Anorad Announces the Immediate Availability of Its New Ultra Precision Gantry Featuring Air Bearing Guideways

Shirley, New York (January 23, 2003) - Anorad Corporation, a Rockwell Automation business, announced today the availability of a new addition to its family of precision gantry products. The Ultra Precision Gantry incorporates air bearing technology to permit virtually frictionless motion and dynamic performance well beyond the capabilities of conventional mechanical bearings.

The large systems feature a massive granite base and rigid steel risers to create an extremely stable platform. A magnetically preloaded XY air bearing system - with well over 1 meter of travel in each axis - is affixed to this rigid structure and provides the high accuracy multi-axis motion. The lightweight moving X-axis crossbeam has dynamic yaw control through use of specially engineered supports. This enables the moving carriage to continuously maintain optimal alignment with a workpiece located on the system's large granite reference surface. Dynamic yaw control is achieved using dual linear encoder feedback on the Y-axis and sophisticated servo control algorithms that identify and compensate for minor workpiece misalignments. Even with travel that can exceed 1.5 meters, it can deliver micron-level repeatability and accuracy with submicron position stability over its full travel.

The Ultra Precision Gantry uses Anorad's patented zero-cogging brushless linear servo motors driven by sinusoidally commutating servo amplifiers. Non-contact design elements assure cleanroom compatibility and include optical encoders, brushless linear motors and air bearing guides that minimize particle generation for extremely clean, low-maintenance operation. The result is an extremely robust and responsive system that provides rapid move and settle rates as well as extremely smooth constant velocity scans to set new performance benchmarks for large travel precision XY motion.

One potential use for the Anorad Ultra Precision Gantry is in flat panel display (FPD) applications. The systems are available in travels large enough for many common display sizes and Anorad can supply them with optional value-added equipment including vibration isolation systems, a variety of precision Z and Theta axes, welded steel support frames and complete servo drive and motion control packages.

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