# TwinCAT

Note: This feature is only available if the optional TwinCAT plugin has been selected for installation in the Cognex Designer setup.

The TwinCAT device allows you to set up a communications device that the Cognex Designer project can use to interact with Beckhoff® TwinCAT® 2 or 3 software systems through the Automation Device Specification (ADS) / Automation Message Specification (AMS) protocol.

The TwinCAT software system is used to utilize compatible PCs as real-time controllers, offering multi-PLC system, NC axis control and operating station capabilities with a programming environment. As such, TwinCAT can replace conventional PLC and NC/CNC controllers as well as operating devices with an open, compatible PC hardware. TwinCAT is an embedded IEC 61131-3 software PLC, software NC and software CNC running on Windows operating systems, and offers programming and run-time systems, either together on one PC, or separated. It supports all common field-buses and PC interfaces, and offers data communication with user interfaces and other programs through open Microsoft standards (OPC, OCX, DLL, etc.).

When this plugin is installed and used in a Cognex Designer project, your vision application can communicate with the TwinCAT 2 or 3 controllers located on the network, allowing you to perform read/write operations through published TwinCAT Tags asynchronously, or multi-read/write operations synchronously with the published TwinCAT $ functions.

The protocol is represented in Cognex Designer with the TwinCAT Device.