Glossary · Data, timing and communication
Trace (signal recording)
Also known as: Signal trace, Logic analyzer recording
German: Trace
In PLC and drive engineering, a trace is a time-based recording of selected variables or signals, triggered by a defined condition and sampled at a fixed rate, used for commissioning, optimization and troubleshooting.
- Data and interfaces
- Verification
In one sentence
A trace records selected PLC or drive signals over time at a fixed rate, triggered by a condition, for commissioning and troubleshooting.
Example
To find a sporadic stop, the technician sets a trace on the axis position, the stop command and the light curtain signal, triggered by the fault bit.
How it applies
- Commissioning: Traces show control loop behavior, timing and signal sequences that cannot be seen on the HMI.
- Verification: Recorded traces can serve as evidence, for example of measured response or stopping times, if the setup and sampling rate are documented.
- Documentation: The documentation team should describe how service staff create and export traces and which signals are useful for typical faults.
- Maintenance: Store trace configurations for recurring diagnostics with the machine project.
Trace vs. trace link
A trace here is a signal recording. A Trace link is a link between engineering artifacts (requirements, design, tests) in Traceability.
Traces can produce large files; define retention and naming conventions so recordings can be matched to machines, dates and software versions later.