SMD4 Stepper Motor Drive

Single-Axis Bipolar Stepper Motor Drive, Advanced Connectivity

From £1,110.00 excl. VAT and transportation cost$1,400.00 excl. VAT and transportation cost€1,345.00 excl. VAT and transportation cost

The SMD4 is a single-axis bipolar stepper motor drive that is engineered to drive vacuum-compatible stepper motors with maximum performance and minimal heat. It is optimised for use with AML UHV-compatible motors.

Overview

  • Optimised for vacuum: Single-channel UHV stepper motor driver, ideally suited for use with our range of UHV stepper motors
  • Optional encoder module for incremental and absolute encoders - see "encoder module details" for further information.
  • USB, Ethernet and RS232/485: Multiple interfaces for easy control from a host PC or PLC
  • Maximises motor operating time: Minimise temperature rise and outgassing with advanced drive current profiles
  • Motor thermal protection: Monitor motor temperature using the thermocouple or RTD inputs. Drive current is removed if temperature exceeds safe levels
  • Voltage boost feature: Power using a standard 48 Vdc power supply, and the drive voltage is boosted to 67 Vdc to maximise speed and torque
  • Smooth motor operation: Up to 256x micro-step resolution minimises resonances, providing smooth motion
  • Performance: Current adjustable from 0 A to 1 A RMS in 30 mA steps, with dynamic set-points for acceleration, running and hold currents

48 Vdc power supply included.

Order Code Description
Price
SMD4 Stepper motor drive, single-axis, advanced connectivity1,110.001,400.001,345.00
SMD4-E Stepper motor drive, single-axis, advanced connectivity, with encoder module1,195.001,510.001,450.00
SMD3JOY Joystick (compatible with SMD4)74.0095.0090.00

Features:

The encoder module makes it easy to use both quadrature incremental and BiSS absolute encoders with your mechanism. Highlights include: 

  • Minimise positioning error by using closed loop control.
  • Define virtual limits; prevent accidental movement outside prescribed limits.
  • Command moves and input motion parameters in real world units such as millimeters, microns or degrees*.

Typical application:

The illustration below shows a typical setup for a mechanism with an absolute encoder:

Control and configuration in AML Device Control Software is quick and easy. Connect the SMD4 by USB, Serial or ethernet, add it to your project, and use the new presets feature to select your mechanism from the drop-down list. The SMD4 will be configured with basic initial settings to get the mechanism up and running:

Then use the control window to manipulate the mechanism. When using an encoder, readouts turn green indicating that they are live and from the encoder. Values can be displayed and input in real world units. 

 

Specifications: 

Supported types 

Digital incremental and BiSS absolute 

Power 

5V at 250 mA max. is available to power the encoder, protected by self-resetting fuse. 

Connection 

Female 26 way high density D-Sub. 

Encoder connects via adapter cable according to encoder type. 

Adapter cables for supported encoders are available from AML. 

Incremental encoder support 

Digital (RS422) incremental encoders having differential A, B and Z signals.  

Single ended P and Q limits signals are supported. 

Maximum clock rate 1 MHz. 

Absolute incremental support 

26 bit BiSS-C (support for other bit depths may be added via firmware update) 

 

* This feature is enabled for all SMD4 devices with firmware version 24351.19 and onwards, regardless of presence of an encoder, but is greatly enhanced with one. 

Related Products

UHV Stepper Motors

UHV Stepper Motors 

Including our D-Series Stepper Motors, Controllers and Planetary Gearheads.

SMD4 Cables

SMD4 Cables 

Non-bakeable and bakeable cables to connect the SMD4 stepper motor drive.

D-sub Air-Side Connectors

D-sub Air-Side Connectors 

D-sub air-side connectors. 9 and 15-way male connectors available.