Micromech

Episode 2: Cable Bundler - A manufacturer wanted to produce a new machine design for bundling cables and the challenges for Yaskawa were many-fold. They needed synchronised motion between axes to eliminate push-bar skewing, binding and smooth transition from position control to force control. They also required replacement of a pneumatic system but without high cost and had to be scalable and easy to commission.

A manufacturer wanted to produce a custom machine design for automated dying of book edges and the challenges for Yaskawa were many-fold. The principle features were ease of start-up which was required for a very demanding schedule, auto feed insertion for correct book placement and accurate edge detection accommodating random in-feed.

Parker Electromechanical Automation has launched a new drive family, the Motornet DC. The Motornet DC is a brushless servomotor with integrated electronics for flexible and modular mechatronic solutions. Compared with a traditional solution where the electronics is de-centralised or mount on the motor's rear end, the Motornet DC alternative offers a very compact system. Typical applications for the Motornet DC include packaging machines and rotary tables with numerous motors mounted on board.

The MC403 is a high specification Motion Co-ordinator using a high performance ARM11 processor that provides up to 2 axes of servo plus a master encoder axis or up to 3 axes of stepper control. The MC403 features a total of 8 axes in software where any axes not assigned to built-in hardware can be used as a virtual axis.

The TMCM-6110 is an intelligent, compact and ‘ready to use’ 6 axis motion control solution at low cost for up to six bipolar 2-phase stepper motors. It fully supports the common and easy to use programming language TMCL, where predefined high level motion control commands such as ‘Move to Position’ or ‘Constant Rotation’ guarantee convenient and rapid development.

The release of the MaxPlus-J motor from Parker is designed to cater for the demanding applications found in today’s high-performance servo systems. Now available from Micromech the MPJ motors offer the same design specifications as Parker’s popular MPP motors but give users even higher inertia. The secret to the MPJ’s extra boost of inertia is its special inertia flywheel, which adds from 3 to 10 times the inertia of a standard MPP servomotor.

The Sigma-5 INDEXER command option SGDV-OCA03A from Micromech is an add-on board which is compatible with Sigma-5 series command option attachable type amplifiers. The indexer is an easy to use 1-axis positioning controller ideal for systems that have a PC or a PLC and as the host controller gives an unbelievably high level of performance. The module offers a wide range of functions for high-accuracy and high-speed point-to-point positioning without using a motion controller.

Yaskawa's universal standard motion controller MP2310iec, now available from Micromech, features three additional free slots for option modules. Used in conjunction with sophisticated multitasking functions this enables the module to control and monitor complex operations in a diverse automation environment.

New from Parker's Electromechanical Automation Division and available from Micromech, is the release of the MX45S linear positioner a 45mm wide miniature screw-driven positioner based on the award winning MX80 family. Like its predecessor the MX45S has been developed for OEMs requiring reliable linear positioning in space-restricted applications.

For OEMS in the business of building small instruments who want to bring their product to market faster, the Parker LCR is a linear positioner family that provides the smallest form factor with easy to use flexibility unmatched by most competitive products. The ideal solution for OEM instrument manufacturers and laboratory instrument applications, the LCR Series is a complete solution offering users unmatched flexibility in a small footprint linear actuator.

Micromech is pleased to announce an important advancement in servomotors with the introduction by Parker Hannifin of a range of explosion proof motors. The EX series is a range of 1,75 to 35Nm permanent magnet synchronous servomotor designed for use in explosive atmospheres. They feature robust explosion-proof housings and are capable of bearing internal explosions with no risks of propagation to the neighbouring environment.

The TMC429 integrates all real time critical tasks in reliable, dedicated hardware incorporating an integrated motion ramp profile generator as well as an adaptable microstep sequencer with microstep RAM table. Advanced stop- and reference switch handling allows for precise and fast referencing as well as on-the-fly position checking. Automatic motor current control gives high motor dynamics while saving energy and the interrupt output can generate precise position pulses.

The Powerlink is an add-on board, compatible with Sigma-5 series command option attachable type amplifiers type SGDV which offers a wide range of functions. Powerlink is an open real-time Ethernet network supported by the Ethernet Powerlink Standardisation Group. The Powerlink network module offers a wide range of functions based on the EPSG DS 301 and the CiA 402 drive profile standards.

You might find your current supplier is taking up to 6 months to supply, or even longer. The Thomson 400 series profile rail linear guides from Micromech can in some cases be supplied in as little as 1 to 2 weeks. The 400 Series is a cost effective, transport grade Profile Rail solution for cost-sensitive applications and is designed as a drop-in replacement with industry-standard envelope and hole patterns.

More success stories from the most diverse applications which partners Micromech Systems and Parker has been supporting for food processing equipment and packaging machinery manufacturers. Form, fill and seal machine for coffee pads. The strong demand for coffee pads required increased product output as these single portion sachets represent a convenient alternative to conventional filter coffee that have become very popular. As a result of this high demand from the market, coffee producers were on the lookout for even better machines with a much higher throughput. The production process is technically demanding, as the pads must be formed from a strip of fabric, precisely filled, sealed and punched out.

Introduced by Micromech is the Kollmorgen new family of frameless, brushless motors derived from the proven and extensive portfolio of Kollmorgen designs. They are available in fourteen sizes for low or high voltage operation delivering torque, power and speed, within a cost-effective package and have a compact footprint. They give the system designer high flexibility in specifying a motor that fits the specific performance and dimensional requirements of the application but without incurring expensive engineering or other capital fees. Their advanced electromagnetic designs deliver maximum torque density which minimises required motor space envelope. They have extremely smooth rotation with minimal cogging, low total harmonic distortion (THD) and a broad operating speed range with rapid acceleration.

The flow wrapping machine market is very competitive and as a result a machine manufacturer was facing falling profit margins. At the same time, the request for more flexible machines forced him to develop even more elaborate concepts, increasing design times and costs.

A manufacturer produces a unique, portable reel dispenser that offers a simple and convenient solution to what has traditionally been a tedious and unwieldy task of getting an electric power cord to unwind and rewind in tight and restrictive work areas.

Deliveries of the AKM Synchronous servomotors from Kollmorgen are now down to only four weeks lead time due to capacity being increased by one third. In spite of considerable growth of the AKM range, the factory has reduced its lead times and thus is able to help its customers to realise additional competitive benefits. Machine builders can now deliver faster, and machine users will benefit from shorter service times.

The Stealth Advanced RS right angle planetary gearhead delivers the high performance features of the STEALTH RS in a compact, right angle package. With seven frame sizes and 9 gear ratios to choose from, customers are guaranteed to find a gearhead to fit most stepper and servo motor applications.