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The Festo advanced CMMO stepper
technology enables lower cost motor
technology but with advanced control
capability, including force and position
control delivered in a smooth and
optimised motion profile. Open loop
control is the lowest cost option; but
where accuracy and continuous
monitoring is required then encoder
feedback enables the system to operate
in a cost effective and full closed loop
servo mode.
The technology sounds great, but what
about support with specification and
commissioning?
Festo has an online software tool called
Positioning Drives that is freely available
and will help OEMs and machine builders
select the optimum OMS package for their
application.
You just enter the application details and
the software comes up with a range of
technically matched solutions. The
software’s inbuilt mechanical knowledge
and understanding takes into account the
mechanical axis – whether piston rod,
rodless gantry, cantilever-based linear
drives or guided rotary tables – and
provides the optimum product choice in
terms of bearings, guidance and
application demands such as mass,
centre of gravity, off-sets, velocity, etc.
Electrical compatibility is assured
because once the optimum mechanical
drive is selected the motor and gearbox
are matched to the performance
requirement.
The Positioning Drives software provides
information about the safety margins
offered by the proposed solutions so the
designer can make an informed decision –
making electric drive selection quick,
simple and risk free. There is also simple,
free access to CAD drawings in all
standard native formats, electronic
datasheets for easy technical file
compilation, performance assurance and
a single complete system price, so all the
information is available in one place.
Once the machine builder has taken
delivery, the chosen OMS package can be
assembled out of the box using one tool –
a simple Allen key. Because all the
components come from one manufacturer
the mechanical interfaces are designed to
work together to provide secure, aligned
axes; so there is no need for additional,
expensive brackets and adaptors. When
installation is complete, Festo’s free Web
config tool makes it fast and error free for
electric drive system using one product
code and get all the components they
need – including the cables, connectors
and gearbox – delivered in one box.
Because you are dealing with one
supplier for all the components,
compatibility is guaranteed.
What about connectivity?
The OMS Series uses Festo technology to
facilitate connection to various end user
protocols. Machine builders can therefore
design a standard electric drive system
that, with a simple inexpensive change to
the connectivity node, can communicate
directly with a wide range of systems such
as:
– I/O-link
– CANopen
– DeviceNet
– EtherCAT
– PROFIBUS
– PROFINET
Even the programming is supported with
simple, modern, Web-config tools. All
parameters are downloaded from the
Festo web-server rather than having to be
entered manually, significantly reducing
programming time and the potential for
error.
Optimised Motion Series
– a total package that offers one cost effective solution for many positioning applications