AutomationDirect has launched the SureStep family of products, a new open-loop stepping system that provides simple and accurate control of position and speed and offers a great solution for applications requiring lower power and low cost.
The SureStep family includes four standard motors and a “one-size-fits-all” step motor drive. With holding torques from 83 oz-inch to 434 oz-inch in NEMA size 17, 23 or 34 frames, the motors handle a wide range of automation applications, including woodworking, assembly and test machines. The motors also feature 2.8 A per phase while their square frame style produces high torque and allows the motors to achieve the best torque-to-volume ratio. All four motors are connectorized for easy hookup.
A 20-foot extension cable with locking connector is a standard option to interface theSureStep motors to the 2-phase microstepping drive. The cable can easily be cut to length if needed. The drive operates all of the four standard motors and features standard +5 VDC optically isolated logic inputs for interfacing with DirectLOGIC PLCs.
The SureStep microstepping drive incorporates a 9-position DIP switch to set up the drive parameters; no software or add-on resistors are required for configuration. The DIP switches are used for built-in self test, step angle selection, current level selection and optional idle current reduction.
Step pulses and direction signals from the DirectLOGIC PLCs or other indexers and motion controllers are “translated” by the microstepping motor drive into precise movements of the stepping motor shaft. The 2-phase bipolar motors have 200 full steps per revolution or 1.8 degrees per full step. Older type stepping motor drives, which operate stepping motors in full step mode, can result in stalling or lost motion due to the potential for problems with low-speed mechanical vibration. To minimize these types of problems, the SureStep microstepping drive uses advanced microstepping technology with selectable step sizes of 400 steps per revolution (divide by 2), 1,000 steps per revolution (divide by 5), 2,000 steps per revolution (divide by 10) and 10,000 steps per revolution (divide by 50).
A standard 32 VDC, 4-amp power supply completes the SureStep line. The power supply operates at least two SureStep stepping systems of any size with an auxiliary +5 VDC regulated supply to facilitate DirectLOGIC PLCs and stepping motor drive interfaces.
For more information on the new SureStep line of products, visitwww.automationdirect.com.
Originally Published: Sept. 1, 2004