and positioning systems. KINGSTARs all-software approach sets it apart from other machine control solutions.

Using the EtherCAT standard; the power of Industrial PCs; and the Windows operating system, enhanced by IntervalZeros RTX64 hard real-time software that transforms Windows into a real-time operating system (RTOS), you can create software-only, PC-based machine controllers that lower the costs of industrial machines while delivering excellent precision and performance.

There are two product lines: KINGSTAR Soft Motion and KINGSTAR EtherCAT.

KINGSTAR Soft Motion is a complete software solution that creates PC-based machine controllers with premium precision and performance.

KINGSTAR EtherCAT provides support for CANopen over EtherCAT and simplified configuration of EtherCAT networks.
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New Features and Resolved Issues
KINGSTAR Soft Motion

KINGSTAR Tuning Console allows developers to setup and connect the KINGSTAR subsystem. The Tuning Console also provides the ability to configure and tune devices discovered through scanning the bus and by auto-detection. Multiple KINGSTAR configurations can be saved to allow for different setups and settings that can be exported in C to easily, and programmatically, configure KINGSTAR.
Adds support for Ethernet over EtherCAT (EoE). [KS-110]
Adds support for File Access over EtherCAT (FoE). [KS-473]
Adds functionality to query the Distributed Clock (DC) system time. [KS-533]
Adds heartbeat functionality and function blocks. Customer applications can be configured to send out a heartbeat which the KINGSTAR subsystem monitors. When the subsystem detects the absence of an application, the KINGSTAR subsystem will shut down. [KS-597]
Expands documentation to clearly list supported operating systems and Visual Studio versions. [KS-613]
Adds Support for RTX64 3.3.1, which includes support for Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (1709). [KS-632]
Resolves issues with the MC_Move… functions not working currently from the Windows interface. [KS-548]
Resolves an issue regarding MC_WriteDigitalOutput not working properly and returning an Error ID of mcWrongQueueIndex (6). [KS-554]
Resolves an issue regarding GetServoMotionStatus incorrectly returning motionStopped, even though a motion command had been sent successfully. [KS-555]
Resolves an issue regarding an incorrect error ID returned when JogForward and JogBackward are enabled at the same time using MC_Jog during standstill. [KS-556]
Resolves an issue where KINGSTAR could not access input data when there are only input modules on the EtherCAT bus and one of the input modules connects to Omron DI Module GX-ID1611. [KS-559]
Resolves an issue regarding the Valid output not changing after a call to MC_GroupReadActualVelocity. [KS-578]
Resolves an issue regarding MoveServo not moving all the selected axes. [KS-583]
Resolves an issue regarding WriteServoDO returning the wrong code if the drive is simulated. [KS-584]
Resolves an issue regarding the PLC incorrectly passing data into the KINGSTAR subsystem during initialization. [KS-585]
Resolves an issue regarding the PathVelocity value being incorrect when using MC_GroupReadActualVelocity to read the value during a MoveCircular movement. [KS-598]
Resolves an issue regarding MC_GroupDisable and MC_UngroupAllAxes not stopping current group motion. [KS-600]
Resolves an issue regarding the MoveServo functions not working correctly from the Windows interface. [KS-601]
Resolves an issue regarding servo module functions returning -1 (returnFailed) when configuring the homing motion profile. [KS-608]
Resolves an issue regarding an axis not decelerating and returning to the latched position during the forward motion of homingLatch. [KS-615]
Resolves an issue regarding MC_GroupHalt not using the input Jerk value. [KS-642]
Resolves an issue regarding the InVelocity parameter of MC_Jog not resetting after being aborted. [KS-645]
Resolves an issue regarding the Windows interface where KINGSTAR incorrectly uses MC_MoveLinearRelative instead of MC_MoveLinearAdditive. [KS-647]
Resolves an issue regarding an error and an abnormal stop by all axis groups if running MC_GroupStop when MC_MoveLinearAbsolute is running. [KS-651]
Resolves an issue regarding incorrect output from MC_GroupStop after its command is aborted by MC_ GroupDisable. [KS-652]
Resolves an issue regarding CommandAbort not causing a reset of MC_GearIns InGear and MC_GearInPoss InSync. [KS-660]
Resolves an issue regarding HomingStatus being unable to get homingSuccess when in homingSlave mode. [KS-663]
Resolves an issue regarding the Windows interface function GetFeature returning the wrong values for some features. [KS-667]

KINGSTAR EtherCAT

Adds new supported hardware:
Servo drives
Fastech Ezi-SERVO II EtherCAT [KS-557]
EtherCAT I/O modules
Advantech AMAX-4800 Series [KS-610]
CKD OPP6 Series [KS-519]
Hitachi EH IOCA [KS-521]
Interface PCI-450601 [KS-522]
Kashiyama ECAT01 [KS-523]
Nagano Oki NOKECW R-IN32M3-EC[KS-524]
Ricoh AP-10A [KS-525]
Tem-TechLab.ECG-485[KS-526]

Availability

Download KINGSTAR 3.3 Soft Motion and KINGSTAR EtherCAT beginning February 9, 2018 through Partners and by contacting Sales: KINGSTARSales@KINGSTAR.com or (781) 209-2810. Evaluation Downloads can also be requested here.

We look forward to comments and feedback. If you have any recommendations or wish to suggest any product enhancements, please contact Product Management at: KINGSTARSales@KINGSTAR.com.