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Servo Platforms

Q: What servo platforms are currently supported?

A: EtherCAT, Panasonic Realtime Express (RTEX), VersioBus II, and MECHATROLINK (II and III).

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Q: What is EtherCAT?

A: EtherCAT is an abbreviation for "Ethernet Control Automation Technology" -- an industrial Ethernet fieldbus network that is real-time down to the I/O level -- no delays in gateways, no underlying subsystems. The EtherCAT interface system is based on 100 Mbps Ethernet.

Click here for more information.

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Q: What are the main advantages of EtherCAT?

A: The main advantage is that it requires zero hardware in terms of connecting the servo drives to the PC. The RJ45 Ethernet cables are plugged directly into the Ethernet port on the PC, and servo drives are connected in a simple, single-line daisy-chain. Other advantages include its speed, openness, inexpensiveness, and flexibility in working with devices from many companies. Up to 32 servo drives (plus additional I/O stations) can be integrated in one network, with a cycle time as fast as 0.5 ms.

Click here for a more complete list of advantages.

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Q: What is required for the EtherCAT interface system?

A: Just the software provided by Soft Servo Systems.

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Q: What is RTEX?

A: "RTEX" is an abbreviation for the Panasonic Realtime Express™ – an Ethernet-based communications technology for a servo network using Panasonic MINAS A4N/A5N servo drives.

The RTEX interface system can include an optional VersioBus II fiber-optic I/O network with up to 256 points of general digital I/O, using up to 4 IM-305 I/O modules.

Click here for more information.

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Q: What are the main advantages of RTEX?

A: The main advantages of RTEX are its speed (100 Mbps), its high performance, its ability to control up to 32 axes, and its use of non-proprietary low-cost commercial Ethernet LAN cables.

Click here for a more complete list of advantages.

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Q: What is required for the RTEX interface system?

A: Just a single FPA-200/300 RTEX adapter board that easily inserts into a PCI slot in a PC. This adapter board has connectors for both the Ethernet-based servo network, and the optional VersioBus II fiber-optic I/O network. No additional proprietary hardware components are required, although the optional I/O modules are only available through Soft Servo Systems.

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Q: What is VersioBus II?

A: VersioBus II is Soft Servo Systems' original breakthrough technology that was designed to interface with any analog-interfaced servo drive using a single fiber-optic cable. This unique proprietary technology is ideal for applications requiring noise resistance.

Click here for more information.

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Q: What is the main advantage of VersioBus II?

A: The VersioBus II interface system can be used for traditional analog servo drives and I/O, making it the ideal choice for servo communications for retrofitting existing machines or machine tools for up to 16 axes. VersioBus II is compatible with most motors, and with incremental encoders.

Click here for a more complete list of advantages.

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Q: Does the VersioBus II servo platform support absolute encoders?

A: No, it does not. If you need to include absolute encoders in your system, you should use the RTEX or MECHATROLINK servo platform.

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Q: What are the main components of the VersioBus II interface system?

A: A multi-function VersioBus II adapter board (PCI) that is easily inserted into a PC, and one or more universal interface modules for up to 16 axes of servo control. Optional I/O modules may be included for up to 256 points of additional general digital I/O.

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Q: What is the difference between the DC-120, the DC-150 and the DC-155 servo interface modules for the VersioBus and VersioBus II interface systems?

A: The DC-120 and the DC-150 are for the VersioBus interface system, and are both discontinued; the DC-155 is for the VersioBus II interface system.

The DC-150 was an improvement over the DC-120, in terms of noise resistance, power, capacity and performance.

Click here for a comparison of the DC-155 and the discontinued DC-120 and DC-150 servo universal modules.

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Q: Does the VersioBus II interface system offer analog inputs?

A: No, not at this time.

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Q: What models of VersioBus II adapter boards do you offer?

A: The FP-105 is for a PCI slot.

Click here for a comparison between all the VersioBus II adapter board models.

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Q: Failed to load ServoWorks Motion Engine. Error Code C0010010

A: Please check the RTX property ->Hardware->Setting
and make sure the card has it's own IRQ.

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Q: What is the difference between "VersioBus" and "VersioBus II"?

A: VersioBus II is an improvement over VersioBus, in terms of reliability and the number of servo interface modules that can be daisy-chained in one network. VersioBus communications operate at 10 Mbps, while VersioBus II communications operate at 5 Mbps. However, both support a 1 msec cycle time.

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Q: What is the difference between the IM-300 and the IM-305?

A: The IM-300 is discontinued, and worked with VersioBus communications; the IM-305 has replaced the IM-300, and works with VersioBus II communications.

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Q: What is MECHATROLINK?

A: There are two MECHATROLINK communications technologies: MECHATROLINK II and MECHATROLINK III, both developed by YASKAWA Electric Corporation.

MECHATROLINK II is an all-digital, reliable, versatile and economically efficient communications technology.

MECHATROLINK III is a new 100 Mbps Ethernet-based digital servo communications technology.

Click here for more information.

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Q: What are the main advantages of MECHATROLINK II?

A: The MECHATROLINK II interface system supports up to 30 MECHATROLINK II modules, including the YASKAWA family of Sigma II, Sigma III and Sigma V servo drives, inverters and I/O, all on the same network, for simple, fast network control and high-performance motion control with a market-leading servo system.

Click here for a more complete list of advantages.

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Q: What are the main advantages of MECHATROLINK III?

A: The MECHATROLINK III interface system supports up to 62 stations in one network, is ten ten times faster than MECHATROLINK II, and uses YASKAWA's Sigma V servo system.

Click here for a more complete list of advantages.

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Q: What is required for the MECHATROLINK interface system?

A: Just a MECHATROLINK adapter board (PCI for MECHATROLINK II and MECHATROLINK III) that easily inserts into a PC. No additional proprietary hardware components are required.

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Q: Are all YASKAWA inverters compatible with MECHATROLINK II?

A: No – you should check with your YASKAWA provider for advice on inverter compatibility.

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Q: What are my options for additional I/O for a MECHATROLINK II interface system?

A: There are two options for adding I/O capabilities to your MECHATROLINK II interface system:


  1. You can add YASKAWA's MECHATROLINK II-compatible I/O modules to your MECHATROLINK II network, or


  2. You can add optional and affordable I/O by adding a VersioBus II adapter board (PCI) to your system. Alone, this adapter board provides 32 points of local I/O and a handwheel connector. If more than 32 points of I/O is required, an I/O network can be connected to the VersioBus II adapter board using IM-305 I/O modules. Each IM-305 provides 64 points of I/O, and up to four IM-305s can be daisy-chained together with VersioBus II fiber-optic cables, for a total of 256 points of I/O in addition to the 32 points of local I/O.

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Q: What are my options for additional I/O for a MECHATROLINK III interface system?

A: You can add optional and affordable I/O by adding a VersioBus II adapter board (PCI) to your system. Alone, this adapter board provides 32 points of local I/O and a handwheel connector. If more than 32 points of I/O is required, an I/O network can be connected to the VersioBus II adapter board using IM-305 I/O modules. Each IM-305 provides 64 points of I/O, and up to four IM-305s can be daisy-chained together with VersioBus II fiber-optic cables, for a total of 256 points of I/O in addition to the 32 points of local I/O.

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Q: Are there different product versions for different servo interface systems?

A: Yes, because the GUI for the I/O display changes for different servo interface systems.

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Q: Can IM-305s be used with the MECHATROLINK or RTEX servo platforms?

A: Yes, an optional VersioBus II I/O network can be included for MECHATROLINK. A VersioBus II adapter card must be plugged into a dedicated PCI slot on the PC to provide the communication for the I/O network. This adapter card also provides an encoder and digital I/O connector for a handwheel, a 32-point local general I/O connector.

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Q: How many I/Os are provided by the IM-305?

A: There are 64 I/Os on the IM-305 (32 inputs and 32 outputs) – up to 4 IM-305s can be daisy chained together for a total of 256 points of additional I/O.

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Q: Are single source packages with drives and motors available?

A: Yes, total ServoWorks CNC or SMP general motion control packages with Panasonic MINAS A4N/A5N-series servo drives and motors, or with YASKAWA Sigma II, Sigma III or Sigma V servo drives (with a choice of MECHATROLINK II, MECHATROLINK III or VersioBus II servo communications), are available.


Soft Servo Systems has a sales and technical partnership with Panasonic Corporation allowing us to offer Panasonic MINAS A4N/A5N-series servo drives and motors to our customers.


Soft Servo Systems also has a long standing business and technical partnership with YASKAWA Electric Corporation. This allowed us to be the first company in the United States to offer Sigma III servo drives with MECHATROLINK II servo communications, and one of the first third-party motion control providers of a system combining MECHATROLINK III and Sigma V technologies. These complete and economical CNC solutions for MECHATROLINK interface systems include world wide support.


We constantly work with Panasonic Corporation and YASKAWA Electric Corporation on providing the best motion control solutions for our customers.

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Soft Servo Systems, Inc.