Our 2020 survey of the industry indicates an unabated trend towards more automation of previously static or manually tended systems. Key to these new offerings is installation simplicity for OEMs and end users of linear components for linear axes … as well as positioning stages and Cartesian robots. In fact, Cartesian robots (also called linear […]
Integrated Linear Systems
XY2Z-theta motion system improves wafer inspection for the semiconductor industry
For more than fifty years, the Dutch linear-motion company PM has developed and produced precision linear and rotating bearings and slides. It focuses on applications requiring smoothness and stiffness from their linear bearings … and continues to expand its standard range of linear components. But customization is becoming the norm — and now, catalog products […]
Motorized yaw-pitch-roll stages from OES
Three new high accuracy yaw-pitch-roll stages have been introduced by OES (Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc.) – the YPR100-10-15-01 (stepper-motor driven, pictured below), the YPR100-10-15-02 (brushless servo-motor driven) and the YPR100-10-15-03 (dc servo motor driven). These stages are suitable for the precise measurement of compound angles or the curvature of an object. The yaw axis (bottom […]
New two-axis X-theta positioning system from H2W Technologies
The SRT-030/360-026-01 is a two-axis X-theta positioning system ideal for precision motion control applications that require coordinated linear and rotary positioning. The two-axis system consists of a rotary dc servo motor with encoder mounted to a moving brushless linear-motor-driven positioning stage. The linear axis uses an H2W brushless linear motor, the BLDM-C08, to generate a […]
New 3-axis linear voice coil actuator stage from Moticont
Moticont has released a new three-axis XYZ linear actuator, the XYZ-10. The X and Y axis of the actuator each has 0.97 in. (24.6 mm) of travel and the Z axis has a stroke of 0.500 in. (12.7 mm). The high-speed, high-acceleration, zero-cogging, brushless voice coil motors provide 6.3 lb (28.2 N) of force and […]
Gantry motion system for inspection, assembly, and 3D printing
Physik Instrumente’s (PI) new compact XY/XYZ gantry motion system provides overhead motion for industrial automation applications in assembly, pick-and-place, alignment, inspection, and custom 3D printer design. The A-351 compact gantry is designed and manufactured in the USA by PI’s air bearing & precision motion division in Hopkinton, MA. The A-351 gantry motion system is related […]
Part 2 – What is racking in gantry systems, and how can it be avoided?
In Part 1 of this post, we looked at various methods of driving the X axes in gantry systems and how the drive method can influence the gantry’s tendency to experience racking. Another factor that can cause racking in gantry systems is lack of mounting accuracy and parallelism between the two X axes. Racking is the common name […]
Stepper-, servo-based 400-mm hollow core motorized rotary stages from OES
OES (Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc.) has added two larger rotary stages to their AY110 Series of motorized rotary stages. The low-profile 400 mm AY110-400-01 (step motor driven) and AY110-400-02 (servo motor driven) rotary stages feature a 180 mm (7.087 in.) open aperture. The height of the stage is just 71 mm (2.795 in.). A precise […]
What is racking in gantry systems, and how can it be avoided? (Part 1)
Gantries differ from other types of multi-axis systems (such as Cartesian robots and XY tables) by using two base (X) axes in parallel, with a perpendicular (Y) axis connecting them. While this dual X-axis arrangement provides a wide, stable footprint and allows gantry systems to deliver high load capacity, long travel lengths, and good rigidity, […]
Review of linear actuation complemented by guide wheels
Linear bearings based on steel guide wheels often complement motor-based linear actuation in two challenging application types: Long-stroke linear-motion axes as those driven by belts, linear motors, or rack-and-pinion sets Linear systems in harsh environments subject to hot and humid conditions, abrasive materials, extreme loading, and corrosive chemicals. Recall that wheel-based linear guides are systems […]
