an introduction to precision motion control
DESCRIPTION
Motion control is a sub-field of automation where the position and velocity of a system are controlled. This presentation will introduce you to the basic components of motion control, how it is used in different industries and applications, and what things to consider when selecting a positioning device for automating your own set-up.TRANSCRIPT
www.zaber.com
An Introduction to Precision Motion Control Technology
Zaber Technologies
www.zaber.com
First, a little information about us
Zaber is a Vancouver-based company that was founded in 1997. Our first product was the T-LA linear actuator. It had a built-in controller, which set it apart from other actuators on the market.
The very first prototype of our T-LA actuator featured all control and drive electronics in one small, compact package.
We’ve grown since then...
We now offer over 56 series of devices and hundreds of models, which are distributed
around the world. Many of our products are designed with built-in controllers.
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Our focus continues to be on
Simplifying motion control »
Advancing our inhouse design and assembly capabilities »
Continuously improving our products based on customer feedback »and suggestions
Our research and production facilities in Vancouver, Canada!
So, what is motion control?
Motion control is a sub-field of Automation where the position and velocity of a system are controlled.
It typically includes 5 components:
Controller
Generates the motion profile
Drive
Gives current to the actuator
Actuator
Translates electrical power
to motion
Mechanics
Directs the power
Sensors
Provides feedback
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High precision positioning
Within motion control, we focus on precision motion control, specifically positioning applications. Our products integrate all 5 components of motion control.
Stepper motors for microstepping »High precision lead screws »High speed trajectory control »High resolution drive »Stiff and accurate components »Positioning sensors for feedback »
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Who uses these products?
Our typical customers are labs, universities, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and they come from industries like:
Photonics and optics »Industrial automation »
Laboratory automation »Material science »
Measurement and instrumentation »Aerospace »
Surveillance and security »And the list goes on... »
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And what for?
Common positioning applications include:
Mass spectrometers »Thin film coating »
Optical inspection systems »Camera focusing and testing »
Material property testing »Microscope automation »
Fiberoptic and laser alignment »Laser wavelength tuning »
Complex printing »Insect tracking »
Semiconductor wafer analysis »Optical beam profiling »
Sorting and automated handling »systems
And the list goes on... »
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Here’s a real application to illustrate
DigitalCameraInfo.com uses our T-LSR075A linear slides and T-RSW60 rotary stages to simulate hand shaking in testing image stabilization of digital cameras and camcorders they are reviewing.
In this set-up, our devices are used to apply shake to cameras and camcorders in a precisely controlled way, enabling them to mimic human hand shake without relying on the unpredictable nature of real humans.
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And here’s another example
WITec GmbH uses our T-LA28A-S linear actuators in their Scanning Near-field Optical Microscope alpha300 S for moving the inverted microscope’s objective in three axes.
The T-LA28A-S offers a resolution of 100 µm, which perfectly matches the demanding requirements of high-resolution microscopy.
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So, how do you pick the right one?
To select the positioning device that’s best suited to your application, consider your requirements.
Here are some common considerations:
Type of motionTravel distance
or rangeSize limitations
Resolution & accuracy
Speed
Stall detectionThrust &
accelerationCarrying capacity
Environmental protection
Vacuum compatibility
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Let’s focus on type of motion
Tilt
Tilt Devices
Push/Pull Carry
Linear Actuators
Linear Stages
Linear Rotary
Rotary Stages
Stepper Motors
Push/Pull Carry
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If you need to push or pull
Push/Pull
Linear Actuators
You’ll want to look at devices with high thrust capabilities like the LAR/BAR Series of linear actuators.
OR the T-NA Series, which includes our most compact, precise, and robust actuators.
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If you need to carry
Carry
Linear Stages
You’ll want to consider the travel length of the device, and you’ll likely be looking at stages with various travel ranges such as the (from top) A-LSQ-E linear stage, T-LSR linear slide, and the A-LST linear stage.
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If you need rotational motion
You’ll want to consider rotary devices and factors like microsteps per revolution, revolutions per minute, and maximum torque. And you’ll want to look at devices like the RSW rotation stage or the T-NM stepper motor.
Rotary
Rotary Stages Stepper Motors
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If you need tilt motion
Tilt
Tilt Devices
You’ll want to look at tilt devices like our T-OMG gimbal optic mount, which offers +/- 7 degrees of angular travel.
OR our LMG goniometer, which offers precise and accurate positioning.
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If you need multi-axis motion
You’ll want to consider X-Y, X-theta, X-Y-Z systems, or gantries, like our ASR microscope stages, G-LSQ gantries, or XYZ three-axis stages with built-in controllers.
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If you have limited space
From top to bottom: T-LSM miniature motorized linear stage, T-NA micro linear actuators, and LSA micro motorized linear stages.
Many of our products are designed to be compact, making them suitable for applications with limited space. Here are just a few of our most compact products:
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Do you need high precision?
Resolution is the smallest increment that a motion control device can be instructed to move. Resolution can vary based on the lead screw pitch of linear stages.
Microstep Resolution by Series2.8
2.1
1.4
0.7
0LSA T-LSM T-LSR A-LSQ A-LST
D-pitch
B-pitch
A-pitch
For example, devices with A-pitch (fine) lead screws, like the LSA, will offer the highest precision.
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Do you need consistent motion?
Repeatability is the deviation in actual position when a device is repeatedly instructed to move to a target position from the same
direction.50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Measured final position [µm]
Num
ber
of tr
ials
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8
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Do you need to be accurate?
Accuracy is the measure of how close the actual position will be compared to the requested position over the entire travel range.
Target Position [µm]
Pos
ition
Err
or (µm
)
4
3
2
1
0
-1
-2
-3
-4
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
T-LSMxxxA Typical Accuracy over 4 mm
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If you need to move something fast
Our A-LSQ linear stages offer speed up to 1000 mm/s, up to 20 kg load capacity, as well as various travel ranges from 75 - 600 mm.
Here are some of our products that offer high speed travel: Our A-BLQ-E linear stages offer up
to 2.0 m/s speed, up to 20 kg load capacity, and travel ranges from 70 - 2095 mm.
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High thrust and carrying capacity?
Our G-LSQ gantries offer up to 100 N thrust, depending on choice of lead screw.
You’ll want to consider heavy duty devices with high peak thrust, suitable for applications like industrial manufacturing, for example.
Our A-LST-C stages with dust covers offer up to 560 N thrust and 100 kg load capacity.
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If you need stall detection
You may experience stalling when you operate above rated speed or thrust. Some devices offer rotary encoders that provide closed-loop position feedback with slip/stall detection and automatic recovery.
Our A-BLQ-E closed-loop linear stage features a built-in rotary encoder for stall detection.
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So you’ve chosen a suitable device
Now what? You’ll probably want to set up the device and get it to do something. Our devices with built-in controllers simplify set-up and
daisy-chaining. The benefits include reduced cost, shorter set-up time, and less cable clutter.
Built-in controller and daisy-chaining makes setting up easier and faster.
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Setting up is easy as 1-2-3
Step 1: Connect your controller to the RS-232
port of your computer with a T-DSUB9 adaptor.
Step 2: Connect your device to a power supply.
Most of our devices require only a standard 15 V power supply, and multiple daisy-chained devices can run off
a single power supply.
Step 3: Instruct your device to do something with our
open-source Zaber Console software.
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More about controlling devices
Our main software, Zaber Console, is a free open-source application that lets you send commands to your Zaber devices, adjust their settings, and create simple scripts.
It’s free and open-source!
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Other software options to consider
We offer a LabVIEW driver that includes subVIs and type definitions for controlling Zaber devices with LabVIEW using the Binary command protocol.
AND a LabVIEW driver that includes high-level and low-level subVIs for controlling Zaber devices with LabVIEW using the ASCII command protocol.
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If you want manual control
We offer a programmable joystick, the T-JOY3, that can be used to manually direct a controller.
The T-JOY3 is easy to use, programmable, and capable of controlling up to 3 axes. They are ideal for microscopy, XY, or XYZ stage applications.
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Other manual control options
All of our devices with built-in controllers feature a knob at the end of the unit for manual control.
Press and hold the knob to switch between velocity and displacement modes. In velocity mode, turning the knob will move the stage at various discrete speeds. In displacement mode, turning the knob will move the stage for a fixed distance per knob detent. Pressing the knob during any operation will stop the stage.
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We’re here to support you
All our standard products are backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your device(s) for any reason, you
can return them within 30 days of the purchase date for a refund.
You’re also welcome to email [email protected] or call 1-888-276-8033 to speak with an applications engineer if you have any questions
or need assistance with your application.
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Questions? Interested in more?
Visit www.zaber.com to learn more about our products and/or services.
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