Anorad’s New High Precision Gantry (HPG) Offers OEM’s Low Cost and Design Flexibility

Shirley, New York (July 2004) – Anorad, the precision motion division of Rockwell Automation, introduces its new aggressively priced High Precision Gantry (HPG) at SEMICON West 2004. The latest generation of Anorad's successful HPG product line features a modular construction that offers unprecedented design flexibility for gantry applications. Specifically, each axis of the Anorad HPG can be ordered with either iron core or ironless (zero-cogging) linear servo motors. Furthermore, both motor types are available in two coil lengths to best suit an application's power requirements. Finally, the lower, Y-axis, can be specified with either single or dual-motor actuation to optimize throughput. All of these motor options make Anorad's HPG the most highly configurable precision gantry in the industry, and ready to meet your high accuracy XY automation needs.

The HPG's many motor options enable designers to satisfy a broad range of precision gantry applications. For high speed point-to-point motion, both the X and Y-axes can be built with Anorad's low cost LC-50 iron-core motors, in either 200 or 300mm coil lengths depending on the desired speed for each axis. Heavier payloads and longer X-axis crossbeams can take advantage of the dual-motor Y-axis option to enhance system throughput. Another example of the HPG's flexibility is in step-and-scan applications. For these, the gantry's scanning axis (usually the upper or X-axis) can be specified with Anorad's zero-cogging LEB ironless linear servo motor, and the lower (Y-axis) with the LC-50 iron core motors for cost-effective “stepping” motion. Finally, if extremely smooth, dual-axis contouring motion is required; both axes of the HPG can be configured with ironless LEB-motors for the tightest velocity control and highest levels of precision.

In addition to all the motor options, the economically efficient HPG is available in variety of travels and resolutions. Standard X-axis travels are available from 250 to 1000 mm and Y-axis travels range from 350 to 1100mm. Rugged high resolution optical encoders (0.1 to 5.0 ?m per count) are standard along with high-flex strain relieved cables neatly bundled in modular cable carriers. To further reduce implementation costs, the Anorad HPG comes standard with a single encoder per axis configuration. This simplifies the motion control architecture to bring down total system part count and minimize programming and operational complexity.

The High Precision Gantry is ideally suited for applications requiring high throughput micron-level precision motion. This type of motion is common in electronics assembly, pick and place, and many types of precision automation. Typical applications include Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) and SMT assembly, and other types of precision material handling.

In addition to all these features, the High Precision Gantries can be supplied with many desirable value-added options including Z&T axis modules, servo drive and control packages, machine frames, enclosures and the complete line of over 500,000 world-class industrial automation products available only from Rockwell Automation.