At Automotion Components we offer a wide range of positioning stages across X, Y & Z stages, cross roller , dovetail and needle roller styles, manual and automated.
As specialists in linear motion systems we offer you a choice of materials and sizes. So whether you need lightweight aluminium rails for use in aviation applications or stainless steel components for when exposure to water or corrosive chemicals is a factor, our knowledgable technical engineers are always on hand to provide assistance.
Make sure you request a free Linear Motion Handbook here and utilise our free CAD to help you save time planning your projects.
Manual single axis positioning stages. Crossed roller versions for heavier loads and ball versions for lighter loads. Front mounted micrometer or space saving side mounted micrometer.
Medium duty Needle Roller slides can be either manually operated or motorised. They have the capability to take loads up to 10kN and travel distances up to 600mm.
Manual rotary stages available from 40mm dia up to 125mm dia. Ranging from basic economy models, to stainless steel models, to heavy duty models with digital readout
Lead Screw driven positioning stages are ready to accept a Nema motor or can alternatively have a hand wheel attached for manual operation.
Heavy duty dovetail slides can be either manually operated or motorised. They have the capability to take loads up to 347kN and travel distances up to 600mm.
Manual XY and XYZ positioning stages. Crossed roller versions for heavier loads and ball versions for lighter loads. Front mounted micrometer or space saving side mounted micrometer.
Heavy duty motorised stages offer micron accuracy and repeatability and are a plug and play system when used in conjunction with our motion controllers.
Smaller, lighter duty versions of the fully programmable motorised stages but still retaining the accuracy and plug and play features.
A wide range of belt driven stages offering long travel positioning stages. Can be motorised and fully controllable, or manually operated. From simple A to B travel to large gantry XYZ systems.
Motorised rotary tables have the same features and capabilities as our plug and play motorised linear stages. 50mm dia up to 200mm dia including a fully submersible rotary stage.
Miniature linear positioning stages including dovetail, rack and pinion, magnetic bases, tilt stages and laboratory jacks.
Our motorised linear stages are precise, heavy duty and available from 25mm stroke to 800mm.
They can be easily controlled either with an Intelligent motor (this is a motor with an inbuilt driver and controller) or with a motor and one of our motion controller stages.
Programming for both the intelligent motor (less expensive) and the motion controllers is very simple and we provide free software and sample source code for Labview, VB, C++, OSX etc. It is also possible to download a stand-alone programmed to the device so it can run independently of a host.
We also offer a Joystick controller.
The stages can be readily supplied in X, XY, XZ and XYZ configurations and can also be used with our range of rotary tables (L3550 to L3562).
XY Assembly
XY Assembly
XY Assembly
Using intelligent motors
Using motion controllers
Stepper limitations
For all of their advantages, stepper motors have a number of limitations which can cause significant implementation and operational issues depending on your application. Stepper motors do not have any reserve power. In fact, stepper motors lose a signifi cant amount of their torque as they approach their maximum driver speed. A loss of 80% of the rated torque at 90% of the maximum speed is typical.
Stepper motors are also not as good as servo motors in accelerating a load. Attempting to accelerate a load too fast where the stepper cannot generate enough torque to move to the next step before the next drive pulse will result in a skipped step and a loss in position. If positional accuracy is essential, either the load on the motor must never exceed its torque or the stepper must be combined with a position encoder to ensure positional accuracy.
Stepper motors may also suffer from vibration and resonance problems. At certain speeds, partially depending on the load dynamics, they may resonate and be unable to drive the load. This may result in skipped steps, stalled motors, excessive vibration and noise.
Servo limitations
Servo motors are capable of delivering more power than stepper motors, but do require much more complex drive circuitry and positional feedback for accurate positioning. Servo motors are also much considerably expensive than stepper motors and are often harder to find. Servo motors often require gear boxes, especially for lower speed operation.
The requirement for a gearbox and a position encoder makes servo motor designs more mechanically complex and increases the maintenance requirements for the system. To top it all off , servo motors are more expensive than stepper motors before adding on the cost of a position encoder.
Summary
Selecting the best motor for your application depends on a few key design criteria for your system including cost, positional accuracy requirements, torque requirements, drive power availability, and acceleration requirements. Overall, servo motors are best for high speed, high torque applications while stepper motors are better suited for lower acceleration, high holding torque applications as well as generally being less expensive and easier to control.
Stepper Motor
Intelligent stepper motor
Servo motor
Intelligent stepper motor
Options
Separate motor controllers (single axis)
Single axis stepper controller
Single axis servo controller
Intelligent stepper motor
Stepper motor
Servo motor
Controllers
L3294 Single axis stepper motor controller
L3295 Two axis stepper motor controller
L3296 Multi axis stepper motor controller
L3297 Single axis servo motor controller
Accessories
Joysticks
Digital readout
Connector RS232-USB
Connector RS422-USB
These have major benefits as they combine the motor (from size NEMA17 up) with an inbuilt driver and controller.
Plug and play
Introduction
The software is the main interface for setting up the motor for a specific application. The program offers the following features:
Command toolbox description
The toolbox used for the programming covers 14 different command types. The idea for the commands is to have an easy access to the most common functions in the motor. Some functions seem to be “missing” at first sight but the button “Set register in the quickstep motor” or “Wait for a register value before continuing” gives direct access to 50 function registers. In total this gives a very powerful programming tool since >95% of a typical program can be built using the simple command icons and the last part is obtained by accessing the basic motor registers directly if required.
Factors affecting stage selection
Parameters | High precision |
Table diameters (mm) | 50-200 |
Maximum loads (Kg)HorizontalVertical | 125125 |
Maximum speed o/secStepper motorServo motor | 25-50180-360 |
Accuracy (arc-secs)PositioningRepeatabilityResolution | 70"5"<0,7" |
Control options | Stepper, servo or intelligent motor Motion controllers available |
Run-out
The displacement of a measure sensor placed on the surface of the rotary table.
Applied loads
These cause small deformations in the stage bearings and are dependent on the stiffness of the stage, the bearings and the stability and flatness of the mounting surface.
Hysteresis errors
The difference between the control and instructed position.
Backlash errors
Errors caused by the reversal of the direction of travel affected by clearance in the drive chain.
Encoder errors
Imperfections in the operations of the encoder (if present).
Alexia House
Glenmore Business Park
Portfield Works
Chichester, PO19 7BJ (UK)
Telephone 0333 207 4498
or + 44 (0) 1483 266 774
Email sales@automotioncomponents.co.uk
Company registration no.2761902
Company VAT number GB 408154022
For other bank details visit our FAQs page.