Stepper motors are the engines of choice for belt control or mult-axis machine control - or would be if controlling was simpler. A new type of controller might make it possible to get rid of more expensive motors and facilitate regulation.
Directly linking machine control with drive control via EtherCAT, the controller represents a real alternative for applications with servo or torque motors. Due to its extremely high torque, it also eliminates the need of any gear transmission.
This high-performance solution is a good matchfor applications ranging from simple positioning and belt control to complex multi-axis machine control. It offers a few advantages for applications in thermoplastic processing, as well as with packaging, textile and other processing machines. In such applications, more than 75 % of all motors are controlled dynamically and used at varying loads. Due to closed loop sinusoidal commutation, high energy savings may be realized. Constant monitoring of the actual current flow allows precise real-time adjustment of the power. In this way, the system always provides exactly the amount of energy needed.
The new drive controller features all motion functionalities, such as (absolute and relative) positioning, velocity control, torque control, reference runs, as well as interpolation (cyclic synchronous positioning mode). They can be configured by means of an integrated web server with intuitive user interface. This solution is suitable for applications requiring the motor to do more than classic positioning in an uncritical environment.
A stepper motor in combination with the closed-loop drive control of the Ventura FIO module is not only a cost effective solution. It is also more energy efficient. This is true especially in situations, where mounting space is limited and high torque at low rotation is required. It is also the perfect match for fast positioning over short distances.
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