New powerful servo drives for precision applications
March 2024
Motion Control & Drives
Motion control specialist, Aerotech is launching two new digital PWM drives. The slimline single and multi-axis servo motor drives are designed for use with Aerotech’s Automation1 platform, and offer a lower price compared to Aerotech’s higher performance drives. Both single- and dual-axis versions are available, either as a standalone motion controller, or as part of a PC-based configuration with I/O expansion options. A four-axis version will follow later this year, together with I/O expansion and DC motor supply input for the entire series.
“With the new XA4 drive series, we are creating a small revolution in the market for PWM drives and motion controllers,” says European director, Simon Smith. “Never before has there been such performance for a comparatively low price. We are opening up the market to other industries and showing how others can also benefit from high-precision automation solutions.”
Aerotech European director, Simon Smith.
The new drives are available with one-, two- and soon also four-axis versions. They are part of the user-friendly Automation1 motion control platform. Automation1 has many amplifier options that can be configured to suit the application and controller performance needed. The platform has its own software-based motion controller, which offer high levels of flexibility, while making it easy to control the positioning solutions and other connected components. Areas of application include automation systems, precision laser processes and test and inspection processes.
“Our slimline single- and dual-axis servomotor drives provide users with precise, powerful control for several motion axes in the same machine,” says Smith, explaining some of the benefits. “The iXA4 also reduces the space required on the machine and eliminates the need for an industrial PC.”
Communication with Automation1, PC and drive-based control elements takes place via the patented HyperWire motion controller of the Automation1 platform. As a drive, the iXA4 supports several feedback device types, and also has an on-board memory for high-speed data acquisition and process control. The integrated Automation1 controller can be used to control a total of 12 HyperWire motion axes and execute up to nine user tasks.
Smith concludes: “In combination with our motion control platform Automation1, users achieve the highest level of precision and performance, while enjoying advanced setup tools and ease of use. For their products, this in turn means shorter development and build times, and also offers the ability to produce better quality parts at higher throughput.”
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Aerotech European director, Simon Smith.
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