October 27, 2008 – Parker Electromechanical Automation released Compumotor Open Frame Stepper (OFS) microstepping drives. OFS drives are an economical alternative to more expensive, full-featured, packaged AC powered step drives. For less demanding, point-to-point applications, the OFS drives deliver all the performance required in a high-value, low-frills approach to motion control. Although incredibly easy to set up and use, the OFS step drives feature 3-state, PWM, MOSFET H-Bridge technology.
Capable of delivering 3.5 amps peak current per phase, the smaller-than-average step drive is capable of driving from size 11 through size 34 step motors. The OFS is available in two models: the OFS350-DRI, which is a drive-only version requiring step and direction inputs, and the OFS350-OSC, which has basic onboard control capability. Both drives measure just 4” x 3” x 1.5”.
Parker complements the release of the OFS drives with a full line of high-value accessories, including the LV step motors and STP power supply. The LV line of low-voltage motors is optimized for high performance at lower DC bus voltages similar to those used with the OFS drives. The LV motors come in frame sizes 11, 17, 23 and 34 in both single and triple stacks. The STP-32PRK4 is a 40VDC, 4A power supply designed and optimized specifically for use with the OFS drives. “Many high-end, multi-axis automated machines require only two or three highly coordinated, high-precision axes out of the group,” says Marc Feyh, stepper drive product manager.
“There may be another 6, 8 or dozen axes that rarely move, except for setup and periodic alignment of various elements of the machine. For these setup and alignment axes, a simple, easy-to-use and inexpensive stepper drive can hold position just as well as an expensive one that requires a commissioning process with installed software and programming just to get started. OEMs can save both time and money by applying the right level of step drive complexity to their machines, focusing valuable resources where they’re really required – on the core high-precision axes.”
About Parker Electromechanical Automation
A division of Parker Hannifin Corporation's Automation Group since 1987, Electromechanical Automation is a pioneer, developer and manufacturer of full-spectrum computer-based motion controllers, servo/step motor drives, servo motors and human-machine interfaces, positioning systems, gear heads and gear motors. These products automate the manufacturing of a significant fraction of the world’s goods and services.
About Parker Hannifin
With annual sales exceeding $12 billion, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company employs approximately 62,000 people in 48 countries around the world. Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 52 consecutive years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index.
