July/August 2019

THE SPANISHmotion control specialist Ingenia claims to have produced the world’s smallest plug-in servodrive module. Its Earth drive has a footprint of 29 x 19mm and is aimed at applications such as robotics end-effectors, cutting tools, drills and medical devices. The 29.3 x 19.8 x 12.8mm drive, which can control rotary or linear, brushed or brushless motors, operates from a 8-40V DC supply and can deliver 3A rms continuous (6A peak). Its plug-in design allows users to choose their own connectors, or to integrate the drive with their own electronics. The power stage efficiency at rated power and current is above 95%, and the maximum standby power consumption is 1W.  The drive offers CANopen, USB and RS-232 ports, as well as an analogue input (0–5V), two general-purpose inputs and a digital output. It is programmed via the USB port using Ingenia’s MotionLab software. The Earth drive can operate in current, velocity or position modes. It supports various types of sensor including digital Hall effect devices, quadrature incremental encoders, PWM encoders, analogue potentiometers and DC tachometers. The default power stage PWM frequency is 20kHz, and it can be configured to be 40kHz. • Ingenia was acquired recently by US-based Celera Motion, part of the Novanta Corporation, which plans to integrate it into its Precision Motion group. Celera also owns Applimotion direct-drive motors and actuators, MicroE optical encoders, Westwind air bearings and spindles, and UK-based Zettlex inductive encoders, which it acquired in 2018. “Ingenia’s products complement the Celera Motion products, and we’re excited to bring these talented and innovative teams together,” says Leane Sinicki, president of Novanta’s Precision Motion group. “This acquisition expands and enhances our offering as we help our customers solve their most complex motion challenges.” www.earth.ingeniamc.com n TECHNOLOGY Plug-in servodrive is ‘the world’s smallest’ THE GERMAN sensor-maker SensoPart claims that a new laser-based triangulation sensor represents a new generation of distance sensors. The FT 55-RLAM sensor, available with operating ranges up to 1m, can detect surfaces fromblack to shiny. It is equipped with an analogue output, two switching outputs, an IO-Link interface and an optional RS-485 port. The sensor is said to owe its high detection efficiency to three main characteristics. First, it produces an oblong light spot that supplies a clear signal even on structuredmetal surfaces. Second, high signal amplification allows reliable detection of poorly-reflecting black parts, as well as shiny objects. And third, improved signal evaluation enhances the measurement reliability. Special functions that cannot be implemented via a control system in fast- moving processes – such as outputting profile height differences, or determining minimumor maximum values – can be integrated without needing any programming. The sensor has a large LCD screen with soft keys. www.sensopart.com Ingenia's Earth servodrive is designed to control brushed or brushless motors in applications such as robotics and medical devices Laser distance sensor represents a new generation