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14 January 2009

New LaserTurn1® linear/rotary motion subsystem added to cylindrical laser processing motion system range

Aerotech has increased its LaserTurn® range of integrated linear/rotary motion subsystems aimed at high throughput cylindrical laser processing applications. Using Aerotech’s brushless direct-drive positioning technology, the new LaserTurn1 provides high speed and high resolution positioning for 100 mm of linear travel and full spindle rotation, and comes complete with collet and automated materials handling built-in. It fulfils smaller component production requirements for material diameters to 3.0 mm for wet cutting and 7.9 mm dry whilst Aerotech’s LaserTurn2 and LaserTurn5 series are available for processing material diameters to 30 mm with a linear travel range to 300 mm.

The LaserTurn1 utilises an integrated linear/rotary design with a low moving mass and a high bearing stiffness that has been well proven on the larger -2 and -5 models. This design compares very favourably against separate linear and rotary stages used in similar applications by minimising dynamic pitch error under the rapid acceleration and direction reversals generated from its high power brushless direct drive motors. When compared to traditional ballscrew and worm-wheel driven mechanics, direct drive motors produce a much higher throughput and their non-contact design, and use with non-contact encoders, provides smooth motion, zero backlash performance, and micron level precision and repeatability; with long life with minimal maintenance also guaranteed for a minimal overall cost of ownership.

The LaserTurn1 is available in a standard accuracy grade of +/- 2.0 microns or with the HALAR calibrated option to +/- 0.5 microns. Repeatability is +/- 0.2 microns linear and +/- 4 arc-seconds rotary. Maximum speed on the linear axis is 300 mm/sec and 600 rpm on the rotary.

The small footprint stage construction is black hardcoat aluminium with a 440C hardened stainless steel Type D collet. There are ample M4 threaded Helicoil™ inserts for clamping the optional attachments or customer supplied components.

An overlapping labyrinth style hard top cover on the linear stage and sealed rotary stage fully protects against laser machining debris and the LaserTurn1 also includes an integral cable management system for electrical and pneumatic connections.

Aerotech’s A3200 Digital Automation Platform is a powerful PC based, software-only machine control system that fully complements the performance capability of LaserTurn laser processing systems. Available for 1 to 32 axis control with decentralised digital servo drives interfaced via its high-speed Firewire® network, the A3200 has integrated machine control function modules for HMI, Vision, soft PLC and a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet interface for third party I/O and PLC’s.

The A3200 includes sophisticated motion and machine control commands aimed at improving the finished quality and increasing the throughput performance for demanding production and test applications. Examples include advanced trajectory generation with multi-block look ahead to minimise geometry errors in tight profiles by speed/position regulation, and the Position Synchronised Output or PSO command that maintains precise ‘on-the-fly’ synchronisation between the exact real-time position of the Aerotech multi-axis system and the customers laser by modifying its lasers pulse, power and firing characteristics.

As with all of its motion systems, Aerotech are able to modify and custom engineer the LaserTurn series to suit application and budget requirements. All systems are delivered fully tested, calibrated and tuned with motor parameters and set-up data supplied along with certification documentation.


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