Stepper drive, controller developed for electric actuators

Specifically designed to be used with electric actuators, Tolomatic’s ACS Stepper Drive/Controller simplifies linear motion by automatically configuring all performance information about the actuator and motor.

SOURCE: Tolomatic

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The actuator control solution (ACS), from Tolomatic, is a low-cost stepper drive and controller developed specifically for use with electric actuators. With built-in configurations for the ERD, Tolomatic’s low cost rod-style electric actuator, linear motion is quickly and easily created in the desired linear units (mm or inch).

Originally designed as a replacement for pneumatic cylinders, the ERD family of actuators has become an economical actuator solution for applications such as product changeovers, pick-and-place, sorting and diverting, heat-staking and more.

“The primary goal in designing the ACS Stepper Drive/Controller for the ERD product family was to create a low-cost, extremely easy-to-use drive and control product intended for single-axis actuator solutions,” says Aaron Dietrich, electric products manager, Tolomatic. “What makes creating motion so easy is that through two simple configuration steps, the ACS drive knows everything about the axis of motion. Combined with any of Tolomatic’s electric actuator products, the entire axis of motion is available from one supplier.”

The ACS is capable of 4, 8, or 16 move command modes (absolute, incremental or jog) for infinite position capability. This array of command modes is flexible enough for a wide variety of single-axis actuator solutions. It also has adjustable motion profile parameters (position, velocity, acceleration/deceleration, force) that are independently configurable for each move. For energy savings, it has the ability to reduce holding current when not in motion. The ACS is capable of zone output based on the actuator position and it has a force-limiting capacity. The digital I/O capability is configurable in either 24 V dc Opto-Isolated, NPN or PNP, and the drive/controller is compatible with most brands of 24 V dc stepper motors.

The Tolomatic Motion Interface User Guide is a 53-page manual describing functionality and features of the Tolomatic Interface software for use with the ACS Stepper Drive/Controller. The Motion Interface User Guide can be downloaded online.

www.tolomatic.com

Tolomatic

- Edited by Gust Gianos, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com