Quadrel Labeling Systems designs and builds all of their stepper-based Pressure Sensitive and Shrink Sleeve Labeling Systems using stepper motor technologies and has been doing so since the late 1980s. Certain situations can prompt a company to change components within a system. For example, when a supplier is sold to a larger company, which then…
Absolute type AZ Series stepper motor driver with EtherCAT from Oriental Motor
Oriental Motor now sells a DC-input AZ Series Multi-Axis Drivers with built-in EtherCAT communications. These are based on closed-loop absolute-type AZ Series driver. The AZ Series Multi-Axis Drivers with EtherCAT is a space saving, DC input, multi-axes controller and driver designed for applications demanding 2 or more axis of control and integrating EtherCAT communications from […]
Microstepping basics
Microstepping is a method of controlling stepper motors, typically used to achieve higher resolution or smoother motion at low speeds. Stepper motors move in discreet steps, or fractions of a revolution. For example, a stepper motor with a 1.8 degree step angle will make 200 steps for every full revolution of the motor (360 ÷ […]
November 2017 Motion System Applications Issue
Improved Motion Components Help Speed System Design The third annual Motion System Applications special issue from Design World is here. Each year we highlight some of the most intriguing applications using motion control technology. As design requirements continue to evolve, manufacturers of motion components and systems, from mechanical elements like couplings and gears to electromechanical…
IDEC now sells new stepper motion control products
IDEC Corp. introduces a line of motion control stepper products in conjunction with Advanced Micro Controls Inc. (AMCI), an established developer of motion control systems. This AMCI by IDEC product line includes controllers, stepper motors, an integrated controller/drive, an integrated drive/stepper motor, and an integrated controller/drive/stepper motor. When combined with an IDEC FC6A PLC and […]
Controller-drivers steer stepper-motor-driven sample-transfer machine
Gatan Inc. makes specimen-preparation equipment and recently built an alpha prototype of a new machine. The iPrep prototype mounts to a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and shuttles samples back and forth between a processing chamber and SEM receiving dock. Within the processing chamber, two broad-beam ion guns polish samples. The iPrep’s automated transfer mechanism allows […]
Using a dedicated pulse control LSI vs. a CPU for motion control
Pulse control LSIs specialize in motion control, and feature high operational reliability. Jerame Chamberlain Nippon Pulse In motion control, acceleration and deceleration are central to the move profiles used to control a motor. Good acceleration and deceleration control ensures quick and accurate positioning, and fast settling without damaging equipment or materials. For instance, consider a […]
Lin Engineering hybrid stepper motors now in NEMA-6 frame sizes
Lin Engineering now sells 106 Series hybrid stepper motors with a step angle of 3.46° and 104 steps per revolution. The compact motors are just 16 mm wide but deliver to 1.85 oz-in. holding torque. That equates to quadruple the holding torque of can-stack PM steppers … and in fact, the 106 Series hybrid stepper […]
Ball bearing linear guide stages
Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc. (OES) offers two series of low profile, motorized ball bearing linear guide (profile rail) positioning stages. The AQ140 Series and the AQ150 Series of linear stages are available off-the-shelf in travel lengths of: 50 mm (1.969-in.), 100 mm (3.937-in.), 150 mm (5.905-in.), 200 mm (7.874-in.), 300 mm (11.811-in.), 400 mm (15.748-in.), […]
Hybrid linear stepper motors: Operation and applications
Like servo motors, stepper motors are available in both rotary and linear designs. When an application requires force (rather than torque) output and can operate in open loop control, a linear stepper motor is often the preferred solution. Although linear stepper motors are available in both variable reluctance and hybrid designs, the more common version is […]
Precision Positioning Devices Drive High-Performance Actuation and Feedback Systems
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,…
Nippon Pulse PPCIe8443 controller board with PCI-Express bus interface
Nippon Pulse now sells its newest available controller board, the PPCIe8443. An upgrade from Nippon Pulse’s previous PPCI7443 controller board, the new “PCI Express” board uses an updated PCI-express bus interface that can control up to 4 axes of coordinated motion. PPCIe8443 comes equipped with Nippon Pulse’s PCL6046 large-scale integration chip, and can generate high-speed […]
Robots could soon use new form of actuator: Genesis Robotics CEO explains
In a recent interview, Lisa Eitel of The Robot Report chatted with Mike Hilton, CEO of startup Genesis Robotics. This spinoff of Genesis Advanced Technology focuses on R&D in robotics, oil and gas, medical, human performance, and clean-energy industries. The company recently announced an actuator that’s particularly suitable for powering the joints in SCARA robot…
How to Choose Between Stepper and Servo Motors
For many motion control applications, designers and engineers can choose between a servo or stepper motion control system. Much of this decision is driven by the motor, so this article will focus on this component, although the controller and the drive also play into the evaluation. Making the correct selection has long term benefits that…
Collider turns 3D printing into injection molding
Here’s a novel way to use the capabilities of 3D printing. This machine uses DLP 3D printing technology to create a hollow shell mold, which is then injected with a plastic material or metal powder. The material in the mold hardens, the mold is immersed in a warm bath until the shell melts away, and […]
How do switched reluctance motors differ from stepper motors?
Switched reluctance motors operate by switching currents in the stator windings in response to changes in the magnetic circuit formed by the rotor and stator. The stator of a switched reluctance motor contains windings, similar to a brushless DC motor, but the rotor is simply made of steel that is shaped into salient poles, with […]
Closed-Loop Integrated Stepper Motors
JVL presents a new closed-loop stepper motor technology for its NEMA 23 & 34 integrated stepper motor range from 0,1 to 12 Nm. JVL, the European leader in the development of integrated servo and stepper motor technology, has again developed a new and unique product in the field of integrated motor control. JVL closed-loop integrated…
Oriental Motor linear actuators: Now with battery-free absolute feedback and AZ Series performance
Oriental Motor USA now offers AZ Series technology with absolute mechanical encoders across: The Oriental Motor EZS Series of electric linear slides The Oriental Motor EAC family of electric cylinders AZ Series offerings work in advanced positioning applications because of their closed-loop control. Linear-motion designs of the AZ Series also substantially reduce heat generation from […]
EtherNet/IP connectivity to IO-Link devices
The CTEU-EP universal interface module makes EtherNet/IP connectivity low cost and plug and play for IO-Link devices and valve terminals. The CTEU-EP is ODVA conformant and a Rockwell Encompass referenced product. For flexibility, OEMs can integrate IO-Link devices such as pressure and flow sensors, RFID readers, and light stacks along with a valve terminal with…
What is a chopper drive for a stepper motor?
There are two primary types of drivers for stepper motors, constant voltage drives (also referred to as L/R drives), and constant current drives (also referred to as chopper drives). One difficulty with stepper motor operation is that the time constant (L/R) of the motor windings prevents current from increasing rapidly during pulses. This means that […]
Can-stack linear actuators: How the motor and screw components work
Can-stack linear actuators are one type of stepper-motor design that converts rotary to linear motion with a built-in leadscrew. The linear actuators incorporate can-stack motors — sometimes called claw-tooth step motors, tin-can stepper motors, or claw-pole motors — leverage low-cost construction with punched sheet-metal parts that form toothed (or clawed) cups surrounding bobbin coils. Common […]
What are can stack linear actuators?
Can stack linear actuators are based on can stack stepper motors, which are a form of permanent magnet steppers that consist of two stators (and therefore two coils) stacked on top of each other. The poles of each stator are “claw tooth” design and are offset from each other by one-half of the pole pitch. […]
IDEC releases line of stepper motion control products
IDEC Corp. introduces a line of motion control stepper products in conjunction with Advanced Micro Controls Inc. (AMCI), an established developer of motion control systems. This AMCI by IDEC product line includes controllers, stepper motors, an integrated controller/drive, an integrated drive/stepper motor, and an integrated controller/drive/stepper motor. When combined with an IDEC FC6A PLC and […]
IDEC Partners with AMCI to Deliver Motion Control Solutions
Advanced Micro Controls Inc. (AMCI), an established supplier of motion control solutions, and IDEC Corporation, manufacturer of the FC6A MicroSmart PLC, have partnered to offer a range of simple yet highly capable stepper motion control systems including indexers, drives, motors, and a series of integrated controls. Based in Terryville, Connecticut, USA, AMCI is a leading…
All-in-One Stepper Motion Control Available in More Sizes
Advanced Micro Controls Inc. (AMCI), has added larger motor sizes to their lineup of PLC-based SMD Series “all-in-one” stepper motor + drive + controllers to satisfy a wide variety of applications with varying torque requirements. The SMD Series offers many sophisticated features at a low price point, and integration eliminates the need to purchase multiple…