Now, a new control option from maxon motor has compact wiring and slim design. Called the HPSC, this sensorless speed and torque control allows field-oriented control (FOC) of brushless motors. Such control is without sensors from full stop to full speed under load. This HPSC uses a sophisticated signal-injection algorithm which precisely determines the rotor […]
Stand-Alone Controllers
New compact EPOS programmable smart drive/controller from maxon with EtherCAT
With the EPOS4 Compact 50/8 EtherCAT and EPOS4 Compact 50/15 EtherCAT, maxon launches the first compact devices compatible with the fast industrial Ethernet connection EtherCAT. The fully integrated, plug-and-play positioning controller in a compact design is perfectly suited for use in networks with cycle times up to 1 msec. The EPOS is a digital positioning […]
Beckhoff Automation expands Ultra-Compact Industrial PC Series
In order to improve coverage for all tasks in the fields of automation, visualization and communication, the C60xx series of ultra-compact Beckhoff Industrial PCs has been expanded with the addition of the new C6017. This latest addition to the Beckhoff Industrial PC (IPC) portfolio combines compact design and installation flexibility with an increased variety of […]
New controllers simplify machines, improve safety performance
Engineers can simplify their machine safety systems and improve safety performance using new controllers from Rockwell Automation. The Allen-Bradley GuardLogix 5580 and Compact GuardLogix 5380 controllers can be scaled from safety system levels SIL 2/PLd to SIL 3/PLe. This scalability can help engineers optimize a safety system design and potentially reduce its costs, while adhering […]
New autoclavable BLDC motor controller from Portescap
Portescap now sells an autoclavable Brushless DC motor controller — the CNT1530 — for driving large bone orthopedic handpiece motors. The controller leverages Portescap’s market leading autoclavable design capability and surgical application expertise to provide a reliable, customizable setup to the orthopedic market. This new controller will help improve surgical hand tool’s performance and reliability, […]
Unboxing video: Nippon Pulse Motion Checker controllers for two-phase stepper motors
In a recent video, my colleague Miles Budimir and I got the chance to program and play with an MCH-5 motion checker controller from Nippon Pulse America. These come in versions for both unipolar and bipolar stepper motors, and we got a sample of one for bipolar. The controllers provide pulse-direction output signals — so the […]
Multi-axis precision motion controller for air bearing motion systems
Nano precision motion industry leader PI (Physik Instrumente) LP has released a new high-performance motion controller designed to handle 4, 6 or 8-axes of PIglide air bearing positioning stages and precision automation sub-systems. Air bearings provide many advantages compared to mechanical bearings, such as no-particle generation, frictionless, vibration-free motion, highly constant velocity control, nanometer-precision repeatability, […]
Integrated motor basics video: Benefits, communications, and support of distributed architecture
Integrated motors, sometimes called smart motors, are motors that integrate one or more motion system components. The motor part of the integrated motor can be a brushless dc motor, servomotor, or stepper motor. Typical motion systems have a number of common components including the motor, controller, a drive and power for drive and control […]
Combination motion drive controllers basics video: Definitions and integration variations
Combination motion drive controllers are components or subcomponent groupings that perform both electric and electronic functions in motion designs to command precision motion tasks from one or more motion axes. Combination motion-drive controllers first command the movements of an electric-motor axis (to follow a prescribed output) and second supply the electrical power to the electric […]
Motion controller basics video: Electronics, automation tasks, and networking
Motion controllers are pieces of electronics (and in an increasing number of integrated cases, electrical supplies) that run software to command movements on automated pieces of machinery. For more information on this, visit motioncontroltips.com/motion-controller. Motion controllers are designed to regulate the specific actuator type on the axes they’re commanding. That means these controllers include intelligence […]