Product category:
Robots and robotic systems
News Release from: Aerotech | Subject: Motors and drives
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 October 2004
Integrated drive combines motion and
muscle
The Soloist is a new full-featured single axis motion/machine controller combined with a direct-on-line power supply and integral drive.
The Soloist is a new full-featured single axis motion/machine controller combined with a direct-on-line power supply and integral drive for sinusoidally commutated, linear or rotary, brushless servo motors With the ability to run stand-alone from pre-programmed commands or in host mode via its Ethernet or USB interface, the Soloist is equipped with dual encoder inputs, high speed interrupt, programmable digital and analogue I/O and many other advanced features, making it suitable for a wide variety of demanding manufacturing applications
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 11 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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It is also configurable for use with brushed DC and stepper motors.
For maximum application flexibility, the Soloist combines a standard range with a several modular options and accessories.
This allows the user to select only those application specific features required and helps to keep costs to a minimum and simplify system integration.
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A sealed version of a linear motor driven, X-Y gantry system is particularly suited to applications such as high throughput laser machining and welding.
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An open frame air bearing stage provides the specification for through-aperture step and scan positioning and uses preloaded air bearings, direct-drive linear motors and high resolution encoders.
Low profile rotary stage offers high speed
A low profile, high speed, compact rotary stage provides a solution for compact positioning spindle applications and operates at up to 15,000 deg/s.
Three standard drive-stage models covering 10 A, 20 A and 30 A peak output are offered with programmable motion controller, 10/100 Ethernet interface, 6 digital inputs, 4 digital outputs, one 12-bit analogue input and one 16-bit analogue output.
For more complex applications, available options include expanded software functionality, expanded opto-isolated digital I/O, additional analogue I/O, USB port, FireWire interface and encoder multiplication along with power supply and shunt resistor components for higher power units.
Supply input is 7 to 230 VAC or 10 to 320 VDC and the range also includes a number of autotransformer, isolation transformer and line filter accessories.
The Soloist's Windows programming interface software shares a common theme with other Aerotech software products.
With multitasking of up to four simultaneous tasks, the Aerobasic software includes point-to-point and velocity profiled motion with variables, maths and full logic capability in addition to I/O handling and advanced data logging.
Other powerful features include axis calibration and backlash compensation allowing the Soloist to maximise the accuracy and precision of the positioning mechanics.
Ease of use is further enhanced with a "user units" feature making application customisation easy with both linear and rotary drive technologies, gearboxes and mechanical transmission systems.
Dual encoders and a fast, 0.1 microsecond, registration input means that advanced master-slave functions including flying shear profiles and cams may be used in continuous feed applications such as labelling or registration triggered printing.
The Soloist is also capable of "on-the-fly" fast position output for high speed inspection systems and the ability to program complex velocity profiles with dynamic trajectory correction enables its use in glue and liquid dispensing applications.
The Soloist has full torque control making it suited to capping and "nut-running" applications.
A 32kB battery-backed Flash memory is used for program and variable storage and all parameters can be updated by a host controller, by 10/100 Ethernet, optional USB or Firewire interfaces or via a hand-held terminal accessory with a 4x20 character display and keypad.
A programmable message can be configured to display operator prompts, I/O data and variables via the interface.
Central to the high performance capability of the Soloist is the digital current loop drive stage which provides a 20 kHz servo update rate with a feed-forward term to tightly track the exact position and velocity required by the user.
Four user configurable digital filters can be programmed to minimise system resonance and increase bandwidth.
An easy to use, servo autotuning feature helps to minimise system commissioning and maximise application performance.
The Soloist is aimed at high throughput manufacturing applications such as packaging equipment or on processing machinery where it can be applied to single axis use, or in decentralised, multi axis set-ups with synchronisation via a host controller.
The Soloist can be also be configured to comply with the interfacing standards for PackML.
This is an evolving standard for the packaging machinery industry which is being developed by a sub-committee within the OMAC Group (Open, Modular Architecture Controls).
Its aim is to simplify the operation, integration and performance analysis of all equipment used on packaging machinery applications and to develop guidelines for line types, machine state models, and "tag" naming conventions for communications between production machinery within the industry.
In addition to stand-alone use with Aerotech's wide range of brushless linear servo motors, rotary brushed and brushless servo motors and stepper motors, the Soloist is equally suited for easy integration with Aerotech's linear and rotary positioning stages.
These are available in standard configurations or as customised solutions including all cabling and connectors.
Tailored to provide the end user with a low cost of ownership, such engineered solutions are supplied with full performance and calibration related documents and a CD with assembly and interconnection drawings.
Aerotech also provide complete technical support and product training ensuring that system commissioning is straightforward, requiring little more than connecting cables and applying power before programming application software. Request a free brochure from Aerotech ...
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