Solutions

QMachineStudio

Integrated development solution for PC-based automation control

QMachineStudio distills ICT's experience since 2002 in PC-based equipment control software into a single, purpose-built platform. IO, motors and sequences are controlled through XScript, our in-house scripting language, and code can be edited and debugged while the machine is still running. By absorbing what PLCs do well and removing the overhead of writing everything in C++/C#, it becomes the standard environment for automation equipment PC control.

QMachineStudio integrated development environment — sequencing, GUI and debugging in one screen

Release notes · 4.0

What changed in QMachineStudio 4.0 — a rebuilt script engine, simulation mode, database integration and everything else developed in 2026.

Read the 4.0 release notes

Core Concept

The development tool and the control program are one — the sequence you write is the machine code that runs.

IDE + machine control software, unified

Editor, debugger and runtime live in a single environment. Your sequence becomes the machine's control logic with no separate build/deploy step.

Switch between Develop and RUN mode

Move from development to operation instantly on the same screen. No simulator detour — verify and refine directly on the actual equipment.

Runtime development & debugging

Edit code and inspect variables/signals while the machine is running. Diagnose causes and apply fixes on the spot.

Components

Compiler, GUI designer, built-in tools and log manager are integrated inside one IDE.

Module 01
Integrated IDE
Editor, debugger and runtime in one screen — purpose-built for automation equipment.
Module 02
XScript Compiler
An in-house scripting language and compiler tuned for machine control.
Module 03
XDesigner (GUI)
Drag-and-drop HMI authoring with a library of built-in GUI components.
Module 04
Built-in GUI & Tools
IO monitor, motor monitor, cylinder test and other diagnostic tools included by default.
Module 05
LogManager
Unified collection and management of equipment, communication and sequence logs.

Key Features

Runtime editing & debugging — modify sequences/GUI live on a running machine
Script-based sequence control — IO, motion and interfaces in a single language
HMI authoring — design GUI screens visually with XDesigner
Built-in GUI & tools — common screens and diagnostics out of the box
Beginner-friendly — short learning curve even for advanced features
Multi-language editor included — manage UI text across locales together
Network interface support — easy integration with MES and host systems
Material data flow — Job, Recipe and material traceability
Update distribution & version control built in

Core Functions

IO Event · Motor Check functions
Event Message · Error Message editor
Light Controller / Vision interface
Tower Lamp control
IO Data / Cylinder Data editor
Recipe · Constant · GuiText editor
Data Watcher · Thread Monitor

Screen samples

Machine operation screens and built-in development tools, all built in QMachineStudio.

01
Sequence in operation
Five picker and conveyor modules step in parallel while tray material is inspected, sorted and transferred — all on one screen.

02
Process mimic screen
Tanks, pumps, valves and flow meters laid out as on the drawing, with live measurements and valve opening.

03
XScript tutorial screen
Run any of the 18 lessons from a button and compare the source on the left with the execution log on the right.

04
Vision shape find
Locates every match for a trained model across the image and reports count, position and match score.

05
Vision cross gauge
Detects the edges of a cross pattern to measure its width and centre position.

06
IO timing analyzer
Records input and output transitions as waveforms, so operation order and delays are visible at a glance.

07
Tower lamp editor
Assign lamp colours and buzzer sounds per operating state in a table and test them on the spot.

Developer workload

Modules a C++/C# team would write from scratch each time are absorbed by QMachineStudio as out-of-the-box features.

Custom development with C++ / C#

Sequence development
Custom GUI development
Device communication
DIO library
Motion library
JobFile structure
Data structures
Common GUI
Error handling structure
Data editor
Tower Lamp control
Logging tools

QMachineStudio (All-in-One)

Sequence development
Custom GUI development

Provided out of the box

Device comms / DIO · Motion library
JobFile · data structures
Common GUI · data editor
Error handling · Tower Lamp
Log Manager · diagnostic tools

Compared to other approaches

How QMachineStudio sits next to general-purpose languages (C++/C#) and PLC ladder logic.

Capability	QMachineStudio (XScript)	Visual Studio (C++ / C#)	PLC (Ladder)
Integrated development environment
Runtime development & UI design
Rich built-in GUI library
Complex math / formulas
Accessible to control beginners
Wide controller compatibility
High-volume data handling
Machine vision · MES development
On-site adjustments
Hard real-time control
Source code protection
PC-control expert consulting

SupportedPartialNot supported

Hard real-time loops are paired with dedicated motion controllers / PLCs where needed. Source-code protection is partially available through QMachineStudio's VM execution model, and you can deploy bytecode only.

Where it is deployed

Since 2002, QMachineStudio has driven PC-based automation equipment across a wide range of industries.

SMT printers and peripheral lines
Semiconductor equipment
Solar cell processing
Camera module assembly
Dispensers
Inspection equipment
Laser marking systems
LED equipment
Packaging equipment
Scribers
Chip resistor lines
Loaders / unloaders
Label print automation
General PC-based automation

Benefits

01Shorter development cycles — standardizing repetitive machine-control functions helps reduce development time
02Junior developers can build equipment software
03Consistent development environment — engineers with automation software experience can get up to speed quickly
04CS engineers can adjust the system on-site
05Simple maintenance, shorter downtime
06Advanced control features implemented in a standardized way
07Hands-on consulting from senior developers

XScript

A scripting language built for automation equipment control

XScript is ICT's purpose-built language for automation equipment control. Its syntax stays close to C# and C++ so it feels familiar, while a curated set of keywords and built-in functions optimised for sequences, IO and motion lets you express precise behaviour with very little code. Inside QMachineStudio's IDE, compiling, running and debugging happen on a single screen.

XScript language overview — scripted sequences purpose-built for automation equipment control

      if( IO[bowlSens] )
      {
         // Reverse feeder motors to move up bowls
         MOTOR[feeder].MoveRel(/*position*/-180, /*wait*/true);
      }

      if( IO[btmSens] == OFF )
      {
         // Back off 5mm in case it is caught near the top sensor
         if( MOTOR[lift].MoveRel(5, true ) == false ) // Move 5mm only while the bottom sensor is clear
         {
            result = false;
            ShowError( EB_Reset, 1102, "");  //LIFT motor MOVE ERROR
         }
      }

Script editor — core capabilities

Integrated IDE

Editor, debugger and runtime in one place — write, run and debug without switching tools.

Runtime Coding

Edit code while the machine is running and apply changes immediately.

Runtime Debugging

Inspect variables and signals live, finding causes without stopping the line.

Code Helper

Autocomplete, signatures and doc hints speed up input and reduce mistakes.

Error Manager

Manage error codes and messages systematically — easy to trace from the floor.

Fast Compile

Hundred-line sequences compile fast, keeping iteration cost low.

License

Runtime License

QMachineStudio runtime license — verification and usage guide

Click the license area on the equipment program screen to see the current license status. The license must be recognised before the machine can be started.

Runtime License Recognized

The license dongle (USB key) is detected and the equipment operates normally.

License Dongle Missing

Displayed when the dongle is not connected or cannot be detected. Please connect the dongle before starting the equipment.

License Dongle

Licensing is enforced via a USB hardware key (dongle) or a software license. The USB dongle requires no driver installation — plug it in and the equipment PC recognises it instantly. Handle it carefully, as a lost or damaged key requires a reissue.

USB Dongle

No driver installation required. Plugged into the equipment PC, it activates the license instantly.

Software License

A PC-bound software license is also available — pick the format that suits your environment.

How licensing is priced

License scope is sized to the equipment's specification and feature mix.

Motor axes
IO points (digital · analog)
Vision channels (cameras)
Tag count
GUI control count
MES integration (SECS / GEM)

Trial Version limits

Equipment START is disabled
Communication drivers disconnect after a set period
"Trial Version" watermark shown on the GUI at all times
Evaluation notice dialog appears on launch
For evaluation, learning, and in-house review only
Other limitations may change without notice

For an exact quote based on your scope and configuration, please contact our sales team.

License Purchase Inquiry

For license purchases, volume quotes, or contract details, please contact sales@ict-lab.com.

sales@ict-lab.com

QMachineStudio

Core Concept

IDE + machine control software, unified

Switch between Develop and RUN mode

Runtime development & debugging

Components

Integrated IDE

XScript Compiler

XDesigner (GUI)

Built-in GUI & Tools

LogManager

Key Features

Core Functions

Screen samples

Sequence in operation

Process mimic screen

XScript tutorial screen

Vision shape find

Vision cross gauge

IO timing analyzer

Tower lamp editor

Developer workload

Compared to other approaches

Where it is deployed

Benefits

XScript

Script editor — core capabilities

Integrated IDE

Runtime Coding

Runtime Debugging

Code Helper

Error Manager

Fast Compile

Runtime License

License Dongle

How licensing is priced

Trial Version limits