Introduction
Technosoft has been designing and manufacturing intelligent drives for over 30 years. During that time, our products have found their way into countless industrial applications, many of which are still running reliably today. But technology moves forward, and at some point, the question comes up: can I upgrade my existing project to a newer drive without starting from scratch?
The short answer is yes. Our drives have been built from the beginning with long-term compatibility in mind. Upgrading to a newer generation is a straightforward process, and the vast majority of your existing work carries over directly. This article explains what the upgrade process looks like in practice and why it’s worth considering.
Backwards Compatibility by Design
Every new generation of Technosoft drives is designed to be backwards compatible with its predecessors. This is not an afterthought but a core part of our development philosophy. When we release a new drive, we make sure that the features and behavior our users depend on remain intact.
In practical terms, this means that TML (Technosoft Motion Language) code written for an older drive is approximately 95% directly compatible with a newer one. The motion logic, control sequences, and user-defined functions that your team has developed and tested over the years will transfer with little to no modification. The remaining adjustments are typically limited to I/O-related commands, since the new drives may have different pin assignments or connector layouts. These are minor changes and easy to identify during the transition.
What Actually Needs to Change
When migrating from an older drive to a newer one, the work involved falls into a few well-defined categories:
Hardware connections: The new drive will likely have a different physical layout. Motor cables, encoder connections, and sensor wiring will need to be routed to the correct pins on the new unit. This is a one-time task that follows the datasheet of the new drive.
I/O pin mapping: Because newer drives may have different I/O pin names and configurations, any TML instructions that reference specific pins will need to be updated to match the new hardware. This is a small and predictable part of the migration.
Tuning: The control loops will need to be re-tuned for the new drive and motor combination. Using the automatic tuning feature in EasyMotion Studio II, this process can be completed in just a few minutes. Once tuning is done, all parameters can be saved in the drive’s non-volatile EEPROM memory, so the system initializes correctly on every power-up without further intervention.
Master-level code: In most cases, the code running on the CAN or EtherCAT master does not need to change at all. The Technosoft drive handles the motion logic internally, and the master simply calls functions or sends high-level commands as before.
Once the initial setup is complete, the new drive is ready to operate in the same role as the old one. And if you’re working within the same communication protocol, for example replacing a CAN-based drive with another CAN-based unit, the integration is even more seamless.
TML: Your Code Travels With You
Many of our customers choose TML as their primary way of programming motion sequences, and for good reason. TML lets you build complex motion behavior directly on the drive, reducing the load on the master and simplifying the overall system architecture.
One of the major advantages during an upgrade is that TML programs are portable across Technosoft drives. A function library developed for one drive can be imported into another with only minor adjustments. This means the motion expertise your team has built up over years of development doesn’t get lost when you switch to a new product.
TML also gives you flexibility in how you divide work between the drive and the master. You can have the drive handle all motion internally and simply signal the master when a task is done, or you can split responsibilities so that the master calls specific TML functions as needed. Either way, the approach you’ve already established carries over to the new drive.
Why Upgrade
While an existing drive may still be doing its job, there are real advantages to moving to a newer generation:
Better hardware: Newer drives offer improved power stages, higher current ratings, and more advanced processing capability. This translates directly into better motor control and more responsive system behavior.
More features: Each generation adds new control options, feedback support, and motion capabilities. Features like S-curve profiling, advanced homing procedures, additional feedback interfaces (BiSS-C, EnDat, SSI, and others), and expanded I/O options become available when you move to a current product.
Improved firmware: The firmware running inside newer drives includes years of refinements, optimizations, and fixes. Performance improvements that benefit every aspect of the control loop are built in from the start.
Better development tools: The transition from EasyMotion Studio to EasyMotion Studio II brings a more modern interface with improved setup workflows, better visualization tools, and support for the latest drive features.
Long-term support: Some older drives in our product range are still available for purchase for existing projects, but are no longer actively supported nor have new features or updates. For new projects, we always recommend current-generation products. If your system relies on an older drive, upgrading ensures you have access to full technical support and continued product development.
Engineering Support Throughout the Process
We understand that upgrading a working system can feel like a significant step, especially for machines that have been running reliably for years. That’s why Technosoft provides dedicated engineering support during the migration process.
One or more engineers from our support department will work with you through the transition. They will help verify that the new drive is compatible with your existing setup, assist with the hardware integration and tuning process, and make sure that the system performs as expected before handoff. The goal is to make the upgrade as smooth as possible, so you can take advantage of the improvements without any disruption to your workflow.
Conclusion
Upgrading from an older Technosoft drive to a newer generation is a practical, low-risk process. The backwards compatibility built into every product ensures that your existing motion logic, and system architecture carry over with minimal changes. The work involved is well-defined: update the hardware connections, adjust a few I/O references if needed, re-tune the control loops, and you’re running on a better platform.
With 30 years of drive development behind us, each new generation builds on what came before. You don’t lose the features and reliability you’ve come to depend on. Instead, you gain access to improved hardware, more capable firmware, a better development environment, and full engineering support. Whether you’re looking to extend the life of an existing machine or prepare it for new demands, upgrading your Technosoft drive is a straightforward path forward.
Contact our team today!
