Posted to News on 21st Dec 2008, 20:17
Ensemble motion controllers now compatible with EPICS
Aerotech's Ensemble Epaq and CP/MP/CL series motion controllers now feature full compatibility with the EPICS open source control system. EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System) is used worldwide as a distributed soft real-time control system for light source (synchrotron) facilities, telescope projects and other large scientific experiments across the research community.
The new Ensemble series device driver for EPICS provides closely co-ordinated control for up to ten axes of high-precision motion and associated I/O, with a choice of open-loop stepper or closed-loop brushed and brushless servo motors in standalone or rack-mount packages.
EPICS compatibility also permits straightforward access to Aerotech's range of medium- to ultra-high-precision positioning systems. The range includes direct-drive linear and rotary nano-positioners, linear motor gantry systems, ball screw-driven linear stages and wormwheel-driven rotary stages. With both air bearing and mechanical bearing technologies used, positioning systems are supplied as standard components with motion controls or delivered as custom-engineered products complete with machine base and cable management. Aerotech is a specialist in cleanroom- and vacuum-compatible positioning systems.
Product range
Aerotech's Ensemble range covers the Epaq - a bench- or 19inch rack-mount multi-axis device - and the CP, MP and CL single-axis intelligent drives. Ensemble uses high-speed multitasking software and fully deterministic real-time networking between each axis to provide tightly synchronised motion and machine I/O control with microsecond level timing.
It is easy to adapt the Ensemble series to each application thanks to a wide choice of stepper, brushed and brushless servo drives using high-performance PWM or ultra-low-noise linear technology amplifiers. Drive ratings up to 30A are available through the range with higher-power versions planned for the future.
