Glossary · Motion control and drives
Motion profile
Also known as: Motion trajectory, Velocity profile
German: Bewegungsprofil
In motion control, a motion profile is the planned course of position, velocity, acceleration and jerk of an axis over time or over a master position, used by the controller to generate setpoints for a move.
- Motion control
In one sentence
A motion profile is the planned course of position, speed, acceleration and jerk over a move, from which setpoints are generated.
Example
The pick axis uses a trapezoidal motion profile for long moves and an S-curve profile for short, delicate placements.
How it applies
- Engineering: The profile type and its limits (velocity, acceleration, deceleration, jerk) determine cycle time, mechanical stress and vibration.
- Commissioning: Profiles are tuned to the load: heavier loads need gentler ramps; motor current and following error show whether limits are realistic.
- Operation: Recipes may carry different profiles per product.
- Documentation: Show profiles as velocity-over-time diagrams in engineering and training material. When operators can change profile values, state the permitted ranges and that longer deceleration can increase stopping distances.
Motion profile vs. cam profile
A motion profile is usually defined over time for a single move. A cam profile defines slave position over master position and repeats every cycle.
In software documentation, name the profile type and its limits for each axis in one table so reviewers can compare them.