Industrial Laser Systems and Motion Control Products. AIM Controls, Inc.

INTEGRATED MULTI-AXIS STEPPER SYSTEMS

Aim Control's Coordinate line of stepper motor control systems are the most dynamic, versatile, and cost effective on the market. With their exceptional accuracy, stability, and flexibility, they are capable of satisfying the most demanding stepper motor control requirements. Many applications that use expensive servo motor systems can easily be handled with Aim's line of low cost stepper motor controllers.

Aim Control's Stepper Motor Control Systems are fully integrated: everything from the motor cable to the user application software is provided. Aim has a variety of software interfaces for different applications and is always willing to develop customized user/operator software control interfaces. Aim Controls' Coordinate Stepper Motor Control Systems range from a simple two axis unit with general purpose motion control software, to a nine axis high speed system capable of very sophisticated, interdependent motor operation.

Aim Controls' Coordinate line of Stepper Controllers feature:

Each motor axis is powered with AIM's patented stepper motor drivercircuitry. This advanced circuitry provides quiet, smooth, and efficient motor operation, while at the same time achieving the highest operating speeds with extended torque. And, since each motor axis has its own precision digital frequency engine and motor control circuitry, the user's computer overhead is dramatically reduced. This makes each motor axis capable of independent or closely coupled operation.

All Aim Controls' Coordinate Stepper Motor Control systems are supplied with AIM's powerful, general purpose operating system called the "I Motor software". This software performs all of the low level functions for each motor axis, including velocity, acceleration, rate of change of acceleration, distance, hardware and software limits, and feedback (e.g. limit switches and/or optical encoders). All of the I Motor commands are directly accessible to the user through one of several interfaces. By providing direct user access to the I Motor software, users can design their own high level software on any computer platform. The I Motor software contains subroutine and nesting
capability.

Unlike other simplified stepper motor drivers, Aim Controls uses a multi-processor approach that divides specialized tasks among multiple processors, thereby optimizing the speed and efficiency of motor control operations. Not only does each axis have a dedicated processor, but there is also a separate master processor that handles high speed communications to the user's computer system and/or other devices such as the optional hand console or graphics display. In turn, the master processor works in conjunction with the user's computer platform (e.g., a PC with Aim's optional Windows software) to provide extraordinary system control capability.

Aim Controls' Coordinate line of Stepper Motor Control Systems provides the state of the art in dynamic speed range. Noise and vibration are very substantially reduced and the stepper motors can be operated at far greater speeds than with any competing drive system. The following is a sample torque vs speed curve:

One of the secrets of the Coordinate series controllers is the incredibly accurate and clean driver signals sent to the stepper motor coil. This is clearly demonstrated by the following actual motor coil waveform:

The Coordinate IV is a complete two axis system. This small, highly integrated unit runs on +12 vdc. It generates up to 100 watts of drive power per axis. It has the full I Motor software and up to 8 opti-isolated I/O lines and separate optical encoder inputs. The cost per is the most competitive in the industry and the unit is the most integrated and sophisticated system available for stepper motors. This system can work
with either an external hand console or through an RS-232 or RS-485 interface. It can also be used in the field or in a permanent installation.

The Coordinate V is a complete single axis system with a 400 watt power capacity. Capable of driving steppers in the most demanding situation. This highly integrated unit runs on 90-240 vac. It has the full I Motor software and up to 8 opti-isolated I/O lines and an optical encoder input. The cost per watt is the most competitive in the industry and the unit is the most integrated and sophisticated system available for driving stepper motors. This system can work with either an external hand console or through an RS-232 or RS-485 interface. It can also be used in the field or in a permanent installation .

All Coordinate systems can be ordered in either a half step or micro-step version. Half-step versions can be upgraded to micro-step at any time. The patent pending micro-stepping system designed by AIM is entirely digital, thereby reducing external noise interference. The positional accuracy of each micro-step has been significantly improved over competing systems. Contract AIM for specific operating and performance specifications.

AIM understands that, even with its versatile and simple off the shelf systems, there are occasions when hardware or software customization will be necessary. AIM works with each customer to analyze the problem(s) in a particular system and then offer a custom solution if required. AIM can also design and build custom stepper control systems on a quantity basis.