“I have had the pleasure of working with Mike for four years as our National Sales Manager. He has done a fabulous job of growing our sales efforts, even during the recent economic downturn,” said Pamela Kan, president of Bishop-Wisecarver. “The Board of Directors felt that bringing Mikes’ management skills to our entire sales channel will be an important element of our global sales efforts going forward. I look forward to working with Mike on our strategic sales plans for growing our sales both domestically and internationally.”

McVeigh is a college graduate from the University of New York at Buffalo. Prior to joining Bishop-Wisecarver in 2006 as the National Sales Manager, McVeigh worked in the bearing industry for 16 years in both sales and marketing. Since his hire at Bishop-Wisecarver, he has grown to appreciate the uniqueness of Bishop-Wisecarver’s customer base and their applications.

“Our overriding company goal is to become the customer’s 1st choice,” said McVeigh. “I am honored to be leading our team to meet this challenge as the Vice President of Sales.”

Bishop-Wisecarver
www.bwc.com

The URS50BPP and the URS50BCC provide very low wobble and backlash-free, continuous rotation with extremely high MTBF of up to 20,000. Competitively priced, the high-performing rotation stages feature large stage performance in a very small package. The two stages also offer exceptional 6µm eccentricity and easy integration.

The URS50B’s feature a one of a kind, two-part bearing design with pre-tempered bearings and steel gears to ensure long-life motion positioning and precision. The URS50BCC, the DC-motor version with embedded index pulse for precision homing, is best suited for demanding applications that need bi-directional positioning.

The economical URSBPP stepper motor version is ideal for less demanding, yet precision rotation applications. Each URS50B has a cable URS50B for plug-and-play compatibility with XPS, SMC and ESP.

The new PRO280LM is based on the successful side-sealed design that the company has developed over the past generations of ball screw-driven stages and linear motor. The aluminum hard top cover – finished in a scratch-resistant hard coat – is a preferred alternative to plastic bellows or soft fabric stage covers, especially made for applications like laser machining. Its vertical-tensioned side straps completely seal the internal stage components from process or machining debris. A wide array of optional tabletops with steel inserts permit YZ, XZ or XY configurations with other PRO series stages with 5arc-sec orthogonality certification. Tabletop plates are available for Aerotech’s AGR, ADRT and ADRS series rotary stages or to suit customer workpiece mounting in inch and metric hole patterns. Cable management is also available for single-axis or customer-specified XYZ+rotary, XY, and XYZ stage configurations.

Aerotech said that its new PRO280LM features a positioning resolution of 250nm from a choice of amplified sine output encoders or 0.1 micron line driver. Additional impressive specifications include accuracy to +/-3 microns for the 1.5m travel version (+/-2 microns for the 300mm travel stage) with speeds to 2m/s and acceleration to 3g.

The rails have standard wear-compensating, anti-backlash driven carriages for accurate positioning. All moving surfaces have engineered polymers that run on Kerkote TFE coating, giving a stable platform for several linear motion applications.

The IDEA programmable system combines a fully programmable, integrated stepper motor drive with Haydon hybrid linear actuator. The programmable drive has an easy-to-use patent pending graphic user interface to directly program motion profiles into the system. It also contains a debug utility for easy troubleshooting, allowing line-by-line execution of a motion program.

By combining technologies into one preassembled unit, the company is able to improve system integration for the end user or equipment OEM. The overall cost is lowered by giving a complete solution as it simplifies product development with fewer components required and eliminates the need for rotary-to-linear conversion.

Applications include laboratory instrumentation, life science equipment, semiconductor processing equipment and other applications requiring precision linear motion.

The AGS1500 is based on our industry-leading AGS15000 gantry, and maintains many of the same leading-edge characteristics but in a more compact footprint. The planar design minimizes dynamic pitch errors at the work point. The design also keeps the linear motors and linear encoders to the outside of the work area, making the gantry less susceptible to debris-induced damage.

High Speed/High Acceleration
Aerotech’s high-performance brushless linear servomotors drive the AGS1500 to speeds of 3 m/s and accelerations of 5 g. Dual linear motors and encoders are included on the lower axis for the highest level of performance and precision. The bearings are preloaded linear motion guides with wiper seals and grease fittings, and are mounted to provide optimized dynamic stiffness and load distribution. The rugged noncontact optical linear encoders offer resolutions to 1 nm when coupled with Aerotech’s controllers.

Long-Lasting Cable Management System
The cable management system (CMS) is optimized and field-proven as the industry’s most reliable design. Large bend radii and high-flex cables ensure that the AGS1500 provides millions of cycles of maintenance-free operation. In the unlikely event of a component failure, the AGS1500’s modular design ensures that part replacement is fast and easy.

All customer cabling and pneumatics can be routed through the system e-chain. Connectors are provided at the work piece and at the opposite end of the e-chain, greatly simplifying final machine integration.

Aerotech’s years of experience manufacturing precision positioning and control systems can be leveraged by acquiring a turnkey system. Typical options include Z-theta mechanisms, risers to accommodate automated parts handling equipment, brackets for flying optics components, isolation systems, and machine bases that are designed to accommodate the entire controls and electronics subsystems. In addition, Aerotech manufactures a wide range of amplifiers and advanced motion controllers that are optimized for high-performance automation applications and are a perfect complement to your Aerotech gantry.

Aerotech
www.aerotech.com/products/gantries/ags1500.html

Successful linear guidance rested on two factors: ease of movement and load handling. The application required a linear system to support the wide working envelope of the grinding area. Fitted with the grinding tool, the zeroG™ weighs 100 lbs. The linear guide system needed to support the heavy moment load of the grinding arm while smoothly traveling along the guide rail at the hands of the operator.

Integral V™ Technology (IVT) was the solution. Introduced as the next generation linear guide, IVT is designed for heavy load support, precise guidance, and smooth travel. Each IVT linear guide aluminum extrusion is precision-machined using PBC Linear’s patent pending SIMO™ process. This creates a stronger, more rigid extrusion that matches the strength of steel—allowing IVT to easily handle high static/dynamic loads. The SIMO™ process machines all critical sides of an aluminum extrusion in one pass, creating a remarkably straight surface (tolerances held within ± .001’’). This eliminates the need for fasteners, and drastically reduces alignment/installation time while ensuring high accuracy.

Reduced costs and simplified assembly are very attractive reasons to choose IVT, but the proof lies in the performance. Equipois needed a guide system to support a high roll moment load (the zeroG suspends tools using an extendable/moveable arm attached to the linear guide). Once installed, the Integral V™ linear guide system easily tolerated the required static/dynamic loads (IVT Double Bolt-on tested for roll moment loads of 338 N-m static and 374 N-m dynamic). Gothic arch dual row bearings provided smooth, hand-operated travel of the linear guide; allowing the zeroG™ to be freely used throughout the grinding area.

Easily adapted into the Equipois system, IVT worked great with the zeroG™. The grinding tool operator could bend, pull, align and grind with ease, and IVT gave enhanced movement and freedom to the tooling area. For more information on Integral V™ Technology (IVT); such as more application examples and detailed technical data, please call 1.800.729.9085, email to marketing@pbclinear.com or visit us at our homepage at IVT.pbclinear.com.

For more information on Equipois zeroG™ or any other of their strain reducing, problem solving products, please visit their website at http://www.equipoisinc.com.

PBC Linear
www.PBCLinear.com

FRC varies their game every year. For 2010, FRC rolled out Breakaway: a team effort game using a 27’ x 54’ carpeted field divided into thirds by two 13’’ barriers. The teams are grouped into alliances (3 teams and 3 robots per alliance). The robots use varied student-made designs to toss soccer balls at targets located on either side of the field in order to score points—the Vikings accomplished this utilizing their Uni-Guide controlled design. Teams can also score points by elevating or suspending robots by climbing towers at the center of the dividing barriers. To summarize, the alliance has 2 minutes 15 seconds to score the most points using their 3 unique and FRC approved robots.

At the beginning of the season, each team is given a strict budget of $3500.00 to create their unique robot design. For their robot, the Vikings required a reliable linear guide system to conduct the kicking mechanism in order to shoot the soccer balls into the targets. The linear guide would need to endure several performance obstacles: high shock vibration from periodic impact crashes during the game; functioning in particulate-heavy environments due to steel and aluminum filings; and fast changing repeatability under high charged loads.

The Vikings decided to go with PBC Linear’s Uni-Guide system. Using a motor driven, dual-carriage design, the Uni-Guide would drive one carriage down the slide and attach to the other. As the second carriage was retracted back up the slide, potential energy built-up—awaiting the trigger’s release. Once triggered, the carriage releases in a slingshot-like motion to provide the kicking foot with enough energy to easily knock soccer balls into the goal.

The Uni-Guide was the perfect solution. The linear slide’s plane bearing technology sustained smooth velocity control for the operation of the “kicking foot.” Containing no rolling elements, the Uni-Guide tolerates shock forces and contamination without experiencing system failure or binding. The simple, two-piece (rail and carriage) assembly mounts to existing systems and is precision machined to ensure high accuracy and repeatable travel. This reduces cost by eliminating further alignment machining and fasteners that other multiple piece linear guide assemblies require. Available in driven or un-driven assemblies with multiple carriages, the Uni-Guide is well-suited for unique applications that necessitate sophisticated control—even in harsh surroundings.

Put to the test in three regional competitions, the Vikings’ robot excelled in mechanical performance due to the team’s innovative design and hard-working components; such as the Uni-Guide. The Vikings were even recognized for their design, winning an award for Innovation and Control at the 2010 Long Island Regional (at which they also took first place). To learn more about the Vikings Robotics Team or FRC, please visit their website at http://robotics.centralcathorlichs.com/node/1.

PBC Linear
UniGuide.pbclinear.com

The ASRT is offered with either high accuracy encoder or magnetic encoder feedback. Unlimited travel is standard, with an optional limited travel model also available. Three different models cover a wide range of load and torque requirements.

The ASRT series uses Aerotech’s brushless, slotless motor that has no brushes to wear, no gear trains to maintain, and high acceleration and high speeds. The low inertia and zero backlash make the ASRT the ideal solution for applications requiring frequent directional changes. In addition, Aerotech manufactures a wide range of servo amplifiers and advanced controllers to provide a complete, integrated package.

Dual large-diameter bearings are used to maximize performance with respect to tilt error motion (3 arc sec), moment stiffness, and repeatability (1 arc sec). The large diameter bearings permit large payloads (up to 175 kg) without compromising performance.

Maximum rotary speeds are from 100 to 200 rpm. The ASRT includes an electrically grounded shaft and housing to protect against electrical shock and eliminate RF re-radiation, and housing grounding points are included. Circular sealed connectors are standard, while options include desiccant cartridge, air purge, and mounting flange accessory.

A polymer-based paint on the housing and a hard-coated tabletop prevent corrosion. The stage has optional brown, green, grey, black, and white paint colors. Standard operating temperature is 0 to 70°C. Operation below freezing requires the optional air-purge and desiccant, with air-purged stages operational from -20 to 70°C.

Aerotech
www.aerotech.com

The UMR-TRA has 12.5mm travel and is available in English or metric versions, DC or stepper motor, and a vacuum-compatible stepper-motor version which is compatible down to 10-6 hPa. For research, the stage is ideal for use in vacuum applications and other space-restricted setups. For industrial applications, the robust stage is qualified for laser beam positioning and can withstand high machine accelerations. The UMR-TRA is compatible with all of Newport’s popular motion controllers, from the hand-held NewStep™ single-axis stepper-motor controller, to the sophisticated and high performance XPS universal controller.

Newport Corporation
www.newport.com/UMR-TRA

The Kerk® RGS04 linear rails feature standard wear-compensating, anti-backlash driven carriages to insure repeatable and accurate positioning. All moving surfaces include Kerkite® engineered polymers running on Kerkote® TFE coating, providing a strong, stable platform for a variety of linear motion applications.

The IDEA programmable system combines Haydon™ hybrid linear actuator technology with a fully programmable, integrated stepper motor drive. The programmable drive comes with an easy-to-use patent pending graphic user interface to program motion profiles directly into the system and also contains a “debug” utility allowing line-by-line execution of a motion program for easy troubleshooting.

By combining technologies into a single preassembled unit, Haydon Kerk is able to improve system integration for the equipment OEM or end user. The overall cost for the customer is also lowered by offering a complete solution as it eliminates the need for rotary-to-linear conversion, as well as simplifies product development with fewer components required.

Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions, Inc.
www.HaydonKerk.com