IGM motion platform promises more cost-effective production
At this month’s Micronora (the international trade fair for microtechnology in Besançon, France (25 to 28 September), Aerotech will debut its integrated granite motion (IGM) linear motion platform, together with linear and rotary tables for demanding laser machining processes.
The IGM linear motion platform has been developed to meet the highest precision requirements. According to Aerotech, the customer-specific assembly of the components directly on granite enables higher stiffness, longer travel and more cost-effective production.
The Pittsburgh-based manufacturer develops high-precision motion control systems, positioning tables and associated software for high throughput applications in industry, science and research.
“Compared to conventional motion platforms, the IGM linear motion platform offers reduced height and consequently increased design flexibility,” said Simon Smith, director Europe at Aerotech. Travel load, payload capacity and dynamic performance can be adapted to specific applications, depending on its requirements.
In the IGM system, machine components such as bearings, encoders and drives are attached directly to the granite structure and the bridge constructions. This distinguishes IGM systems from conventional positioning stage-on-granite systems, where discreet positioning stages and machine components are used in the system design. “Our IGM systems are custom-engineered to fit the special requirements of respective applications or production processes,” confirms Smith.
At Micronora, Aerotech will present several versions incorporating mechanical or air-bearing axles. Ball screw or linear motors can be chosen as drives. In addition, various feedback options are available, ranging from simple encoders to laser interferometers. Finally, additional axes of motion such as rotary, lift, piezo stages or even galvanometers can be integrated into the IGM axes all of which can be controlled centrally via the Aerotech A3200 machine control platform.
Other Aerotech solutions on display include Planar DL, a directly driven biaxial mechanical linear motion system, ANT95R, a directly driven single axis rotary nano positioning platform and ANT130L, another directly driven linear platform with mechanical bearings.
Visit Aerotech at Micronora, Hall A2, booth 128.
