Components

Brushless motor drive controller

The latest IDEA Drive motor controller, the PBL4850E programmable 3-phase brushless motor drive, replicates the functionality of stepper-based drives for its brushless counterparts. This 4-quadrant brushless controller uses sinusoidal commutation to produce smooth motion that minimizes torque ripple. Hall cell signals are used for phase initialization, and an encoder provides positional feedback.

The graphical user interface features automatic population of motion profile parameters based on entry of just a few motor characteristics instead of complicated command sets or proprietary programming languages. The drive can store a wide range of programs into memory and can execute them without a computer connection. The IDEA software allows system designers to troubleshoot programs using an interactive debug feature. Inputs and outputs can be simulated using the software before connecting hardware.

Users can instantly witness motion when sending commands directly to the drive via the USB interface. This allows users to send motion profiles with varying parameters to determine torque and speed limitations under load during design.

Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions
www.haydonkerk.com

Gigabit Ethernet I/O module

The UEINet Series Ethernet I/O module, a compact data acquisition, control, and I/O platform is based on PowerDNA Cube architecture and is designed for applications requiring a small foot print with the capabilities to support virtually any input, sensor, and interface I/O.

The UEINet platform is supported by more than 60 of UEI’s compatible analog, digital, and interface I/O boards, including ARINC-429, MIL-1553, CAN, RVDT/LVDT, synchro/resolver, RS-232/422/485, strain gauge, and quadrature encoder. It can also run Simulink models for hardware-in-the-loop encoder (HIL) testing and rapid prototyping while users remotely monitor and tune parameters.

The UEINet supports popular operating systems and programming languages, including Windows, Linux, VxWorks, QNX, as well as an array of application packages, including MATLAB and LabVIEW.

United Electronic Industries
www.ueidaq.com

Flexible Cat 6A cable

The lightweight and flexible Cat 6A cable has a flat, compact design that provides reliability when flexed, twisted, or routed through tight spaces. The extrusion process allows four individually shielded 28AWG 100? pairs to be placed in a small, flat profile, precisely controlling the spacing of each component, insulation thickness, and the overall cable shape. The flat design allows for easy stripping and a significant decrease in cable prep time. The design is also compatible with standard handheld manual and automated stripping and crimping equipment.

Individual Cat 6 cables can be stacked in a cable track, and through the use of Cicoil’s on-line cable configurator, multiple Cat 6 cables, and other components can be incorporated into a custom made single, flat cable design.

Cicoil
www.cicoil.com

RFID tag/Kanban inventory control system

The RFID tagging/Kanban system, now called TagBin Live and incorporating a life data feed, has tools and techniques that include parts control using barcodes, RF tagging or Kanban, inventory level and storage system evaluation, supplier negotiation, and forecasting tools. The live data feed from the RFID technology replaces the need to have supplier personnel on customer sites. Combined with the forecasting tool and Kanban Live software, Spectech can demonstrate real-time production tracking and maximizes component storage. Kanban software provides demand forecasting for 100,000 plus lines and the ability to generate purchasing schedules on a daily/weekly basis.

The STAG Group
www.stag-aerospace.com

Flow transmitter

The AS-FT Flow Transmitter features a thermal dispersion technology sensor design for mission-critical air, gas, and fluid monitoring systems on commercial and military aircraft.

AS-FT flow transmitters can serve a variety of aircraft air/gas/fluid flow applications. They feature a 100:1 turndown and are suitable for systems that support the monitoring of fuel, hydraulics, bleed air, liquid coolant, environmental control systems, pneumatic air cycle kits, and lubrication.

Thermal dispersion technology (TDT) directly measures mass flow of air, gases, water, or liquids. The flow sensors are dual-function, and fluid temperature is available from the same sensor.

Fluid Components LLC
www.fciaerospace.com

Cables and receptacles

The M23 series suits applications such as servo drives, motors, and encoders. The M23 refers to the size of the thread used to mate the cable to the receptacle.

Mencom manufactures 12-, 16-, 17-, and 19-pole over-molded cables are available with straight or right angle heads. The 12- and 19-pole are made with rugged PUR jacket material while the 16- and 17-pole use a weld-resistant TPE jacket. Mating receptacles are available with 1/2" NPT, panel mount, M20, or M20-long (for thicker panels) mounting threads. The standard shell material is nickel plated brass, while the M20 is also available in stainless steel.

Mencom Corp.
www.mencom.com

Surface mount GPS/INS

The VN-300 surface mount device (SMD) is a miniature MEMS-based inertial navigation module that includes both inertial navigation and GPS-compassing capabilities, which together provide for accurate position, velocity, and attitude data in both stationary and moving conditions. The surface mount version adds GNSS capability.

Dual GNSS receivers provide True North heading measurements when the sensor is stationary through the use of GPS interferometry techniques. The addition of GNSS capability now enables the VN-300 product line to include measurements from satellites in the GLONASS constellation in addition to GPS.

New firmware enables the VN-300 to transition between magnetic heading (AHRS) mode (used on start-up and in GPS-denied environments), to INS operation in dynamic conditions, and GPS-compass in static conditions, without requiring input from the user.

VectorNav Technologies
www.vectornav.com

Piezo nanopositioners

QNP piezo stages are guided by precision flexures that are optimized using finite element analysis. The resulting design offers stiffness and resonant frequency (up to 885Hz) enabling high process throughput and fast closed-loop response. The integrated XY package minimizes stage stack height and moving mass for static and dynamic multi-axis performance.

QNP piezo stages offer optional closed-loop feedback using a capacitive sensor design for sub-nanometer resolution and high linearity. The capacitive sensors measure the output of the positioning carriage directly, enabling accuracy and repeatability.

When coupled with Aerotech’s Q-series controllers and drives, QNP piezo stages demonstrate sub-nanometer positioning resolution, in-position stability, and high-positioning bandwidth. Software options such as Aerotech’s Dynamic Controls Toolbox and Motion Designer packages provide learning control, harmonic cancellation, and command shaping tools.

Aerotech, Inc.
www.aerotech.com