Machinery TwinVariable modes
Constant, Function, Motion Cam, Input and From Connection, when to use which.
Each config (Simulation and Online) computes its value in one of these modes:
Constant
A fixed number. Sounds trivial, but constants are the setpoints of your twin: a rail offset, a speed a state machine can overwrite, a manual test value you nudge while watching the scene.
Available in: Simulation & Online.
Function
The value is computed by a math function, a master clock, a sine, a threshold switch, a scaled copy of another variable. All functions except MasterTime take an input variable. Full list in the function reference.
Available in: Simulation & Online.
Motion Cam
The value is a cam profile output: the profile is evaluated at the current value of its master variable. This is how one master axis drives many coordinated slaves.
Available in: Simulation & Online.
Input
Copies another variable, optionally offset and scaled (modifiers). Use it to fan one master out to several consumers that each need their own offset, e.g. product carriers spaced along a path.
Available in: Simulation only.
From Connection
Reads a PLC tag: pick a connection, enter the address/symbol, choose the data type (REAL, INT, DINT, BOOL). The value updates at the connection's polling interval; booleans read as 0/1.
Available in: Online only. Addressing syntax per PLC brand is covered in Mapping PLC tags.
Modifiers apply everywhere
Whatever the mode, the result then passes through the variable's input/output offsets, scale factor and min/max clamp, see Scaling & clamping. This is where unit conversions live (encoder counts → degrees, mm → scene units).