September 2024
NEWSLETTER
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IN THIS ISSUE...
- Product Announcement
- EtherCAT Supports Multi-Magnet
Magnetostrictive Sensors
- In the News
- Control Automation Article: Motion Control: It’s More Than Just“Point A to Point B”
- AWB 2024 Excellence Awards: Delta Motion Named Finalist for The Employer of the Year Award
- Tech Tip
- People at Delta
- Upcoming Events
- Upcoming Trade Shows
- Upcoming RMCTools Training
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EtherCAT Supports Multi-Magnet
Magnetostrictive Sensors
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Magnetostrictive Linear Displacement Transducers (MLDTs or MDTs) have been available for many years with the capability of measuring the position of several magnets on a single rod. This can be advantageous in certain applications where multiple parts of a machine move in the same direction, such as platens in an injection molding machine or slitters on the outfeed of a line. Interfacing to multi-magnet MDTs has been challenging since most MDT inputs are designed to capture one position reading per input, and special circuitry and software are needed to accomplish this. When using Delta’s RMC200 EtherCAT MainDevice along with EtherCAT-enabled MDTs from Temposonics (for example), each magnet’s position can be mapped to an axis in RMCTools. These position inputs can individually provide primary feedback for separate axes.
In the provided RMCTools project example, three reference axes are defined. The RMCTools EtherCAT Device Editor shows that each magnet has a unique index (address), and the Process Data tab shows that each magnet's status and position are mapped to a corresponding axis (Process Data is the EtherCAT data that is continuously sent between the sensor and the RMC). The Axis Parameters window indicates that the Temposonics SubDevice is configured for all three axes, sharing the same station address because it uses one sensor. However, each axis has a distinct Position Counts index, matching the three different magnets. This feature of the EtherCAT I/O network significantly enhances the capabilities of specific applications such as multi-platen presses and slitters.
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Figure 1. The EtherCAT Process Data Object Map shows the individual magnet indexes.
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Figure 2. The EtherCAT Process Data window shows the magnets mapped to RMCTools axes.
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Figure 3. The RMCTools Axis Parameters shows the unique magnet index mapped to each reference axis.
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Control Automation Article
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Motion Control: It's More Than Just "Point A to Point B"
Motion control isn’t just about moving from one point to another; it’s about achieving precision, efficiency, and reliability in complex systems. Delta Motion’s RMC motion controllers stand out in this arena, offering unparalleled control for both electric and hydraulic systems. By integrating advanced algorithms and tuning capabilities, the RMC controllers manage the intricacies of motion that standard motors and controllers can’t handle, such as fine-tuning force, velocity, and position with exacting accuracy. This precision is essential in industries like sawmilling, where positioning errors of even a few thousandths of an inch can have costly consequences. With the ability to seamlessly blend into mixed-component systems, Delta’s controllers not only elevate performance but also simplify integration with other popular platforms like Rockwell and Temposonics.
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Dive into the full article to see how investing in advanced motion control technology, like Delta’s RMC controllers, can transform your operations from basic movement to high-precision motion, optimizing performance and reducing waste.
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2024 Washington Excellence Awards
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Delta Motion Named Finalist for The Employer of the Year Award
The 2024 Evening of Excellence, hosted by the Association of Washington Business (AWB), is an annual event celebrating top businesses and individuals in Washington State. This event recognizes achievements in innovation, leadership, and community impact, highlighting companies that make a significant difference in the state's economy and community. Delta Motion has been honored with a nomination and has been named a finalist for The Employer of the Year Award.
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The 2024 Washington Excellence Award winners will be announced November 21st .
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Checking User Program Loop Time Usage
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If you're performing multiple calculations with your RMC motion controller, here's a powerful tip: During the User Program verification process, the RMC calculates the exact time needed to run your User Program(s). This insight allows you to optimize performance and fine-tune your operations. Want to see the data for yourself? Here’s how to access it! This feature helps you gain a deeper understanding of program efficiency, ensuring you get the most out of your RMC motion controller.
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1. In RMCTools, on the Programming menu, select Verify Programs.
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2. RMCTools checks the User Programs for syntax and displays the Program Time Used in the Output window. This time usage calculation is a worst-case calculation and, therefore, conservative.
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The Output window also shows how much Image capacity is used with the current programming. The image is the memory space required to store the user programs. See the RMCTools help topic Program Capacity and Time Usage for more details.
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3. To find the actual loop time used by the user programs while in operation, you can add the Programs Loop Time Used to a plot and view it in real time. To add a data quantity to the plot, see the RMCTools help topic Using Custom Templates. When browsing for the data quantity, browse to Controller > Loop Time > Loop Time Used, Programs.
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We’re excited to introduce Jessica Anderson, the newest addition to our Production team. Jessica will play a key role in assembling our products, conducting thorough testing, and ensuring that everything meets our high-quality standards.
Her keen eye for detail, passion for quality, and dedication to excellence make her an excellent fit for this position. She will oversee the hands-on assembly and ensure every component meets the standards our customers have come to expect.
We’re confident that Jessica will contribute significantly to our production processes, helping us continue to deliver top-notch products. Please join us in welcoming her to the Delta team!
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Find Us Exhibiting at These Upcoming Trade Shows
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Upcoming RMCTools Training Opportunities
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We offer technical training that can accommodate any user's schedule, skill level, or needs. You can learn more about our training options by visiting our website, calling us at +1-360-254-8688, or email us at technicalsales@deltamotion.com.
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Delta Computer Systems. Inc. dba Delta Motion
1818 SE 17th Street
Battle Ground, WA 98604
+1 (360)254-8688
Delta Motion Ltd.
5 South Charlotte Street - Edinburgh, EH2 4AN, United Kingdom
(+44) 0131 447 7924
Email us at marketing@deltamotion.com.
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