maxon motor has now expanded its line of EPOS modular digital-positioning controllers. These drive+controllers are suitable for controlling permanent-magnet motors (including encoders) with 1 to 1,050 W of continuous output power. The wide range of operating modes (as well as various command interfaces) make it work in different drive systems employed in automation technology and mechatronics.

The EPOS4 Compact 50/8 EtherCAT and EPOS4 Compact 50/15 EtherCAT units from maxon are compact devices from this line that are also compatible with the industrial Ethernet option known as EtherCAT.

The fully integrated plug-and-play positioning controller in a compact design suitable for networks with cycle times to 1 msec.

Powerhouse with performance position-control characteristics

The functionality, operation, software, and accessories of the new controllers are derived directly from existing products in the EPOS4 range.

The devices are suitable for use with both brushed DC and brushless EC motors (BLDC) and come with comprehensive feedback options such as Hall sensors as well as incremental and SSI absolute encoders. State-of-the art concepts such as FOC, feed forward, and observer control allow optimal control in a wide variety of applications.

Comprehensive motion-control scope and operation

The existing digital and analog inputs and outputs are freely configurable and ideally matched to the numerous functions and operating modes of CiA-402 positioning controllers. Products are set up using the EPOS Studio graphical user interface (Version 3.4 and higher) for Windows PCs. In addition to the intuitive commissioning software, Windows DLL and Linux Shared Objects libraries are freely available to make integration into a wide variety of master systems as easy as possible.

Additional information on the EPOS Positioning Controller can be found at this deep link on the maxon motor site on the EPOS.