Automation Parts

Micromech Assists With Drive Programming Micromech Systems offers on-site assistance for programming drives and controllers. The company's engineers have full technical experience of stepper drives, servo drives and controllers from a range of manufacturers. These include Parker Motion, Danaher/Kollmorgen, Yaskawa, Delta Tau, Isel, Stogra, Trinamic and Trio.

New Scale Technologies has introduced the Squiggle RV reduced-voltage linear drive system, which consists of an SQL-RV-1.8-6-12 Squiggle motor and an NSD-2101 drive ASIC. It is a miniature piezo motor drive solution with a driver chip that is smaller than the motor and driven directly from battery power as low as 2.3VDC, without the need for a voltage boost. The Squiggle RV motor is New Scale's next-generation piezo micro motor, using multi-layer piezo technology from TDK-EPC to reduce the input-voltage requirements of the motor. The NSD-2101 driver was developed for this new motor in partnership with Austriamicrosystems using advanced integrated-circuit (IC) designs and patented control systems. This smart IC measures 1.8 x 1.8mm and drives the Squiggle RV motor directly, without the need for an external boost circuit. The Squiggle RV linear drive system is more than five times smaller and uses 40 per cent less power than comparable electromagnetic linear drive systems, accordi...

ABB Low Voltage has released a drive module with an in-built energy saving calculator, embedded Modbus and drive-to-drive link, a user interface with a series of assistant wizards and integrated safety functions. It also features modular hardware and software along with a removable memory unit, and uses the latest motor control platform, Direct Torque Control (DTC). Targeted specifically at OEMs, panel builders and system integrators, the ABB industrial drive modules are designed for industrial machinery and applications such as extruders, cranes, mixers, pumps and fans, in the power range 1.1kW to 400kW, with voltages from 380V to 480V. An on-board energy saving calculator indicates the amount of energy consumed and the amount of energy saved in kW hours and money, as well as showing the duration curve showing the load profile of the drive. It also has an automatic energy optimiser that provides for optimum drive efficiency. The drive's internal fan features an automatic on/of...

Aerotech has launched a range of precision worm-drive rotary stages featuring large through-apertures and a preload system that provides a high level of accuracy with minimal wear. The AGR series covers five models with internal diameter from 50-200mm and is available with continuous 360deg travel, or with a mechanically limited travel range (down to 5deg). Axial load capacity is up to 570kg and rated speed to 30rpm; and the range includes optional directly mounted encoders for best performance repeatability and negligible levels of hysteresis and backlash. Typical specifications across the AGR series include a 120 arc-sec positional accuracy without encoder fitted and 20 arc-sec when the servomotor mounted encoder option is used. Corresponding without- and with- encoder specifications for bidirectional repeatability are 30 arc-sec and 8 arc-sec. Stage resolution, with a 2500 line servomotor mounted encoder fitted on the largest stage, is 2.1 arc-sec - while the same size stage wi...

The use of the SMAC linear rotary actuator for a screwdriver has expanded to disc drive assembly. SMAC linear rotary actuators are programmable in variable positions and speeds, including SMAC's Soft-Land feature that allows for accurate pick-up of fragile components as well as a soft contact onto the thread. Continuous real-time track of the screw position verifies success or failure of operation and monitoring of torque, including final torque out. SMAC linear rotary actuators speed up operation due to programmable accelerations, and have the ability to feedback the quality checks so that each operation can be quantitatively verified. These actuators can also be programmed to adjust as a single component.

SM-EtherCAT extend the functionality of Control Techniques' variable speed drives, providing support for real-time, high-performance Ethernet communication. Control Techniques' Product Manager, System Integration Products, Imad Rajraji said 'EtherCAT is the first in our planned range of real-time Ethernet solutions with more protocols to follow'. The module is for use with Control Technique's full range of AC and servo drives from 0.37kW simple conveyor or pump control, through high-precision servo applications and 1.9MW multimode drives. This allows customers to standardise their network across the whole machine. The SM-EtherCAT module is the latest in a wide range of communication options that already include Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP as well as traditional fieldbus. EtherCAT is being requested by customers because of its excellent performance and bandwidth, allowing users to get good dynamic performance from their drives. It covers the whole range of comm...