Precision MicroDynamics, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high performance motion control systems and components, has announced today the availability of Polaris™ to machine builders everywhere. This new system consists of a controller, amplifiers, and an ultra-fast real-time communication network for distributed motion control. Software includes general motion control, computer numerical control (CNC), machine setup, tuning, and programming tools.

Victoria, BC March 15, 2012

Precision MicroDynamics, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high performance motion control systems and components, has announced today the availability of Polaris™ to machine builders everywhere. This new system consists of a controller, amplifiers, and an ultra-fast real-time communication network for distributed motion control. Software includes general motion control, computer numerical control (CNC), machine setup, tuning, and programming tools.

Compared to previous technologies, Polaris offers:

*Better precision
*Higher throughput
*Easier scalability and
*Faster software development

Polaris demonstrates uncompromised speed, precision, and the highest data rates and dynamic range of any motion control system available. Polaris' Gbit/s motion control network, Mercury™, connects the controller and servo amplifiers for a scalable high performance system. Polaris is the world's leading platform for controlling and synchronizing servo motors, Galvos, lasers and cameras in one integrated package. Its extensive software makes it easy to commission a machine, and it is perfectly suited for many applications including:

*Diamond turning
*Die and wire bonding
*Experimental physics
*Flat panels and touch screens
*Hardware in the loop simulation
*Laser material processing
*Robot kinematics and control
*Wafer stepping and scanning

THE POLARIS PLATFORM

Polaris system core components include the controller, real time network and amplifiers. The controller manages all the real time motion and networking tasks. Mercury provides the real time Gbit/s communication network and the amplifiers provide feedback control and electrical power to the servo motors. A Polaris system can control 124 synchronized servo axes.

*124 synchronized servo axes

Other Polaris hardware offerings include digital I/O, analog I/O and stepper motor control.

MOTION CONTROLLER

The Polaris motion controller has a standard Ethernet connection to communicate with the HMI, and four Mercury ports for real time communication with the servo amplifiers.

Motion programs are stored on the controller. The HMI sends commands to the Polaris controller and monitors Polaris for machine and process status.

The controller provides a powerful platform for storage and execution of motion programs and GCode part programs. Path planning, machine kinematics and fast data streaming are integral to the Polaris controller. Polaris is the leader in the coordination of motion with high-speed digital processes such as machine vision and laser triggering.

*High speed laser triggering
*Custom machine kinematics

The path planner can generate 400,000 set-points per second. For a machine having eight high performance servo axes, the set-point rate per axis can be as high as 50 kHz.

MERCURY REAL TIME NETWORK

Mercury™ is the fastest, most efficient motion control network available. Some notable features include: Gbit/s data rates, guaranteed real-time delivery of information, synchronous, asynchronous and streaming data, lowest network overhead, and nanosecond network time protocol.

MOTOR AMPLIFIERS

Polaris amplifiers receive set-points from the controller via Mercury, compute feedback loops and provide power to the servo motors. The servo rate is settable up to 200 kHz. Advanced PWM switching is used for performance previously only available with linear amplifiers. Motors from 24V to 400V are supported including small, high speed Galvos to powerful linear BLDC motors. All major feedback devices are supported and a 16,384x sin/cos interpolator can be used for picometer position resolution.

*Motor Voltages from 24V to 400V
*Picometer position resolution

SERVO PROCESSING UNIT

Each amplifier has a servo processing unit (SPU), which is an embedded microprocessor optimized for executing feedback regulators. Each SPU provides abundant processing power, making feedback filters with frequencies as high as 200 kHz possible.

*200kHz PID
*Customizable feedback filters
*Digital signal processing
*Real time statistics

All unwanted machine vibrations can be virtually eliminated using high order digital filters and the extra SPU capacity can be used for real time statistics and diagnostics.

DATA ACQUISITION

High capacity data acquisition is an integral part of Polaris. For a benchmark eight axis system, concurrent control and simultaneous data acquisition can be performed at 50 kHz/axis. All set-points are sent and all actual positions, velocities, and motor currents are read back at 50 kHz for a total bandwidth exceeding 2.4Million floating point transmissions/s.

*2.4 Million floating point transmission/s

SOFTWARE

Polaris software is easy to use and offers the latest development tools. A graphical setup and tuning utility, motion control library API and HMI development tools are the main components. Motion libraries are available for single and multi axis moves, GCode execution, and coordinating digital events such as laser triggers. Object oriented .NET libraries are available for HMI design.

The Polaris system simulator allows developers to create complete applications without the need for real hardware. This can reduce the cost and increase the speed of software development.

System simulator reduces cost and increases speed of software development

ABOUT PRECISION MICRODYNAMICS

Precision MicroDynamics is operating since 1994 as a high performance motion control manufacturer. Our products are embedded in thousands of precision machines all over the world and they enable the highest throughput and precision.