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

 

Motor Selection Basics: Types of AC/DC Motors

Posted by Johann Tang on Sep 30, 2021 9:19:49 PM

Which type of electric motor do you size for your conveyor, XYZ table, or robot?  Before you select one, you must understand the characteristics of each type of motor in the market.

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Topics: AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Speed Control, Motor Sizing, BLDC Motors, Washdown, Servo Motors, Motion Control Basics, Conveyors

Motion Programming Example: Timed Pressing Operation

Posted by Johann Tang on Apr 29, 2021 4:47:13 PM

In this blog post, I will explain how to easily program a timed pressing operation with our MEXE02 universal product support software.  This example works for any products included in the AlphaStep AZ Series family, which also includes other series that use the same technology and software.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear Actuators, VIDEOS, Software, Application Examples, Motion Control Basics

CVD Stepper Motor Drivers Explained

Posted by Johann Tang on Apr 1, 2021 9:35:17 PM

CVD stepper motor drivers are the recommended drivers for PKP Series high torque stepper motors for its ability to lower vibration and improve torque performance throughout its entire speed range.  The latest update includes the addition of RS-485 communication and MEXE02 software support.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Smooth Drive, VIDEOS

Stepper Motor Basics: PM vs VR vs Hybrid

Posted by Johann Tang on Jan 8, 2021 10:15:53 PM

There are three main types of stepper motors available in the market: PM (permanent magnet) type, VR (variable reluctance) type, and hybrid type.  What are the differences, which one should you use, and how do they work?

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Motion Control Basics

Grounding Basics: What are the Differences Between PE and FG?

Posted by Johann Tang on Nov 30, 2020 9:42:41 PM

Proper grounding is necessary for electrical devices for different reasons, but why do we do it?

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Topics: AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear Actuators, BLDC Motors, Servo Motors, Cooling Fans, Motion Control Basics

Motion Programming Example: Loop Function For Repeated Motion

Posted by Johann Tang on Nov 3, 2020 2:14:14 PM

No matter how many functions a product offers, without an intuitive, easy-to-use software, those functions can be difficult to implement.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear Actuators, VIDEOS, Software, Application Examples, Motion Control Basics

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

Built-in STO Function Simplifies Safety

Posted by Johann Tang on Sep 30, 2020 9:01:48 PM

STO, or "Safe Torque Off", is a dedicated, built-in safety circuit function that makes safety easier to manage for motion devices, such as an industrial robot.  It is part of the overall safety system designed to prevent injuries or damage.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Absolute Positioning, Alphastep Hybrid Control, Linear Actuators

What Determines Motor Life?

Posted by Johann Tang on Sep 30, 2020 10:30:00 AM

Knowing how to use a product properly can make a huge difference in its performance and life.  For example, knowing how to maintain cast iron pans properly can make them last longer.  With electric motors, understanding the factors that affect motor life is the first step to extending life and decreasing costs in the long run.

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Topics: AC Motors, Stepper Motors, Linear Actuators, Speed Control, Servo Motors, Service Life

Stepper Motor Wiring Basics: Unipolar vs Bipolar

Posted by Johann Tang on Aug 28, 2020 9:03:36 PM

An easy way to alter the speed and torque characteristics of a stepper motor is to connect it to a different type of driver or change its wiring configuration.  However, there's more to it.  Knowing the pros and cons between "unipolar" and "bipolar" can make or break your stepper motor performance.

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Topics: Stepper Motors, Motion Control Basics

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