Rockwell Automation GMLC Reference Manual - Manual (Page 164)

Publication GMLC-5.2 - November 1999
Imaginary Axis Applications 127
Imaginary Axis Applications
You use the imaginary axis to synchronize multiple physical axes together
using an independent master. Thus, all physical axes can be used as
slaves, instead of using just one as the master for the others. This results
in closer synchronization between the physical axes since they are all
following the same command, as shown below.
To move all four physical axes together, execute a move, jog, or time-lock
cam on the imaginary axis.
The imaginary axis also allows manual jogging of multiple synchronized
axes without losing synchronization. In this type of application, the
imaginary is both a slave and a master axis. The imaginary axis is geared
at a 1:1 ratio to the real (physical or virtual) master and the imaginary
axis’ command position is then used as the master for the physical slave
axes, perhaps executing position-lock cams, as shown in the following
diagram.