Baldor launches Honeycomb X-Y positioning base

Baldor Electric Company has launched the Honeycomb series of linear stepper X-Y positioning bases, capable of increasing productivity in a wide range of machinery applications.

The honeycomb composite construction reduces the cost of applying advanced linear motor technology to prices starting from USD7,000 (GBP3,930), providing machinery builders with a competitive alternative to traditional devices such as rotary motors and ballscrews or belts.

They are available in seven standard sizes, with square or rectangular working areas ranging from 375 x 375 to 750 x 1,500mm.

This range supports a variety of applications including design prototyping, semiconductor fabrication, electronics manufacturing and biomed sample handling.

It is capable of move speeds of up to 1.5 m/s at resolutions of 2.5 microns, with a repeatability of better than 2 microns.

It also offers friction-free mechanics with zero backlash and no wind-up.

The base's moving part, the forcer, floats on an air bearing and integrates two linear stepper motors mounted at right angles to provide X and Y directional thrust.

It is available in six sizes and in two- or four-phase configurations, depending on the application's force and resolution requirements.

The maximum static holding force is up to 134N.

The base can have multiple forcers mounted with overlapping trajectories if required.

A high level of attractive force (up to 1780N) means that it can be applied vertically or face-down if the application demands.

The base's honeycomb structure simplifies such applications, as the weight of the positioning system is reduced dramatically, by up to 70 per cent compared with previous Baldor models.

Complete base weights with platen and forcer start at less than 10kg - bases are supplied ready to use.

The user only needs to supply power to the forcer and air to the bearing system.

Baldor will make custom-size bases on request.

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