Gantry incorporates air bearings for smooth motion.December 30, 2004 - Driven by Series BLM brushless linear servomotors at speeds of 1 m/sec and accelerations of 0.5 g, Model ABG10000 provides feedback via non-contact optical linear encoder. It incorporates active preload on vertical and horizontal surfaces, and opposing thin-film pressure maintains bearing nominal gap tolerance. Magnetically preloaded and assembled, turnkey product has cable management system and modular design that distributes load over surface area.
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Original Press release
Aerotech, Inc.
101 Zeta Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA, 15238
USA
Aerotech ABG10000 Series Air-Bearing Gantry
Air bearings for ultra-smooth motion
Dual linear-motor-driven lower axis for high-speed, high-acceleration performance All axes are fully preloaded Travel to 1 m x 1 m Options include: machine base, z axis, vibration isolation, and control enclosure The ABG10000 Air-Bearing Gantry puts Aerotech's core technologies and extensive manufacturing capability to work for you, providing outstanding performance and versatility in a wide range of automation applications. These systems are used in high-speed pick-and-place, automated assembly, vision inspection, dispensing stations, and high-accuracy inspection.
Linear Motor/Linear Encoder/Air-Bearing Design
Aerotech's high-performance BLM series brushless linear servomotors drive the ABG10000 to speeds of 1 m/s and accelerations of 0.5 g. Feedback is from a rugged noncontact optical linear encoder. The ABG10000 incorporates an active preload on both vertical and horizontal surfaces. The opposing thin-film pressure maintains the bearing nominal gap tolerance. This design, in addition to the large air-bearing surface that distributes the load over a large surface area, results in a stage with outstanding stiffness that is ideal for heavy or offset loading. Proprietary manufacturing techniques result in a stage with unsurpassed geometrical characteristics. The air bearing has an inherent averaging effect that maximizes performance. The thin film will fill small surface voids and allow for other irregularities. This characteristic yields superior pitch, roll, yaw, straightness, and flatness specifications.
Rugged Design
Since the linear motor is a noncontact device, there is no backlash, wear, or maintenance with which to contend. The air bearings are magnetically preloaded and assembled to provide optimized stiffness and load distribution.
Cable Management System
Extensive R&D has resulted in an optimized cable management system (CMS) that has been field-proven to be the industry's most reliable design. Large bend radii and high-flex cables ensure that the Air-Bearing Gantry provides millions of cycles of maintenance-free operation. In the unlikely event of a component failure, a modular design ensures that part replacement is fast and easy. All customer cabling and pneumatics can be routed through the system e-chain. Connectors are provided at the workpiece and at the opposite end of the e-chain, greatly simplifying final machine integration.
Turnkey Operation
Aerotech's years of experience manufacturing precision positioning and control systems can be leveraged by acquiring a turnkey system. Typical options include Z-theta mechanisms, risers to accommodate automated parts handling equipment, and machine bases that are designed to accommodate the entire electronics subsystem. Aerotech manufactures a wide range of high-performance amplifiers and advanced motion controllers that are optimized for high-performance automation applications.
Custom Designs
Aerotech has engineered and manufactured custom high-performance systems to meet customers' needs and specifications for a variety of applications. We can draw on over 30 years of motion control and positioning system experience to produce the ideal solution for your application.
For more information, please contact Steve McLane at smclane@aerotech.com, or 412-967-6854 (direct phone).
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