Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to industrial controller firmware. More specifically, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for developing, deploying, and executing loadable embedded software extensions that expand controller functionality beyond that of what is available in a controller's base firmware. Systems and methods described herein provide for a firmware extension development environment, a firmware extension repository, a firmware extension deployment interface, and various firmware extension executions models. During execution of a control program within an industrial controller, when directed by the logic of the control program to perform an external function, industrial controller firmware may call an external component provided by an extension developed in accordance with the present disclosure to perform the external function.

Abstract: An industrial controller for injection molding machines models the injection molding machine by observing ram state in response to control variables to alert the user when a control profile may be physically unrealizable and to inhibit a learning process to avoid extreme actuation of the controlled components such as may be detrimental to later control accuracy. Simultaneous velocity and pressure control of the ram, with separate profiles, may be obtained by open-loop control of either pressure or velocity and continuous closed-loop control of the other control variable.