Controller utilizes distributed control architecture.

Press Release Summary:




Able to maintain performance independent of number of axes being controlled, Automation 3200 software-only motion, vision, PLC, robotics, and I/O digital automation platform offers 1-32 axes of synchronized motion control. NDrive Intelligent Networked Drives provide deterministic behavior, auto-identification, and software setup. NPaq intelligent, networked drive rack consists of one 3U, 19 in., rack-mount chassis capable of powering six axes of motion.



Original Press Release:



Automation 3200-The World's First 1-to-32 Axis Motion, Vision, PLC, Robotics, and I/O Digital Automation Platform



Aerotech's Automation 3200 is the world's first high-performance software-only motion, vision, PLC, robotics, and I/O digital automation platform that offers from 1-to-32 axes of synchronized motion control. The Automation 3200 retains the best features of our previous PC-bus-based controllers and combines them with an advanced, high-performance control architecture to produce a truly state-of-the-art motion, vision, PLC, robotics, and I/O controller.

The Automation 3200 addresses a major shortcoming of today's multi-axis controllers: as axes are added, performance markedly degrades as either the servo update time or program execution time increases. The Automation 3200 utilizes a distributed control architecture that enables it to maintain performance independent of the number of axes being controlled. It accomplishes this by avoiding the processing bottleneck caused by today's common single processor control architecture.

NDrive Intelligent Networked Drives

Drawing upon 30 years of advanced drive development, Aerotech has introduced its first line of intelligent digital drives for the Automation 3200 platform. Connected via the IEEE-1394 (FireWire®) communication bus, these drives provide deterministic behavior, auto-identification, and easy software setup from the Automation 3200 software controller. Featuring an 80 MHz DSP, the drives have fully digital current and servo loops providing selectable 1-20 kHz loop closure, 32 MHz encoder data rate, and a smart MODBUS enabled Ethernet port for access to third-party networked I/O, cameras, and other compliant modules. Designed for the discriminating motion control user, they also feature onboard brake relays and options such as programmable resolution multiplication (x65536) and from one to three-axis position synchronized outputs. In addition to these features, the use of the commercially standard FireWire® communication link makes integration to the Automation 3200 platform as easy as one-step plug'n'play. PWM power from 10 to 100 A and ultra-quiet linear amp versions are offered.

NPaq Intelligent, Networked, Multi-Axis Drive Rack

Designed for use in the Automation 3200 family of control solutions, the NPaq is a 3U, 19" rack-mount chassis capable of powering six axes of motion while providing unparalleled ease of integration. The NPaq foregoes the complicated wiring and assembly schemes offered by other vendors and instead employs a cost-effective plug-and-play FireWire® connection. Aerotech has designed the NPaq to accept simple plug-in digital amplifiers as well as one-step connections to third-party Ethernet I/O networks. Already containing a variety of analog and digital I/O options, the Ethernet port allows the user to control machines with the networked I/O of choice. Combined with the ability to accept linear and PWM drives of varying power, to support onboard encoder multiplication across all axes, and to connect to additional NDrives (up to 32) and NPaqs (up to 5), the Automation 3200 satisfies an endless range of automation needs. Machine builders now have unparalleled flexibility to control alignment stages, part handling, bonding, and camera stages from the same controller software package.

Automation 3200 Controller Provides Integrated Laser Firing Control

The PSO (Position Synchronized Output) option available on the Automation 3200, NDrive, and NPaq products provides versatile, on-the-fly synchronization of a laser's pulse and power output with the motions of any machine. By utilizing advanced, high-speed gate array technology, the PSO can acquire and analyze the positions of up to three axes of motion. The PSO can vector-process two or three axes to provide laser control synchronized to 2-D or 3-D contoured machine motions. By using real-time position transducer feedback information, the PSO produces extremely accurate and repeatable results. In addition to laser control, the PSO has been successfully applied to NDT (Non-Destructive Test) and force or flow control systems. The PSO's ability to provide fixed-pulse spacing along complex contours is ideal for inspection systems such as ultrasonic pulse/echo and through-transmission, eddy current, and X-ray. Analog, TTL and opto-isolated digital output channels are provided with pulse frequencies up to 20 MHz. Output modes include: constant and array-based position firing, programmable pulse width output (25 nanosecond resolution), multiple pulse-at-position, bit-pixel data mapping, real time position feedback scaling, and window-based firing.

UPCOMING TRADESHOWS

Semicon West 2003
Moscone Center
San Francisco, CA
Booth 2918
July 14-16, 2003
www.semi.org

Semicon West 2003
San Jose Convention Center
San Jose, CA
Booth 10846
July 16-18, 2003
www.semi.org

CONTACT US

If you would like more information about Aerotech or any of our products or services, please contact us at:

Corporate Headquarters
Aerotech, Inc.
101 Zeta Drive
Pittsburgh, PA
15238-2897
Phone: 412-963-7470
FAX: 412-963-7459
Email Us: sales@aerotech.com
Web: http://www.aerotech.com/home/

Aerotech Ltd.
Phone: 44-118-9409400
FAX: 44-118-9815022
aerotech@aerotech.co.uk

Aerotech GmbH
Phone: 49-911-9679370
FAX: 49-911-96793720
sales@aerotechgmbh.de

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