Every automation project starts with a practical question.
Which actuator fits the movement? Which drive system is right for the load? Which valve terminal supports the required fieldbus? Which accessories are compatible? What data is needed before commissioning?
Engineering tools provide a structure so these questions can be answered more quickly and easily. Instead of looking through different sources, engineers can use dedicated tools for specific tasks, such as simulation, sizing, product selection, system configuration and commissioning.
This saves time at the crucial moment: when making decisions that shape machine performance.
Automation engineering is rarely a single-step process. A project may start with a machine concept, continue with sizing and product selection, then move onto configuration, documentation and commissioning.
The engineering tools from Festo support all the different tasks of this workflow:
The goal is simple: spend less time on searching and more time on engineering.
If pneumatic, electric and control components need to work together, engineers need a clear view of the complete system from the start.
The System Configurator supports the design of complete automation systems using products and solutions from Festo. This gives engineers a more connected view of the application instead of treating every component separately.
Additional tools support specific engineering tasks. Pneumatic Simulation helps assess pneumatic system behaviour. Electric Motion Sizing supports the sizing of electric drive systems. Handling Guide Online helps configure handling systems faster.
These tools help engineers make technical decisions based on calculations instead of assumptions.
Product selection can quickly slow down a project. A component may look suitable, but the details such as technical data, variants, accessories, spare parts, documentation and ordering information still need to match.
The Quick Search Plus Application gives access to the Festo online catalogue so engineers can find suitable products more quickly. You can search by type code, compare products, create parts lists and find compatible accessories or spare parts.
This makes the product selection process easier to manage, especially when the required function is clear but the right component still needs to be confirmed.
Once components have been selected, commissioning is the next critical step. Drive systems often include mechanical components, motors, controllers and software settings. If all these elements are handled separately, setup can take longer than expected.
The Festo Automation Suite is just one software environment for the parameterisation, programming and maintenance of complete drive systems. It allows engineers to progress more efficiently from selecting components to getting a system up and running.
The software manages the setup in five steps, simplifies integration into the control program and offers extensions for specific requirements, including an optional CODESYS expansion.
Engineering efficiency does not stop once a system has been designed. Commissioning, configuration and diagnostics also influence how quickly a machine can be brought into operation and kept running.
The Festo Maintenance Tool, also known as CPX-FMT, supports commissioning, configuration and diagnostics for CPX terminals. For industrial Ethernet fieldbuses such as Ethernet/IP, PROFINET or Modbus TCP, the tool can communicate directly with the CPX terminal. Classic fieldbuses can be connected using a USB adapter.
This means teams can access system information faster, generate documentation and diagnose faults more easily.