X-Y positioning base

Baldor Electric Company has launched a ready-engineered linear stepper X-Y positioning base that is capable of dramatically increasing productivity in a wide range of machinery applications. A honeycomb-structured composite material used on the base greatly reduces the cost of applying advanced linear motor technology, providing machinery builders with an alternative to traditional solutions such as rotary motors and ballscrews or belts.

Designated the HoneyComb Series, Baldor’s X-Y bases are available in a choice of seven standard sizes with square or rectangular working areas ranging from 375 x 375 to 750 x 1500 mm. This range supports a wide variety of applications in markets including design prototyping, semiconductor fabrication, electronics manufacturing and biomedical sample handling.

The X-Y bases are capable of move speeds of up to 1.5 m/s at resolutions to 2.5 µm and with a repeatability of better than 2 µm. They also offer friction-free mechanics with zero-backlash and no wind-up — for a major performance improvement over traditional mechanical transmission design technologies, as well as maintenance savings.

The base’s moving element, the forcer, floats on an air bearing and integrates two linear stepper motors mounted at right angles to each other to provide X and Y directional thrust. The forcer 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 134 N.

Application versatility is enhanced by the base’s ability to have multiple forcers mounted on the same base with overlapping trajectories if required. A high level of attractive force (up to 1780 N) also means that the base can be applied vertically or face down if the application demands. The base’s composite honeycomb structure simplifies applications like this, as the weight of the positioning system is reduced dramatically. Complete base weights with platen and forcer start at less than 10 kg.