Zeugwerk Creator

Less boilerplate. More machine logic.

Every Zeugwerk Framework project follows the same structure: Application, Units, Equipment, sequences. That consistency is what makes the framework valuable - and it is also what makes it automatable.

Creator is a TwinCAT XAE / Visual Studio extension that knows the framework structure and generates it for you. Add a unit: the folder tree, the function block, the interface, the sequence stubs - all created in one dialog. Add an axis: the declaration, the simulation settings, the test configuration - all in a few clicks. What used to take an afternoon takes minutes.

The result is not just speed. It is consistency. Every unit your team creates has the same shape. Every equipment instance follows the same pattern. New engineers navigate the project without a guided tour.

Creator as an MCP server - let your AI generate correct PLC code

Coming in release 1.8 - Creator will expose its code generation engine as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. That means any MCP-compatible AI client - Claude, Cursor, or your own tooling - can call Creator directly to scaffold framework-compliant PLC code.

The difference from plain LLM code generation is fundamental. An LLM produces plausible-looking code: it varies between runs, ignores your project’s naming conventions, and has no knowledge of what the framework actually expects. Creator generates the same correct output every time, because it is not guessing - it is executing the same deterministic templates your team uses manually.

The workflow: an engineer (or the AI itself) describes what is needed. Creator generates the unit, equipment block, or sequence stub that is structurally guaranteed to compile and fit the framework. The AI then fills in the application logic on top of a correct scaffold, instead of building a fragile structure from scratch.

This makes AI assistance practical for PLC development in a way that pure LLM generation cannot be: the generated code is auditable, reproducible, and ready to commit.

What it does

Framework Integration

Right-click menus throughout Solution Explorer for every framework action - add units, manage equipment, prepare existing solutions for incremental adoption.

Code Generation

One dialog. One click. A complete unit structure with all folders, function blocks, interfaces, and sequence stubs - ready to implement.

Backup & Restore

Save and restore PLC variables to a plain text file. Handles datatype changes gracefully. Useful before refactoring, experiments, or recipe changes.

Snippets

VS Code-style snippets in TwinCAT XAE. Tab completion, placeholders, choices, variables. Shared via Git - the whole team gets the same library.

Documentation Generator

Generate HTML API docs from XML comments in your PLC source. Publishes automatically on every push - same engine that builds the Zeugwerk Framework docs.

Service Panel & Test Explorer

Commission any Zeugwerk application from the IDE. Auto-detects units, axes, actuators, and I/O. No HMI code required. Run unit tests without leaving TwinCAT.

Pricing

Creator is licensed per developer seat with an annual subscription, starting from € 39 / developer / year. Individual modules can be activated independently.

The 60-day full-feature trial is included in the Development Kit.

Configure and buy → Download trial →