Applied Motion Products now offers the first ever step motor drive that is internationally certified for use in hazardous locations. The STAC6-Q-H stepper drive is ATEX and IECEx certified for Class I, Zone 2 locations, and UL certified for Class 1, Div 2, Group C & D locations. These certifications cover the use of the drive in […]
FAQ: What is stepper drive idle-current reduction and why does it help?
When stepper motors operate, they operate by drawing current continuously. This method of operation ensures more accurate positioning and more consistent torque. However, this also means an increase of energy they use and the amount of heat they produce. This holds true even when the stepper motor is idling. Idling is not a very efficient […]
Minimizing stepper motor vibration with affordable technology
By Kazuki Into, Circuit Development Manager • Oriental Motor USA Corp. || Because stepper motors run and then stop at each step angle, they deliver high-accuracy position control. But the way they incrementally advance causes vibration and noise. Now, some drivers use advanced electronics to track and control current into motors as a way to achieve smooth […]
STR3 miniature stepper drive solves vibration, size problems
The STR3 miniature stepper drive from Applied Motion Products solves two problems in one: The step motor drive addresses the problem of slow step motors that vibrate too much…
Updated: Trends in electric motors Part II — Scott Evans of Kollmorgen sets record straight on motion design
In a recent interview with Scott Evans, Director of Product Strategy at Kollmorgen (for our Motion Trends coverage of electric motors) we got particularly good insight on the changes of today’s motion design….
FAQ: What types of linear encoders are there and how do I choose?
Linear encoders monitor linear movement and provide position feedback in the form of electrical signals. In servo driven systems, linear encoders supply the precise position of the load, typically…
How IIoT is being used now
by Leslie Langnau, Managing Editor The latest development of industrial Ethernet is how it will be a part of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Variations of Ethernet still abound, yet some of the conversation is moving toward accepting the open Ethernet standard, a variation developed by Mellanox Technologies. Open Ethernet is targeted more at…
Micro stepping linear motors help imaging research
Aircraft and spacecraft carry high-resolution thermal imaging systems that were not available a few years ago. Today’s systems are the result of research using X-ray crystal diffraction for crystal characterization. These crystals are then used in the high-resolution or short-wave thermal imaging systems. The wavelengths of visible light are too long to see features and…
FAQ: What is closed-loop control with load-position control?
Load-position control is a form of closed-loop stepper-motor control. It’s true that stepper motors can run open loop—as they don’t need sensor-feedback-based controller corrections. So, stepper-motor circuits are…
FAQ: What do DIP switches on stepper drives do, and what are alternatives?
Dual in-line package or DIP switches are manual electronic switches that, along with other switches in one package, form one unit. They usually mount on printed circuit boards…
FAQ: What are motion-control systems on a chip (SoCs) for stepper motor control?
A system on a chip is an integrated circuit that contains all the components of a computer. That is everything from processors, memory and power regulation to external…
FAQ: How do engineers typically integrate stepper drives?
Engineers can implement stepper motor drives in numerous ways. Companies often produce pre-packaged drives that can run with a variety of microprocessors and motors. This means that that…
FAQ: What are stepper drives and how do they work?
A stepper drive is the driver circuit that controls how the stepper motor operates. Stepper drives work by sending current through various phases in pulses to the stepper…
The hybrid servomotor: stepping up to closed loop
by Don Labriola P.E., President, QuickSilver Controls, Inc The use of hybrid servos grows as their control techniques are understood, and the costs of sufficient processing power shrink….
Conveyor helps streamline small part handling manufacturing
Butt splices aren’t the easiest things in the world to handle. The small, circular component designed to join two ends, or butts, of two objects together without overlapping, have been known to slip through fingers when inserting a wire connector while trying to crimp it. The process of manufacturing butt splices can be challenging as…
Control 12 drives from different manufacturers on one network
The MC4N ECAT Mini EtherCAT master controls 12 drives from different manufacturers on one network. The dedicated controller for 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 drive axes and 1024 machine I/O points features a built-in and expandable library of market leading EtherCAT-slave digital servo and stepper drives, as well as EtherCAT I/O modules with automatic…
Tolomatic Single-axis Drive/Controller for Electric Actuators
The new actuator control solution (ACS) from Tolomatic is an easy-to-use, low-cost servo or stepper drive and controller developed specifically for use with electric actuators, providing infinite positioning,…
Trio Motion launches new concept Motion Coordinator
Trio Motion’s MC4N-Mini EtherCAT master is a new concept for its high performance Motion Coordinator series motion and machine controllers. The EtherCAT dedicated controller can handle up to…
NEW! – 0.72° Stepper Motor and Driver Packages
The new RKII Series offers greater performance and features with a great low price. The New RKII Series is an ideal and affordable solution for demanding requirements and is available with a built-in controller (stored data) type driver or pulse input type driver, for the same price. The RKII Series utilizes our new motor technology,…
Digital Marking Meets Rigors of Manufacturing
By Terry Persun, Technology Journalist Today’s successful manufacturing operations need high-performance digital marking systems that can handle 24/7 operation and integrate well into an enterprise-wide client-server IT system. A major challenge in the design of such a system is to minimize the maintenance requirements on both the server and the client side. Accomplishing this requires…
New DMC-30016 Pocket Motion Controller from Galil
Galil Motion Control is announcing their latest drive option for the DMC-30000 Pocket Motion Controller Series. The new DMC-30016 combines a single-axis motion controller with a 1.4A/phase stepper…
R325P Stepper Driver from Lin Engineering
Lin Engineering announces the release of the new R325P; an updated version of the popular R325 stepper driver product. Combining compact size with high performance, the R325P can…
AutomationDirect adds Microstepping Drive and Accessories to SureStep line
AutomationDirect’s SureStep line of motion control products now includes a low cost of entry digital stepper drive in a compact package. The standard stepper drive operates with high-speed pulse input signals (Step and Direction, or jumper-selectable CW/CCW step) and has a selectable resolution range of 200 to 20,000 steps per revolution. Additional features include a […]
The All-in-One Stepper Driver/Controller
The R356 is designed to help reduce overall design time and system cost for a wide array of step motor applications. Measuring at a mere 2.7″ in length…
Kollmorgen Servo System Catalog
Kollmorgen introduces the Kollmorgen Servo System Catalog. The catalog details the features, benefits and specifications of the company’s broad range of servo system solutions including Kollmorgen’s complete range of AKD® Ethernet-based servo drives, AKM™servomotors, direct drive technology, Kollmorgen Cartridge DDR® motors, housed DDR motors, linear positioning systems, precision tables, electric cylinders, rodless actuators, TRUE Planetary™ […]