Ballscrew-driven stage for tough positioning tasks

Aerotech has expanded its Pro series of precision tables with a 560mm-wide ballscrew-driven positioning stage for arduous positioning applications such as laser welding or EDM machining.

Available in standard and high-speed versions, the extra-wide cross section of the new Pro560 and Pro560 HS stages provides optimal support for long-travel upper axes or large-footprint loads.

With travel up to 1,500mm and load to 150kg, the new stages complement and complete the Pro ballscrew-driven range, which covers stage widths of 115mm, 165mm, 225mm, 28mm and 560mm.

The Pro ballscrew range is characterised by its fully protected side-sealed/hard-top design and includes heavy-duty linear motion guide bearings for arduous yet high-precision industrial positioning applications.

The aluminium hard-top cover and the vertical side seal deflect debris and fully protect the internal stage components.

Optional tabletops are also available that can include a brush assembly to remove machining waste from the cover.

This stage sealing system is preferred to conventionally sealed stages that use bellows or slide plates, which can ingest debris resulting in eventual sealing failure and replacement, according to the company.

Through the Pro560 range, six models are available with travels from 300mm to 1,000mm, with maximum speeds of 220mm/sec for the 300mm travel stage and 140mm/sec for the 1,000mm travel version.

For the Pro560HS, eight models provide travels from 300mm to 1,500mm, with speeds to 1,050mm/sec for the 300mm version and 300mm/sec for the 1,500mm travel version.

Both types offer a horizontal load capacity of up to 150kg.

The Pro560 is equipped with a precision-ground 5mm/rev ballscrew and a 2,500 line-motor-mounted encoder for a positioning resolution of 0.5um and bidirectional repeatability of +/-1um.

The 25mm/rev ballscrew and the 2,500 line encoder on the Pro560HS yield a resolution of 2.5um and repeatability to +/-2.5um.

Nominal straight-line accuracy for both stage types is +/-17.5um for the 300mm travel versions.

Motor mounting is via a Nema 34-compatible flange that accepts Aerotech high-performance brushless servomotors or third-party brushed DC and stepper motors.

Motor orientation can be in line with the ballscrew or side mounted on the right or left side of the stage with the 'foldback motor' option to save space.

A motor-mounted brake is available as an option for vertical mounting or for safety-conscious applications.

End-of-travel limit switches are available in 5V and 24V options.

Further options include a choice of tabletops with metric or imperial threaded-hole patterns to suit the various widths of matching Pro series stages or other Aerotech linear and/or rotary stages.

Alternative accuracy levels for orthogonal alignment are available for X-Y-mounted systems and toe clamps are offered for base mounting the stages.

As with all Aerotech positioning mechanics, customised interfacing plates and brackets are offered along with complete machine base/frames and mounting provision for air or hydraulic services or other customer equipment.

Aerotech's Pro series also includes linear-motor, direct-drive versions with matching mounting configurations for higher dynamic performance, increased resolution and improved positional accuracy.

The Pro ballscrew-driven series can be supplied separately or together with a choice of Aerotech motion controls for complete automation system solutions - delivered fully tested and ready to run with all tuning and setup parameters pre-programmed - ensuring fast commissioning into the customer's application.

A choice of PC-based, software-only, rack- or panel-mounted motion controls with compatible digital servo amplifiers enables optimal performance with diagnostics and features that are intended to reduce positioning errors, improve throughput performance and ensure time-saving and quality-improving benefits.

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