Tolomatic (www.tolomatic.com) has unveiled its latest ACS Stepper Drive/Controller. Specifically designed for use with electric actuators, the company’s latest actuator control solution (ACS) is a low-cost, easy-to-use stepper drive and controller.

Integrated with configurations for the ERD, Tolomatic’s rod-style electric actuator linear motion is easily and automatically created in the desired linear units (inch or mm).

The ERD range of actuators, which has been originally developed as an economical replacement for pneumatic cylinders, has become an affordable solution for applications such as pick-and-place, heat-staking, sorting and diverting, changeovers and more.

“The primary goal in designing the ACS Stepper Drive/Controller for the ERD product family was to create a low-cost, extremely easy-to-use drive and control product intended for single-axis actuator solutions,” said Aaron Dietrich, Electric Products Manager at Tolomatic.

“What makes creating motion so easy is that through two simple configuration steps, the ACS drive knows everything about the axis of motion. Combined with any of Tolomatic’s electric actuator products, the entire axis of motion is available from one supplier.”

For infinite position capability, the ACS provides four, eight or 16 move command modes (incremental, absolute or jog). This range of command modes is flexible enough for a vast array of single-axis actuator solutions. It also features adjustable motion profile parameters (velocity, position, force, acceleration/deceleration) that are configurable separately for each move.

To save energy, the ACS reduces holding current when not in motion. Aside from its force-limiting capacity, the ACS is also capable of zone output based on the position of the actuator. Its digital I/O can be configured in either 24 VDC Opto-Isolated, NPN or PNP, while its drive/controller is suitable for use with most brands of 24 VDC stepper motors.