A new 20 page catalogue, featuring Nanomotion’s ceramic servo motors, piezo sub-systems and drives for miniaturised focus/zoom, shutter/filter and pan/tilt control is available from motion control specialists and exclusive UK distributor, Heason Technology. Available as a PDF or in print, the catalogue covers linear and rotary ceramic motors with associated ASIC based drives and control electronics for use where extremely compact size, silent operation, non-magnetic properties and low EMI / RFI levels are essential characteristics for nanometre precision servo control.

The catalogue features Nanomotion’s miniature EM1-S-O “Edge” ceramic motor which is the smallest industrial direct-drive motor of its kind and is easily integrated into space restricted mechatronics assemblies. With a dynamic stall force of 0.3 N, the motor has wide dynamic velocity range with the ability to operate at speeds up to 250 mm per second in seamless increments of tens of nanometres with zero backlash. The Edge motor can be mounted directly into the customer’s own bearing and encoder-based closed loop servo feedback system to provide a exceptionally smooth and accurate linear or rotary motion; either individually or in synchronised groups to assist increased dynamic performance.

Nanomotion also offer the edge motor as a packaged sub assembly as demonstrated in the new catalogue by the S787 NUC (Non Uniformity Correction) Shutter which is used extensively for infrared thermal imaging but may be applied to other photonic applications across research and industry. Its tiny leaf shutter is capable of moving 15mm in 100 milliseconds and is typically supplied with an ASIC drive that closes the position loop and serves as a complete drive and control system.

Other motor products covered in the new catalogue include the ER-15-4 Rotary Piezo Motor which offers the many advantages of nanomotion’s piezo technology, applied in a traditional cylindrical motor housing. Utilising a piezo drive inside the motor, the motor enables precise and smooth direct rotary drive operation with zero backlash and its gearless design benefits from the inherent ability for holding and braking without power consumption. The ER15 series can be supplied with the S775 XCD closed loop drive and control module, either a as a small board or chip level based controller for integration into other electronics.

The catalogue includes a range of ASIC and board based drives as well as a separate ASIC component that may be easily integrated into the customer’s electronics. Heason Technology is on hand to advise end user and OEM applications across the full range of Nanomotion miniature ceramic servo motors and drives

Heason Technology has successfully completed the integration of a vertical positioning system within an active CT scanner for the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London. The Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre (QCCSRC) which is located within the chemical engineering department has embarked upon a $70 million, 10 year programme in conjunction with QCCSRC sponsors Qatar Petroleum, Shell and Qatar Science and Technology Park to improve the understanding and development of the storage of CO2 in carbonate reservoirs to help mitigate climate change. As fossil fuels will continue to be a primary source of global energy for decades to come and as such it is becoming critical to manage the associated emissions. CO2 capture and storage in geological structures is fast-emerging as a promising method for decoupling fossil fuel.

As part of the programme, Imperial College recently undertook a project to build a new, purpose built, state-of-the-art facility. From here QCCSRC hopes to be able to carry out critical research to look at the how the injection of carbon dioxide effects the fluid flow in carbonate rocks and characterises their structure. Using a precision actuation system designed and manufactured by Heason Technology with motion tightly synchronised  with computer enhanced X-Ray tomography fluid flow can be determined down to the micron level. Performing experimentsat such a very small scale, it is then possible to calculate what the effects will be of injecting CO2 into vast globally available resource of carbonate reservoirs.

The Qatar CCS Multi-Scale Imaging Lab incorporates a newly acquired Universal Systems CT Scanner which required four stage movement of the core rock samples to be placed within the scanner. The core samples and holders to allow high temperature and pressure experiments can be up to 100kg in weight and 1000mm in length and need to be lifted from the ground vertically and then horizontally via a hoist/trolley mechanism. Heason Technology undertook the challenge of providing a complete solution that included the motorised hoist mechanism along with the precision positioning actuator, support platform and full control system together with relevant safety relays/interlocks, electrical cabinet. Heason Technology also provide a graphic user interface prepared in LabView. From a design perspective this was a challenging and varied application due to the number of elements within the system as well as the space constraints of the laboratory which is located in one of the older buildings on the campus in central London, the solution need to be extremely compact. The project allowed Heason Technology to demonstrate our diverse set of skills from designing the custom steel framework and actuator to installing & programming the finished system.

The vertical positioning system consisted of a bespoke modular design platform, custom built two-part stage with a servo driven Thomson M75 Movopart linear actuator with linear optical encoder used for positioning and linear support bearings and support mechanism for lowering the sample over the scanner. The system required remote pc control integrated with LabView as well as an operator control interface located on the platform as part of the electrical enclosure.

Heason Technology worked in conjunction with a number of contractors involved in the build of the laboratory to ensure that all requirements were met and timescales adhered to.

Heason Technology has designed and manufactured a range of application customised and completely non-magnetic four axis precision “slit” packages for use on the LARMOR instrument at the STFC’s ISIS neutron and muon beamline facility in Oxfordshire. LARMOR is presently under construction and due for completion in 2014. Following Heason’s success in supplying similar neutron beam conditioning positioners for the WISH and NIMROD instruments at ISIS, as well as many other micropositioning devices for a number of  synchrotron source/particle accelerator applications worldwide, the West Sussex based motion systems specialist has supplied several types of slit packages for use in ambient and UHV environments that suit the wide range of diffraction and spectroscopy techniques that the new multi-purpose instrument will offer the scientific community.

The detailed nature of the project, involving a rigorous design, development and manufacturing process with ISIS scientists and engineers, demonstrates Heason Technology’s capability to provide bespoke motion system solutions to its customers across research and industry. 

The slit packages, which all feature piezo-ceramic direct drive linear motor systems and ceramic bearings, are essentially 4-axis motorised linear blades that are precisely positioned to sub-micron levels in order to modify the face area and size of the neutron beam to enable the scientists to tune its resolution and divergence to achieve the optimal frequency required for the materials being examined on the instrument.

The unique design feature, engineered by Heason’s expert design team, was the development of the package comprising of ceramic motors and bearings, support frames, housings and feedback encoders assemblies built using completely non-ferromagnetic materials so as not to influence the instrument’s measurement capability in any way. With no lead-screws or externally mounted motors, the zero backlash direct drive design has reduced the amount of components typically employed in slit packages that use rotary motors – which also require complex magnetic screening and feed through devices – resulting in increased long term reliability, greater stability, much improved accuracy and positional repeatability, as well as considerable space savings.

The ceramic motor technology used in the packages – from Nanomotion, an exclusive distribution partner of Heason Technology with a superlative reputation for demanding nanometre-scale positioning applications -  not only provides the non-magnetic micropositioning element for the application but also benefits from its ability to hold position with no movement whatsoever when power is removed. This feature allows the slit package to be isolated from power at the critical measurement phase, maintaining its exact dimensions but eliminating any potential for movement and heating that could influence the measured results.

Heason Technology has developed many customised jaw/slit package variants for the global community of synchrotron research facilities. From its UK design, manufacturing and assembly facility, the Company plans to add to the range and invites suggestions from interested parties to develop standard jaw/slit packages with a fixed range of apertures, and with standard drive and feedback options.

The Thomson Micron^® Gearhead Express programme, a 24 hour build and despatch service for the USA manufacturers wide range of TRUE series planetary gearheads, has now been expanded to over 250 size and ratio combinations. Available in the UK through motion control specialists Heason Technology Limited, the programme ensures fast delivery of new applications or replacements for almost every standard in-line size and ratio across the Thomson Micron planetary gearhead range – many of which are dimensionally compatible with competitive lines.

The Gearhead Express programme is part of Thomson-Micron’s online Motioneering^® service that allows users to application-size a suitable planetary gearhead in a selection of graded precision bands by entering torque, speed, load  and other application requirements into a simple wizard. With instant results, a list of suitable gearboxes is presented and the service is completed with their availability under the Gearhead Express programme.

The Gearhead Express programme covers four major Micron TRUE series planetary gearhead lines: DuraTRUE™, UltraTRUE™, NemaTRUE™ and ValueTRUE™.

The DuraTRUE is a high precision planetary gearhead that features the RediMount system allowing easy, error free and fast interfacing to almost any motor available in the market. Available in 4 frame sizes, the DuraTRUE has a torque capacity 865 Nm and ratios up to 500:1 with 8 arc-min precision.

The UltraTRUE has increased precision to 4 arc-min thanks to helical crowned gearing. The internal gears are cut directly into the housing to increase torque capacity and reduce slippage. 8 frame sizes are available for torques to 3300 Nm and ratios up to 100:1.

NemaTRUE planetary gearheads are supplied in a combination of metric and standard NEMA sizes. The low cost series suits a wide range of applications for precision to 13 arc-min, torques to 255 Nm and ratios to 500:1

The Thomson Micron ValueTRUE is the low cost version with helical crowned gearing, available in both in-line and right angle configurations for torques to 2970 Nm and ratios up to 100:1.

As a Premier Partner for Thomson,  Heason Technology also offers its full range of linear bearings and guides, ball screws and lead screws, linear motion systems, actuators, and clutches along with complementary motors, drives and motion controls. The Premier Partner programme aims to provide the highest levels of service and support for customers by providing distribution partners with regular product training and competitive pricing in addition to ensuring they maintain recommended inventory levels. 

Heason Technology works closely with Thomson and other globally recognised manufacturers in combination with its own in-house design capability and motion control expertise to provide customised electro-mechanical solutions for challenging applications across, aerospace, automotive, defence, robotics, process control, packaging, motorsports and many more.