Trinamic launches dedicated EtherCAT motion controller IC

Overview:
The TMC8670 is a single-axis servo motor controller for industrial automation, embedded servo control and other automated equipment applications. It is suitable for 3-phase BLDC and 2-phase stepper motors. The device is designed for an operating voltage of 1.2V and 3.3V. The device provides an a/b/n incremental, digital hall, analog hall and analog sincos encoder interface.

TMC8670 has an integrated EtherCAT slave controller and a CANopen over EtherCAT protocol processor.

Features:

• Field Oriented Control (FOC) servo controller
• Torque Control (FOC), velocity control, position control
• Sensor Engine (Hall analog/digital, encoder analog/digital)
• Support for 3-Phase PMSM and 2-Phase Stepper Motors
• PWM Engine including SVPWM
• Integrated EtherCAT slave controller, CoE protocol CiA 402 drive profile
• UART interface
• Dual encoder

Applications:

• Robotics
• Semiconductor Handling
• Factory Automation
• Laboratory Automation
• Manufacturing
• IIoT Applications

“We see EtherCAT gaining relevance in the embedded automation domain, where tight space constraints drive miniaturization,” explains Michael Randt, Founder and CEO of Trinamic. “This component is designed with precise and dynamic robot drives in mind, where controllers and servo drives are distributed in the joints. Since we’ve built the drive electronics for KUKAs youBot several years ago, more and more small, decentralized robot designs appear on the market demanding space saving and high-performance solutions.”

For more information on the TMC8670 or any other Trinamic Products contact Micromech on 01376 333333 or Email sales@micromech.co.uk

Pick the right Parker Electro Thrust cylinder for your application:

The Parker Electro Thrust Cylinder (ETH) is available from Micromech, Parker’s premier systems integration partner.

The Parker ETH is a product that closes the gap between pneumatic and hydraulic drive technology – offering a replacement that increases reliability and is more economical.

The High Force Electro Thrust Cylinder (ETH) has unrivalled power density and is compact. Micromech can also supply a complimentary range of controllers, motors and gearboxes.

Features and benefits:

• High service life
• Unrivalled power density – high forces and small frame sizes
• Reduced maintenance costs thanks to lubricating access in the cylinder flange
• Easy replacement due to pneumatic ISO flange norm (DIN ISO 15552:2005-12) conformity
• Integrated anti-rotation device
• Reduced noise emission
• Cabling can be concealed in the profile
• Accessories with integrated force sensors help to distribute and precisely control linear forces.
• Optimised for safe handling and simple cleaning
• One stop shop: We offer the complete drive train: Drive, controller, motor and gearbox to match the Electro Thrust Cylinder

ETH Product Video

ETH Product Overview

For assistance in specifying the correct ETH cylinder for your application, contact Micromech sales on 01376 333333 or at sales@micromech.co.uk

New from Trinamic; The TMCM 6212 and 6213 six axis stepper controller and drive module

Overview:

The TMCM-6212 / TMCM-6213 is a six axis controller/drive module for 2-phase bipolar stepper motors with separate encoder (differential) and HOME / STOP switch inputs for each axis.

CAN, RS485 and USB (Micro-USB) interfaces are available on the TMCM-6212 and EtherCAT™ together with USB (Micro-USB) on the TMCM-6213 for communication.

Furthermore the modules offer four analogue / digital inputs and four digital outputs together with a brake chopper unit (supporting an external regen resistor) for supply voltage limitation when energy is fed back into the supply rail.

Main Characteristics:

Motion controller

• Motion profile calculation in real-time (supporting linear and sixPoint™ ramps)
• On the fly alteration of motor parameters (e.g. position, velocity, acceleration)
• Dedicated HOME STOP switch inputs (internal pull-ups)
• High performance microcontroller for overall system control and communication protocol handling

Bipolar stepper motor driver

• Up to 256 microsteps per full step
• High-efficient operation, low power dissipation
• Dynamic current control
• Integrated protection
• stealthChop™ for quiet operation and smooth motion *
• dcStep™ feature for load dependent speed control *
• stallGuard2™ feature for stall detection *
• coolStep™ feature for reduced power consumption and heat dissipation *

Interfaces

• TMCM-6212: CAN RS485
• TMCM-6213: EtherCAT™
• USB full speed (12Mbit/s) device interface (Micro-USB)
• Differential encoder input per motor axis (6x)
• HOME, STOP_L, STOP_R switch inputs with internal pull-ups per motor axis (6x)
• 4 general purpose analogue inputs (0..10V) or digital inputs (accept 24V signals)
• 4 general purpose digital outputs (open-drain)

Software

• TMCL™ remote (direct mode) and standalone operation with memory for up to 1024 TMCL commands
• TMCM-6212: CANopen firmware available
• TMCM-6213: CoE (CANopen over EtherCAT™) firmware available

Electrical data

• Supply voltage: nom. 12V and 24V with 11V … 35V supply voltage operating range
• Motor current: up to 1.1A RMS (programmable)

Mechanical data

• Board size: 215mm x 100mm, overall height 21mm max. (incl. pcb but, without mating connectors and cables)
• 12x M3 mounting holes (optional)

* Unique Trinamic Features

StealthChop™:  Extremely quiet mode of operation for low and medium velocities. It is based on a voltage mode PWM. During standstill and at low velocities, the motor is absolutely noiseless. A StealthChop operated stepper motor is therefore ideal for indoor and domestic applications. Also motor operation is completely free of vibration at low velocities.

StallGuard2™: Trinamic’s patented stall detection is the world’s first sensorless high-resolution load detection implemented in a standard stepper motor drive. StallGuard2™ provides the ability to detect mechanical overload conditions and stall conditions without external sensors by measuring the load at a predefined point where step loss has not yet occurred.  This technology eliminates the need for reference or end switches reducing cost and complexity of applications that require them.

DCStep™:  While most open-loop stepper drives will lose steps in an overload situation, DcStep™ drives will reduce speed in order to overcome resistance. As a result, DcStep™ uniquely maintains position counter integrity.

CoolStep™: Sensorless, load dependent current control using the stallGuard2™ feature. CoolStep™ enables a stepper motor to be driven in a energy efficient way. Without CoolStep™, stepper motors are driven with constant current. Trinamic’s new TMC260, TMC261 and TMC262 stepper motor drives detect the actual motor load and adjust the current accordingly. This eliminates the safety current margin and boosts the motor current when required thus avoiding step loss and stalling. Reliability is therefore improved.

For full details of the TMCM-6212/TMCM-6213  and other exciting products from Trinamic contact Micromech sales on 01376 333333 or at sales@micromech.co.uk 

Nippon Pulse acquires Arcus Performax motion controller product line – Now available from Micromech

Nippon is pleased to offer our customers even more quality motion control products with the acquisition of Arcus Technology’s Performax (PMX) motion controllers. This new box controller product line will allow NPA to better serve customers who prefer a more “turnkey” controller solution, or who choose to integrate PMX controllers into applications alongside other Nippon Pulse products.

“We’re really excited about the PMX transfer to Nippon Pulse America,” said Christopher Chang, Arcus Technology’s Chief Executive Officer. “NPA will do a good job with new application integrations of this product line, which uses a Nippon Pulse core chip.”

PMX box controllers utilize Nippon Pulse’s PCL6000 series advanced motion controller chips for 4-axis and 2-axis motion. The PMX series also features linear coordinated motion capabilities (as well as circular coordinated motion capabilities for four-axis models). More available functions include trapezoidal or S-curve acceleration, encoder feedback support, on-the-fly speed change, multi-task standalone programming, and analog joystick control, to name just a few. These box controllers are available with USB, RS-485 and Ethernet communication options.

“PMX is an exciting opportunity for customers,” said Paul Denman, Arcus Technology’s Director of Sales and Business Development. “It’s easy to set up and run, and for people to get it going pretty quickly.” 

NPA has taken over sales and support requests for all PMX products. In addition, NPA and Arcus will be working together to simplify the purchasing experience for customer convenience – all Arcus products will now be available for purchase directly from NPA to help reduce the number of vendors needed for acquiring application components.

“We now are able to provide customers with controller options for all of their application needs,” said NPA President Mamoru Takabayashi. “OEM engineers will be able to decide whether they want to build a controller solution from scratch with our chips, integrate a box controller that requires little design work, or some combination of the two with our controller boards.”

For more information on Nippon’s PMX Motion Controller’s or other Nippon products contact our sales team on 01376 333333 or email sales@micromech.co.uk