No-Drift Absolute Gaging Package from HEIDENHAIN

Schaumburg, Ill. –HEIDENHAIN Corporation announces that it has coupled the new ACANTO Absolute Length Gage with the established and versatile ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK metrology readouts. This gaging package is a great solution for many fixed gaging applications.

The HEIDENHAIN ACANTO Absolute Length Gage with EnDat 2.2 provides the benefits of an optical encoder and solves many of the problems of different length gages such as gage drift, linearity over the entire measuring range, or referencing upon startup. The ACANTO’s measuring principle is the measurement standard and does not drift over time nor does it require mastering. “Sweet spots” are nonexistent with the ACANTO as 2µm of accuracy are held throughout the entire measuring length. The new absolute technology, using EnDat 2.2, enables the ACANTO to know its position upon power up with no need to reference. The ACANTO comes in both spring operated and pneumatically operated models and is offered in 12mm and 30mm measuring lengths.

The HEIDENHAIN ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK will handle gaging and inspection tasks with ease, from simple pass/fail detection up to complex logic statements communicating to a PLC.  They can be configured for basic or advanced operations where inputs can be assigned and combined as desired, along with mathematical, trigonometric or statistical formulas.  This makes it possible to measure even complex dimensions such as thickness, flatness, volume and more.  Rapid acquisition of measurement data can monitor dynamic events such as the eccentricity of a rotating shaft.

The ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK now has a new color LED-lit display for displaying results numerically or graphically as a bar graph or dial indicator. The ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK can manage up to 100 parts, each with up to 16 visible measurement features and 16 hidden ones and can save thousands of data entry points for internal statistical process control (SPC) or export. User customization is easy with programmable soft and hot keys. Min/Max functions monitor and store data, and warning and tolerance limits can be set to each display value.

A new plug and play routine allows for smooth interfacing of the ACANTO and ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK. The ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK can interface with 1 to 8 ACANTO Gages and will be an effective solution for many gaging applications. The ND 2100G GAGE-CHEK will also accept any EnDat 2.2 encoders from HEIDENHAIN including linear, rotary, and angle.

For more information, visit www.heidenhain.us

Linear actuator for automation applications

PILine ultrasonic piezo drives offer an affordable alternative to electromagnetic linear motors and motor-leadscrew combinations when small dimensions and/or high speed are important.

With velocities of up to 200mm/s, these drives are fast, compact and readily integrated.
In addition, PIline motors are self-locking at rest with zero heat generation, eliminating the need for an additional motor brake.
PI’s M-272 is a linear actuator designed for automation applications based on a maintenance-free PILine ultrasonic ceramic motor.
The M-272 closed-loop linear drive combines motor, actuator, linear encoder, guiding system and brake functionality in a very compact package.

Due to the integrated guiding system, a payload can be easily attached to the drive rod of the M-272 drive and positioned precisely.
The M-272 features a maintenance-free ceramic linear motor, has travel range of 50mm and 5um resolution with integrated linear encoder.
It is self-locking at rest, with no need for external brakes and no energy consumption.

PILine piezo motors are based on a new, patented, ultrasonic drive principle developed by PI.

Through its contact with the ceramic friction bar (runner), the moving part of the mechanical system is pushed along.

With each oscillatory cycle, the mechanical system executes a minute step of only a few nanometers and the macroscopic result is smooth motion with a virtually unlimited travel range.

The piezo ceramic plate is preloaded against the runner and thus generates the holding force when the drive is at rest.

Its highly specialized DSP handles all of the motion properties typical for ultrasonic piezomotors, such as dynamic control parameter adaption.
Optimized settling behavior of the mechanics within 10s of milliseconds is achieved by automatically switching between gain-sets for dynamic and static operation.

Physik Instrumente
www.physikinstrumente.com

MTS Systems’ Sensors Division’s magnetostrictive sensors new alternative

MTS Systems’ Sensors Division’s magnetostrictive sensors now provide the performance level that make them preferable alternatives to linear encoders in certain applications. The sensors can be utilized as encoders because they offer the performance and reliability needed for dynamic closed-loop control. They provide continuous, precise position feedback that permits velocity and position-controlled movements at very high or very low speeds.

“Magnetostriction offers several benefits over other technologies to provide reliable and accurate positioning,” said Matt Hankinson, marketing manager, MTS Sensors.   ”One of the key benefits it offers over incremental linear encoders is inherent absolute positioning. If a linear encoder drops below a minimum speed, it will create a cogging effect that forces the amplifier to speed up until the next signal is received. The result is an uncontrolled jerky movement not acceptable in most of the low-speed applications.”

In addition, according to Hankinson, magnetostrictive position sensors do not have a maximum or minimum speed limitation because they are absolute position devices; they continue sampling absolute position at a fixed rate and resolution regardless of the application velocity.

Another benefit of absolute position sensors is that they eliminate the need for moving to a reference mark or home position after a power reset. At any point in time, the absolute position sensor can report where it is without requiring a movement. “Many applications are now moving beyond incremental encoders and are advancing to absolute position feedback for improved safety and productivity,” said Hankinson.

“Performance was also previously a factor in some cases,” he continued. “Optical linear encoders have a range of performance that at the upper end could achieve resolutions and accuracy that magnetostrictive sensors could not meet in the past. However, advancements in magnetostrictive technology over the years have now increased the overlap in performance so they now fit into applications that could previously only use linear encoders. ”

Magnetostrictive sensors provide precise, dynamic measurement of absolute position and velocities and are capable of measuring signals in the sub-millisecond range.  They can reach sub-micrometer resolutions which permits displacements at very low speeds of only 0.5 mm/s; measurement cycle times down to 100 microseconds to track fast motion; a linearity of <± 0.01% and typical repeatability of 2.5 microns. Real-time linearity correction is available to get measurement accuracy down to 20 micrometers or better.

Another advantage of magnetostrictive technology is that it is not sensitive to contamination in harsh environments. An optical encoder’s reading head, a piece of glass and a laser that’s counting the marks, can be contaminated by dust or oil, causing loss of the optical signal which means the reader is unable to count the marks.

The magnetostrictive sensor’s parts are enclosed within the sensor, and the magnet provides non-wear technology that ensures robustness of the sensor for the life of the equipment. Also, whereas magnetostrictive sensors have historically been used inside hydraulic cylinders in harsh environments and encoders were externally mounted on machine tools, magnetostrictive sensors are now available with many options for mounting on machine tools and offer many interfaces, such as an absolute SSI interface.

“There are still applications that are best suited for linear encoders because of specific requirements, but today’s magnetostrictive technology is increasingly meeting the needs of a wide range of applications and provides significant productivity and cost of ownership benefits,” said Hankinson.

MTS Systems
www.mtssensors.com

Micropulse Generation 7 Linear Position Transducers from Balluff

Florence, KY – Balluff has introduced the first of its new Micropulse Generation 7 linear position transducers, featuring improved measurement and environmental specifications, longer lengths, and more flexible setup than previous models. Debuting in the analog rod style housing, Generation 7 is available in two versions, Micropulse and Micropulse Plus. Micropulse is fully backward compatible with Balluff’s Generation 5 products, yet delivers better measurement performance and environmental ratings. The advanced version Micropulse Plus features flexible output scaling and configuration using a PC interface.

Performance improvements include stroke lengths to 300 in. with the maximum non-linearity cut in half. This features ±50 µm for nominal strokes less than 500mm,  ±0.01% of full scale for 500 to 5500mm, and ±0.02% of full scale from 5501mm to 7600mm. Shock ratings are to 150g and vibration rating to 20g. EMC severity for static, RF, burst, and line noise is Level 3; for surge, Level 2 and magnetic field immunity to Level 4. Additionally, housing protection is to IP68 for pre-wired cables and IP67 for connector models.

Other improvements allow easier and more flexible configuration options during setup. Dual bi-color LEDs handle double duty for diagnostics and as a setup aid for pushbutton scaling of the position outputs. Communicating to a PC over standard USB, Micropulse Plus outputs can be scaled, inverted, and configured for single- or two-magnet position, velocity, or differential position between two magnets. Intuitive software features a simple-to-use graphical interface that allows drag-and-drop adjustment of the output characteristics. Configuration files can be saved for backup, replication, or for emailing to remote locations. Manual adjustment without a PC is also possible using the included pushbutton tool and simplified setup procedure that minimizes button-pushing complexity while maximizing operational flexibility.
For more information, visit:  http://www.balluff.com/btl7-z

www.balluff.com

Linear Cable Transducer from BEI Industrial Encoders

BEI Industrial Encoders’ new linear cable transducer provides digital position and speed feedback information in a rugged, easy-to-install package. Model LT25 cable transducer utilizes a flexible measuring cable mounted to an internal spring-loaded spool and a quadrature encoder output to precisely measure linear motion applications. The sturdy cable is made of nylon coated stainless steel for ultimate strength and has a measurement range up to 125 inches.

Easy to install, simply connect the LT25 cable to your moving equipment and secure the base to a fixed object. Hard to reach areas or worries about shaft misalignment are now not a problem. The LT25 cable transducer allows for easy reorientation of the mounting bracket or encoder connector position, giving users added adaptability to their installation. With an IP66 rating, the LT25 is a perfect solution for a variety of industrial measurement challenges including wet, dirty, or outdoor environments or applications where your measuring range travels over a harsh environment.
For more information, visit www.beiied.com/cable-transducer