Motion Control Systems:


MCS-8 and MB8

motion controls fmb-oxford
FMB Oxford MCS-8 Plus

MCS-8 Plus

FMB Oxford MCS-8 Plus

Two versions of the MCS-8 Plus motion controller are available (The number of drive cards fitted depends on the system requirements):-
Standard 8 Axis Motion controller – Enabling up to 8 stepper driven axes to be controlled.
DCM Motion controller – a special controller version incorporating a Servo motor driver for Bragg Axis control. This unit can also control up to 6 stepper driven axes.

Stepper Motor Drivers

All Axes use Phytron ZMX+ plug-in microstepper motor drivers which are factory fitted.
Phytron ZMX+ drive cards are used for bipolar control of two-phase stepper motors and utilise 4 quadrant chopper type current control circuitry. Ideally suited to in-vacuum motors they are also suitable for the Nema range of in-air stepper motors amongst many other types.
All operating parameters – run current, step resolution and preferential direction can be set by rotary switches or by a Service bus mode depending on the type of ZMX+ fitted.

  • Bipolar chopped constant current drive
  • Microstepping driver
  • Suitable for Hybrid / Permanent magnet motors
  • Overload, over current, under voltage protection
  • Ideally suited to In-Vacuum motors

Reference: Phytron ZMX+ Data Sheet 2111-A008GB .

Servo Motor Driver

For Servo driven axes an intelligent PWM driver designed to drive brushed and brushless servo motors is utilised. This fully digital drive operates in torque, velocity, or position mode and employs Space Vector Modulation (SVM), which results in higher bus voltage utilization and reduced heat dissipation.
(This driver can only be inserted into Axis position 1)

Controller

The MCS-8 Plus Motion Controller has evolved from the original MCS-8, used in the Synchrotron Industry since 2005. The varied requirements of these systems have resulted in a new controller design that is highly flexible and that can perform intricate control functions to solve even the most complex positioning problems.

Built around Delta Tau Turbo PMAC 2 / PC104 architecture, this unit combines power supplies, drive amplifiers and an optional embedded controller in a single 4U 19” rack mount module, incorporating a full PLC  designed specifically for positioning and control functions and providing extensive facilities for configuring the eight axes separately.

In addition, complex programmes can be downloaded into the PLC for high resolution control of motors.The design of the system allows each unit to be configured to suit a specific customer’s requirements with regard to control and system integration.

The PMAC 2 is housed on a motherboard assembly designed specifically for FMB Oxford by Delta Tau, providing the connectivity to the driver amplifiers, encoders and limit switches.The MCS8+ has been independently tested for compliance; it is CE marked and CB certified as part of the IECEE CB scheme.

Features include:

  • Front loaded Drive card system housing 1-8 drive card amplifiers, depending on the system requirements.
  • A motor ‘Emergency Stop’ disable function  to aid commissioning of connected equipment. 

Technical Specifications

Parameter Value
Output Power Total 500 Watts at 48 V DC
Axes 1 to 8.  Drives requiring more than one encoder input may require more than one channel
Digital I/O 8 digital inputs and 8 digital outputs are available on a 25 way ‘D; type connector. These are opto-isolated and can be configured for “sink” or “source” operation.
Programming connection Both standard USB and conventional RS232 connectors supplied. These are used for configuring and programming the Delta Tau controller.
Network 10/100 Base-T Ethernet connection on RJ45 connector.
Encoder input 15 way ‘D’ type connector with A & B quadrature encoder inputs and C index channels compatible with encoders that have differential or single-ended drivers.
Switch input 9 way ‘D’ type connector with connections for home position switch and two position limit switches.
Drive Type Configurable up to 8 x Phytron ZMX+ Micro Stepping Drivers. Step resolution p to 1/512 depending on driver type.
DCM types use a McLennan DCD60 servo Amplifier for Bragg Control
Motor Drive Outputs 12 pin “Trim Trio” chassis connectors (incorporating end of travel limits, home, and protective over-travel limit connections)

General Specifications

Parameter Value
AC Input 100 V to 240 V ±10%, 1ph, Inrush protection provided.
Frequency 50 / 60 Hz
Power Consumption Max 800 VA
Operating Range +5°C to +40°C
Size 483 mm (W) x 177 mm (H) x 520 mm (D)   4U, 19” rack mount case.
Weight 13 kg
Safety Complies with EN61010-1:2001 2nd edition
EMC Complies with EN61326-1:2006

Motion Box 8

The MB-8 is a fully enclosed 6U rack mounting controller providing 8 axes of closed loop motion control.

The motion controller is based around the ACS SPiiPlusEC hardware with 2x UDMmc quad axis EtherCAT motor drives. Ethernet connectivity allows interface to the SpiiPlusEC controller, with EtherCAT linking the drives to the controller and on to an external EtherCAT expansion port.

The MB-8 has been configured for use with stepper drives (<4A per motor) with feedback, it can be used with both incremental or BissC absolute encoders. End of travel limit switch inputs are provided for each axis along with 8x general purpose opto-isolated digital inputs and 8x digital outputs. Additionally, 2x PEG (Position Event Generator) outputs are available for fast position synchronised triggers.

Internally the controller has 24V (for logic and controller power) and 48V for drive motor power, the drive motor power can be isolated from the UDMmc drives by opening the single pole Estop input.

Each individual DC circuit is protected by its own fuse with an indicator LED adjacent to the fuse on the front panel.