In a typical PLC-based motion control system, high-speed pulse output cards are used in the PLC to generate a ‘pulse train’ for each servo or stepper drive. The drive receives the pulses and indexes the motor shaft by a pre-set amount for each pulse.

PLCs are commonly used in motion control systems because they can easily interface with other control devices and sensors, such as encoders, limit switches, and proximity sensors. They can also be programmed to perform complex control functions and make decisions based on input from these devices.