Protect Your Investment by Using IPX7 Rated Motors

Santa Clara, CA—October 2006—Lin Engineering, the Step Motor Specialists, is proud to introduce their new line of IPX7 rated motors.  These motors are available in Lin Engineering’s Nema size 23, High Torque Motors and offer the user better protection from damaging environmental elements. 

The IPX7 Series of motors are made to withstand immersion into liquids in depths of 15cm to 1m for time periods of up to 30 minutes.  In addition to being protected from environmental factors, the coating on our IPX7 Series motors is also FDA approved.  The Lin Engineering 5718 series step motors are now available with an IPX7 rating.  The 5718 is a 1.8, NEMA size 23 stepper motor that has a MAX body length of 2.25”.  This motor is available in three stack lengths is capable of producing holding torque up to 294 oz-in.  Unipolar and bipolar windings are available to allow for the torque and speed required to accommodate your application.    

For more information on Lin Engineering’s IPX7 rated motors, please contact us at 408-919-0200 or email us at sales@linengineering.com.

Configurable 3D Models Now Available

Santa Clara, CA—October 2006—Lin Engineering, the Step Motor Specialists, are pleased to introduce configurable 3D Models of their 3609, 416, 417, and 4109 series of step motors.  With just a few simple clicks you can:

• Customize Front Shaft Length
• Customize Front Shaft Diameter
• Add a Flat
• Add a Rear Shaft

The configurable 3D models can then be downloaded in a wide variety of file types including Solid Works, Pro E, and Inventor.  Best of all, the 3D models can easily be implemented in your existing design saving you significant development time.  Be sure to check back often as more Lin Engineering step motors will be added.  To try online, please click here and register

SilverPak 17T – Easily Control both Speed and Position with the Analog Input Feature

Santa Clara, CA—October 2006—Lin Engineering, the Step Motor Specialist, is pleased to introduce the newest addition to their line of integrated step motor/driver/controllers: the SilverPak 17T.  The SilverPak 17T is a bipolar, 1.8 degree, NEMA 17 step motor integrated with a microstepping driver/controller in order to provide easy system integration for newly designed applications.  Additional benefits of the SilverPak 17T are its extremely affordable cost, smooth motion, and analog input feature which can be used for various operations such as speed and position control.    

The SilverPak 17T is available in body lengths of 2.76”, 2.99”, and 3.31” and is capable of producing up to 85 oz-in of holding torque, depending on the stack size of the motor. Custom windings are available at no extra cost in order to Maximize Torque at your Desired Speed.

The SilverPak 17T output currents of 0.1 to 1.5 Amps peak, input voltage of 7VDC to 28VDC, and 16kBytes of memory.  There are two digital limit switches, one general purpose input and one open collector output capable of outputting 100mA.  Once programmed, the SilverPak 17T is capable of stand-alone operation with no connection to a PC and because there is low power dissipation, no heat sink is required.  The driver/controller uses Trinamic’s TMC428 and TMC246 microchips and is incorporated with the TMCL programming language.  The SilverPak 17T also features StallGuard™ encoder less stall detection

For more information on Lin Engineering's SilverPak 17T please contact us at 408-919-0200 or email us at sales@linengineering.com.

Reduce Step Motor Noise and Vibration - As Seen in Design News

Most stepper motor applications require smooth motion. To achieve extremely smooth movement, some engineers alter the voltage, current, and more often, the microstep setting. These changes frequently require an extensive trial-and-error process that may or may not result in better performance. A patent-pending design from Lin Engineering known as R-winding provides an alternative for providing smooth motion in lower torque applications. The benefits of the R-winding are most apparent in stepper motors that use half stepping, however, studies have shown smoother motion even during 64x microstepping.

Bipolar step motors have two phases. To half-step these motors, current passes through each phase in a sequence called One-Phase ON and Two-Phase ON. Using One-Phase ON and Two-Phase ON, different magnetic fluxes develop a step hysteresis. The unevenness in every other step causes jittery and unsmooth movement.

The R-winding shifts the phase currents, sending current to both phases under all conditions. Forcing the motor to the Two-Phase ON position at all times eliminates the One-Phase ON position and maintains the same magnetic path through the entire range of half-stepping. As a result, the settling time characteristic and the holding torque of each step are identical. The even oscillations from step to step provide smoother, quieter step motor operation.

The semiconductor industry could provide one of the initial applications for the R-winding. During the semiconductor manufacturing process, a lead screw connected to a step motor moves the wafer. Smooth movement is critical for accurate optical inspection. If too much vibration exists, there is a possibility the scanning will cause inaccurate readings.

Q: I see that you have specs on line for the 4118M-01 and 4118M-06; why can’t I find the data on the motor I have, p/n 4118M-53-26?  Bo, Redwood City, CA.

A: Hello Bo.  Lin Engineering has thousands of motor windings that are not posted on our website. Our part numbers are be divided as follows:
4118M stands for Nema 17, 2 stack motor; the -53 stands for the winding; the -26 stands for any other customizations that are done to the motor which makes the motor exclusive to the original purchaser of this motor.  We do not provide any information on custom modifications on our website. In regards to the windings, we have an almost infinite amount of windings available so we cannot possibly add them all to our website or catalog.  We place a couple of the more popular windings per motor stack size on the website.  

Q: If I microstep, say 256x, will I lose torque?  Alan, Tulsa, OK.

A: Hello Alan.  Yes, you will loose on average 5% torque if microstepping compared to full stepping.  You will see anywhere from 0 to 3% more torque during microstepping than during half stepping.  In general from most to least amount of torque it is: full step, microstep, half-stepping.

Q: Are your driver products compatible with differential input controllers? (Controllers with a (+) step line and (-) step line)? From Raymond Fort Wayne, IN

A: No unfortunately, our drivers (R208, R325, R101, R701, Silverpak 17D and Silverpak 23D) are not compatible with controllers that output 2 lines for the step line.  Although we can program a special firmware to be able to handle differential inputs on the R325, R101, and Silverpak 23D products for a custom board.