New multi-axis and single-axis motion controllers with EtherCat

New controllers from PI optimise the performance of linear stages, rotary stages, and gantry robots, equipped with direct-drive servo motors, stepper motors, and voice-coil motors.

High performance motion control is a key requirement for many high-tech industries, from laser processing, medical device manufacturing, bio-genomics, aerospace, photonics alignment, and semiconductor manufacturing, to name a few. High precision nano positioning stages, designed for high-duty-cycle operation are crucial here, but the positioning hardware also requires state-of-the-art motion controllers to extract the maximum of performance.

To meet these needs, precision motion systems leader PI has expanded its motion control families with new ACS-hardware-based closed-loop controllers, providing EtherCat connectivity.

Equipped with ultra-low noise PWM drives, the A-811 single axis controller integrates a closed loop servo controller with drive in a compact case. It can handle voice coil drives, DC motors, and brushless 3-phase motors, as well as high-resolution incremental encoders with sine/cosine output and absolute measuring encoders based on BiSS-C protocol. The ultra-low noise PWM drives allow for high-resolution motion with nanometre resolution.

For high power applications, the new G-901 controllers are also based on ACS hardware and EtherCat connectivity, providing up to 1500W output per axis. Advanced control features, such as STO (safe torque off), Servoboost, NanoPWM, while special algorithms for gantry control, laser triggering and high-speed contouring are available and improve the throughput and performance in applications from laser machining to 3D printing.