Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

New VCA Developer’s Kit: Build Working Prototypes Fast

By Frank Tobe | May 12, 2014

To help customers get started with Voice Coil Actuators (VCA) and the sometimes confusing electronics needed for building a system, BEI Kimco Magnetics has introduced the VCA Developer’s Kit ‒ the first of its kind in the market. The completely self-contained kit includes a VCA with a built-in feedback sensor and a programmable controller with MotionLab Software that runs on the user’s local PC.

BEI-Kimco

The innovative new tool is designed for customers who want to try a VCA for their application, but are unsure where to begin. The virtual how-to kit answers all the questions needed to get a VCA system up and running including where to source components, how to put components together and how to program the parts to perform the motions needed. Using this invaluable device, customers can quickly develop an actuation system and demonstrate a working design concept without needing to separately specify the necessary electronics for a complete control system.

“For someone unfamiliar with putting together VCA systems with electronics, the project can seem somewhat intimidating,” says Scott Orlosky, Manager of Business Development and Marketing. “The kit overcomes this by providing a complete and simple ‘solution in a box’ for people that want to use a VCA but don’t want the burden of figuring out which controller and software to specify to put together a working system. The kit makes it extremely easy to do that.”

The VCA Developer’s Kit is suitable for use in many industrial and commercial applications for actuation, position and force control in industries such as Medical, Laboratory, Automation, Military, Aerospace, and Education. Typical application examples include proof-of-concept, full-function prototypes; test bed for actuator system design; stand-alone use for single purpose actuation, or student engineering projects.

Customers can choose from three different kits, each with a different VCA that is paired with the appropriate controller PCBA to drive the VCA being used. The controller can operate in open or closed loop modes, is internally compensated for high linearity, and supports coordinated multi-axis applications. Also included is a flash drive that provides all necessary links to software and set-up instructions as well as a configuration file that can drive the VCA for easy start-up.

The controller’s customized MotionLab software is designed in a simplified programming environment with example programs for flow, motion, oscillation, timers, memory and I/O access. An oscillation motion test is also available for simple built-in self-testing capability. VCA Developer’s Kit part numbers include the DK-LAS13-18, DK-LAS16-23, and DK-LAS28-53.

BEI Kimco’s voice coil actuators feature all the inherent advantages of voice coil technology including direct-drive, hysteresis-free operation for highly accurate motion. Other advantages of this technology include high acceleration, absence of commutation, and excellent resolution.

BEI Kimco
www.beikimco.com

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: Actuators, MOTION CONTROL
Tagged With: beikimco
 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Widening the scope for machine tool designers with FORTiS™ enclosed encoder
  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.