Precision in Motion: Oriental Motor’s Latest Advancements

Oriental Motor has expanded its motion control offerings with two new product releases to enhance versatility and simplify integration for various industrial automation applications. The company has broadened its rotary encoder lineup with new resolution and output options, enabling more precise position and speed detection control. Oriental Motor also announced enhanced collaborative robot compatibility for its DGII Series hollow rotary actuators, enabling simplified integration with leading cobot platforms. These new product offerings open up new possibilities for automated applications.

Oriental Motor expands its product lineup with two new releases. Image used courtesy of OEM Automatic

Rotary Encoder Expansion

Oriental Motor’s new rotary encoders are compact and lightweight. They are designed for direct installation on equipment requiring precise position and speed feedback. Oriental Motor’s latest offering enhances the encoders' capabilities by introducing a wider range of resolutions and a new output option. The encoders are used in a variety of industrial automation applications.

Oriental Motor’s rotary encoders offer enhanced resolutions and capabilities. Image used courtesy of Oriental Motor

The expanded resolution range now offers 14 distinct options, ranging from 100 to 4000 pulses per revolution (P/R). This increase in available resolutions provides greater control and allows for finer adjustments in applications that require high accuracy, such as high-speed automated assembly lines. For instance, in a robotic arm application, the higher resolution options enable more precise movements and better manipulation of objects. Similarly, in a high-speed packaging line, this increased accuracy ensures consistent product placement and minimizes the risk of errors. Beyond the expanded resolution options, the addition of an open collector output type further enhances the encoder's versatility. These newfound capabilities enable functionalities such as monitoring rotational discrepancies in belt-and-pulley mechanisms and detecting errors within the system.

DGII Series Hollow Rotary Actuators Enhanced Compatibility

Oriental Motor's DGII series hollow rotary actuators are designed for applications requiring precise rotary positioning and include a hollow shaft for routing cables or tubing. These actuators are commonly used in material handling systems. Now, Oriental Motor has significantly enhanced the compatibility of the DGII series DC input type hollow rotary actuators and the AZ series Ethernet type mini driver with two leading collaborative robot platforms: Universal Robots and FANUC.

The DGII series hollow rotary actuators. Image used courtesy of Oriental Motor

This enhanced compatibility simplifies integration by allowing users to program and control the DGII series directly through the robot's software. For Universal Robots, this integration is achieved by a dedicated URCap software plugin that is available for the e-Series cobots. This plugin provides a simple interface within the Universal Robots programming environment, allowing robot programmers to configure and control the DGII actuator's movements easily. Similarly, for FANUC’s CRX Series cobots, a downloadable plugin is available for the robot's learning pendant. This plugin simplifies the setup process, enabling quick and easy integration of the DGII actuator into FANUC-based robotic systems. This direct integration with cobot platforms reduces the need for complex external controllers and simplifies the overall system architecture, making it easier and faster to deploy collaborative robot solutions.

Meeting the Challenges of Modern Automation

For automation engineers tasked with building increasingly complex and precise systems, the enhanced flexibility offered by Oriental Motor's latest releases is a significant advancement. The expanded rotary encoder lineup provides the granular control needed for demanding applications, while the enhanced cobot compatibility of the DGII series actuators simplifies integration with collaborative robots. This translates to faster development cycles, reduced integration costs, and the ability to create more sophisticated and efficient automated solutions. It's about empowering engineers to push the boundaries of what's possible in motion control.