News and New Products

CANBus, serial networks distribute motion control

By Warren Webb, Technical Editor -- EDN, 1/10/2006

Targeting medical, scientific, semiconductor, industrial, robotic, and general-automation applications, Performance Motion Devices recently announced the Ion dc brush drive. This fully enclosed module provides network connectivity, power amplification, and advanced motion-control features for brush, brushless-dc, and microstepping motors in an asynchronous RS485 serial or CANBus network version. It allows you to connect as many as 127 Ion modules on a network. Ion provides 15A peak output and 500W at 56V.

Other features include hardware-performance trace, on-the-fly profile changes, and PLC-style inputs and outputs. You can program Ion using Pro-Motion, a Windows-based exerciser, or C- and VB-Motion software libraries, which let users develop applications in C/C++ or Visual Basic. Prices for the CE-and ROHS (reduction-of-hazardous-substances)-compliant Ion drive start at $223 (OEM quantities).

Performance Motion Devices, www.pmdcorp.com.