Engineering Notes by Oriental Motor

Welcome to Oriental Motor's "Engineering Notes" Blog:

Products and technology are only valuable when coupled with skilled people and services to support them. Since 1978, ORIENTAL MOTOR U.S.A. CORP. has been building a service and support system to better serve customers. It is our goal to provide the best product and service from the design phase, through the sale and beyond.

Our blog will feature:

  • Introduction to new products and technologies
  • Motion control basics and application examples
  • Tips for motor selection, programming, and troubleshooting

 

Simplify Wafer Handling Machine Design with Modular Products from the Same Family

Posted by Johann Tang on Oct 31, 2023 6:45:48 PM

Wafers are the foundation of semiconductor chip manufacturing. The growing demand for semiconductors, driven by technological advancements like AI, IoT, and robotics, makes it crucial to handle these delicate wafers efficiently and precisely.  In this article, we will explain how unified features from a family of motors and actuators can simplify process automation for semiconductor wafers.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Robotics, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear & Rotary Actuators, VIDEOS, Vertical Lifts, Application Examples

Optimal Motors for Chemical Mechanical Polishing of Wafers

Posted by Johann Tang on Jul 27, 2023 9:17:48 PM

Oriental Motor provides a wide variety of products to meet semiconductor equipment design goals.  This post focuses on motor selection for two specific motion axes of a semiconductor manufacturing process called CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) and explains how to save time by using different products from the same family.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Robotics, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear & Rotary Actuators, VIDEOS, Gearheads, Application Examples

How to Build a SCARA Robot with Off-The-Shelf Products

Posted by Johann Tang on Apr 27, 2023 6:58:39 PM

Robotics automation can be easier to build than you think.  Here's an example of how a 5-axis SCARA robot can be built in-house with off-the-shelf products.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Robotics, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear & Rotary Actuators, Motor Sizing, VIDEOS, Software, Network, Application Examples

Dedicated Robot Controller and Programming Software Makes Robotics Easier

Posted by Johann Tang on Mar 24, 2023 1:00:06 PM

 

Robots are increasing in demand due to continuing labor shortages and the push for error-less efficiency in manufacturing.  In the meantime, other companies are falling behind because they either do not have the capital or engineering know-how to implement robotics automation.  While you can buy a robot and pay someone else to program it to do what you want, building and programming your own robot can be easier than you think.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Robotics, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, VIDEOS, Software, Network, Application Examples, New Product Introductions

Is There an Option Between Stepper Motors and Servo Motors?

Posted by Johann Tang on Aug 1, 2022 5:45:00 PM

Servo motor systems are expensive but great for demanding applications that require high speed, peak torque, or feedback.  Stepper motors are cost-effective but do not offer the peace of mind of feedback.  For designs that do not need the bells and whistles of servo motor systems, there is another option.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Robotics, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear & Rotary Actuators, Servo Motors, Network

Case Study: SCARA and Cartesian/Gantry Robots for Automated Assembly

Posted by Johann Tang on May 17, 2022 3:34:48 PM

In this post, we introduce a real-world SCARA and cartesian/gantry robot example of in-house automation built using our AlphaStep AZ Series family of motors, actuators, drivers, and our 4-axis robot controller.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Robotics, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear & Rotary Actuators, Software, Rotary/Index Tables, Case Study

What is Modular Automation?

Posted by Johann Tang on Mar 16, 2022 7:04:08 PM

Modular automation is the next phase of factory automation where a production line can be separated into mobile modules and can be quickly reconfigured for different purposes.  This article explains the benefits of modular automation and shows how smaller, lighter, and battery-driven motors can help.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Robotics, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear & Rotary Actuators, Speed Control, VIDEOS, BLDC Motors, Application Examples

Video Explainer: Features of the New BLV Series R Type

Posted by Johann Tang on Jan 28, 2022 8:27:56 PM

The BLV Series R Type brushless DC motor and compact driver not only reduces the size and weight of the original BLV Series driver but offer an upgrade to the motor as well.  This blog post uses videos to explain the features offered by the BLV Series R Type.

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Topics: Robotics, Smooth Drive, Speed Control, VIDEOS, BLDC Motors, Software, Network

3 Things to Know About the BLV Series Update

Posted by Johann Tang on Mar 15, 2021 12:00:00 PM

The BLV Series is one of two DC-input brushless motor speed control systems we offer.  While a brushless motor with hall-effect sensor feedback provides constant torque, wide speed range, and speed regulation, the BLV driver offers unique functions designed for mobile robots, such as low battery operation and ramp operation.

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Topics: Robotics, Speed Control, BLDC Motors, Software, Network, Troubleshooting

3-Axis Parallel Robot with AlphaStep Absolute Stepper Motors

Posted by Johann Tang on Oct 29, 2020 8:25:46 PM

Remember the days when we used to go to in-person events, such as trade shows?  Robot demos have always generated a lot of foot traffic in booths.  What's better to illustrate the synchronism of closed-loop stepper motors than 3 motors working together to create one specific motion?

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Robotics, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, VIDEOS, Gearheads, Network, Application Examples