Direct drives are a motion-control technology projected to see high rates of adoption in coming years, according to market research by the ARC Advisory Group. That’s due in part to an array of industries driving for higher throughput and more accurate processes. According to Brian Scott, applications engineer at Nippon Pulse America Inc., linear shaft […]

After more than 10 years of success in the marketplace, HEIDENHAIN’s LIF 400 family of encoders has been redesigned with several improvements. The updates to this exposed linear kit style encoder originated from listening to customer requests over the years, and now comes with much improved contamination resistance, among other enhancements. The new LIF 400 […]

Balluff has added an Emergency Stop device (E-Stop) to widen further the safety product portfolio.  Balluff’s E-Stop is easily and inexpensively connected directly to the Balluff “Safety Over IO-Link” module or to any safety controller using standard M12 connectors, eliminating terminations and reducing the incidence of mis-wiring.  “These devices are used in a variety of […]

IntelLiDrives ICVCA circular voice-coil positioning stages are compact stages suitable for closed-loop short stroke positioning applications where precision, repeatability and low force ripple are of utmost importance. ICVCA linear stages are built with precision crossed-roller guides that provide high rigidity to complement the high acceleration capability of the ICVC module at the core of the […]

IntelLiDrives Circular Voice Coil Positioning Stage (ICVCA) is a compact stage ideal for closed loop short stroke positioning applications where precision, repeatability and low force ripple are of utmost importance. ICVCA stages are built with precision cross roller guides that provides high rigidity to complement the high acceleration capability of the ICVC module which has […]

We asked encoder manufacturers to weigh in on the trends they’re seeing in their industries. Here’s what they had to say. What new design trends are you seeing in areas such as robotics, battery powered designs, automated vehicles, and safety in motion control designs? Jonathan Dougherty Product Specialist HEIDENHAIN HEIDENHAIN rotary encoders are critical components […]

In a recent phone interview, we got to chat with Warren Osak, CEO of Toronto-based Electromate Inc. — a distributor founded in 1986 that focuses on electromechanical motion control. More specifically, Osak’s company sells primarily servo systems and stepper systems — often for demanding or challenging applications requiring high precision, accuracy, and bi-directional repeatability. Electromate […]

Growth of consumer health-monitoring devices is prompting new uses of linear-motion designs. Just consider two prototypes shown at the recent CES 2018 by THK America Inc. (with THK Co. Ltd.) that demonstrate new uses for linear slides and guides. One is a humanoid robot called the ATMOS Sensoroid that monitors its environment (to replicate what […]

New IntelLiDrives XY stage design allows critical elements such as orthogonality, straightness, and flatness to be optimized, resulting in a stage with exceptional geometric tolerances. Direct-drive technology with core-less linear servo motors has no hysteresis or backlash, enabling accurate and repeatable nanometer scale motions in both X and Y directions. Non-contact direct-drive technology offers robust, […]

HEIDENHAIN announces the addition of the AMO LMF 9310 multi-section linear encoder to its line of robust linear encoders. This TTL encoder is specifically designed for long length applications (over 10 ft) on manually operated machines and is compatible with HEIDENHAIN’s ACU-RITE brand of digital readouts. The AMO LMF 9310 is a replacement for the […]

Piezo motors are known for their extremely small size and high size-to-torque ratio, as well as high-resolution movements (micrometer and even nanometer-level resolution.) The high resolution is attributable to the inherent design of piezo motors themselves, but feedback also helps to ensure highly accurate movement on the order of nanometers. As a general rule, piezo […]

Rexroth will demonstrate the Active Mover transfer system in booth #4201 at ATX West. Bosch Rexroth will showcase its most recent technology for connected automation in booth #4201 at ATX West 2018 in Anaheim, Calif., February 6 to 8. Featured demos show the benefits of connectivity throughout the factory, from manual to fully automated assembly. […]

These encoders suit a range of electric based applications, including semiconductor, robotics, medical technology, and drive technology. The ECI 4000 absolute inductive rotary encoder is for hollow shaft diameters of 180 mm. It is robust and accurate and has a modular system with a scale drum and a separate scanning unit. Mounting characteristics make them suitable for…

POSITAL is expanding our incremental encoder family to add our line of draw wire sensors. These new programmable linear sensors allow for even more versatility to our ever expanding LINARIX series. A unique Internet-enabled configuration management system for programmability lets our users update and program these sensors on the spot. Variety of measurement lengths, from…

With motion control applications, a PID or proportional + integral + derivative controller is often implemented using tuning or by a trial-and-error process on the shop floor. But modeling of the motion control system allows analytical derivation of the PID controller terms. By Tom Radigan | Advanced Motion Concepts Inc. Modeling a motion control system […]

Absolute, precise linear measurement is now easy to interface to virtually any industrial control network.  The Balluff BML SL1 absolute magnetic linear encoder with IO-Link provides absolute position measurement, over lengths up to 8 meters, and with position resolution to 1 micrometer.  The BML SL1 leverages the power of IO-Link to allow simplified integration of […]

In a recent video shoot with our esteemed colleague Paul Heney, I got the chance to experiment with miniature square-rail linear positioners from the mSR actuator series. Designed and manufactured by the Electromechanical & Drives Division of Parker Hannifin, this series of guided linear-motor driven positioners is engineered to deliver modularity and performance in a compact […]

Heidenhain’s new LIP 6000 miniature linear encoder system, consisting of a scanning unit and glass scale, has the unusual capability to measure to 2 nm resolution with high speed of 4m/sec at long lengths of scale.  This encoder was developed with large mounting tolerances, small interpolation error and low noise levels, thereby making the encoder…

At the upcoming SPS IPC Drives show on November 28-30, HEIDENHAIN will be presenting encoders designed specifically for the requirements of the robotics, medical technology, and drive technology industries. At the show, HEIDENHAIN will present the ECI 4000 absolute inductive rotary encoder for hollow shaft diameters of 180 mm. Not only is this encoder robust […]

The METROSTAGE-100 is a XY precision linear stage with a travel range of 100 x 100 mm. It features a three-tier construction, which has been designed for minimum distortion and highest precision stage geometry. Stiffness and stability have been maximized to achieve the highest stability and structural integrity. The backlash-free preloaded guide system achieves smooth,…

LINEAX-8 The LX-8 is an environmentally hardened linear motor stage with 6 variants of travel length, from 125 mm to 750 mm. Utilizing an ironcore linear motor, the LX-8 can achieve higher speeds by producing an exponential peak force density. Recirculating ball bearing guides are capable in maintaining stable trajectory at high-load capacities. The recommended…

HEIDENHAIN’s new LIC 4100 V linear encoder for vacuum environments is a new addition to the LIC 4100 linear absolute kit style encoder system. With several technical considerations, these new encoders can operate down to 6 x 10-7 mbar, survive a 100˚C bake out, and have low outgassing. Industries that could take advantage of this […]

Rapidly evolving production processes have driven the need for motion control systems that provide higher accuracy, speed, resolution and repeatability.  In response, motion control manufacturers have unleashed a number of mechanisms, position and force feedback technologies, and electromechanical actuation technologies.  Together, these innovations are enabling new actuation and feedback systems for mission-critical deployment in automation,…

Encoders are at the heart of any closed loop servo system, providing feedback to the controller, which uses this information to determine if the motor reached the commanded position or velocity. Thus, encoder resolution and accuracy are essential to the proper operation of a closed-loop system. Resolution is the distance over which a single encoder […]

RSF Elektronik now provides an upgrade path for customers using the MS 15 linear encoder or for those who would like to design in absolute linear measurement technology in price-sensitive applications. The MC 15 has exactly the same wide tolerance mounting configuration as the MS 15 and has a built-in functional reserve of signal strength. […]