Technology Matters: Beckhoff's XPlanar System

This video is an excerpt from Automation World's "Technology Matters" video series in which Beckhoff's XPlanar technology debut at PACK EXPO Connects is highlighted.

Nov 10th, 2020

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Beckhoff Showcases Compact Motion Control for Mobile Applications

At Modex 2022, Beckhoff highlighted several motion control products for applications such as automated storage and retrieval systems, autonomous mobile robots, and automated guided vehicles.

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How Intelligent Conveyance Tech Delivers Operational Flexibility

Rockwell Automation highlights its MagneMover Lite material handling technology designed to provide greater flexibility for assembly, filling, or packaging operations in a variety of industrial environments—from food and beverage to semiconductors.

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Automated Adhesive Applicator

Baumer HHS highlights its automated adhesive applicator system that uses electric actuation to apply adhesive in a dotting pattern to create a stronger bond and save on adhesive costs.

Omron’s New R&D Center to Focus on Motion Control Technologies

The Omron Advanced Motion Research and Development Center will extend the capabilities of its CK3E programmable multi-axis motion controller to better serve the semiconductor, medical, and packaging industries.

Evolve's B&R-controlled process fuses 2D-printed layers into solid 3D parts, combining the flexibility of additive technology with the material quality and production volume of injection molding.

Motion Control Brings Injection Molding Quality to Additive Manufacturing

With the help of B&R’s automation technology, Evolve’s selective thermoplastic electrophotographic process produces product 10 times faster than 3D printing while delivering assembly quality materials.

LOGO! 8.3 Logic Modules

LOGO! module now performs functions previously reserved for larger controllers. Users are no longer limited by the storage volume of the SD card but can now send it to the cloud.

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3D Software for Custom Machine Design

Rockwell Automation highlights use of its Emulate3D software to more easily create, develop, and test complex machine designs before physical construction of the system and reduce commissioning time.

Aaron Muir, Engineering Manager, Glenmount Global – an E Technologies company.

DC & AC Motors: Considering Your Options

How do you go about selecting the right electric motor for an industrial application? What would an expert recommend? What are the advantages and disadvantages to DC & AC Motors? This article holds the answers you've been looking for.

B&R Automation Highlights Planar Conveyance System

B&R Automation’s Acopos 6D is a unique conveyance system that transports items using levitating planar movers. Watch the innovation in action on this Take Five video.

Turck showed a conveyor demo, showcasing various Turck products and how they can be used in the packaging industry, especially automotive and other wet, harsh environments.

Turck Automation Solutions Improve Conveyor and Inventory Systems

Ultra-high frequency RFID inventory management system, I/O blocks, and Turck programmable HMI, which is both HMI and PLC, feature at PACK EXPO Las Vegas.

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The Mini-Geo and Acopos 6D from B&R Automation

B&R is highlighting two of its unique transport systems, both of which allow for batch sizes of one.

Error Detection Automation Simplified: Introducing the In-Sight 2800

Error Detection Automation Simplified: Introducing the In-Sight 2800

See how easily the Cognex In-Sight 2800 can automate error detection. Powered by deep learning, it can solve a wide range of inspection applications quickly and easily — no programming experience required.

Nord Gear’s Nordac On and On+ VFDs feature plug-and-play capability for ease of internet-based networking and feature integrated industrial Ethernet interfaces that are switchable for use with Profinet, EtherCAT, and EtherNet/IP.

Nord Gear Introduces New Drive and Motor Systems

The forthcoming DuoDrive integrated geared motor and Nordac On and On+ drive systems are designed for intralogistics as well as food and pharmaceutical industry production applications.

Lenze Autotuning Pelv2021

Automating Drive Optimization

Lenze introduces auto-tuning, a fast and easy way to optimize the control loop in a drive during commissioning.

Dorner Flex Move Helix

Dorner’s Flexible Conveyors Take Center Stage at PACK EXPO Booth

Product Demonstrations include the FlexMove Helix and Helix Wedge Modular Belt Conveyors.

Festo’s SMS combines pneumatics with electric automation for use in positioning, indexing, clamping, feeding, and cut-to-length tasks.

Festo Bridges Pneumatics and Servo Motion

The company’s new Simplified Motion Series adds IO-Link connectivity to make positioning, indexing, clamping, feeding, and cut-to-length tasks more cost effective than traditional all-servo motion systems.

'On the surface of the tile, there are a lot of very flat coils; and that's where the name XPlanar comes from. By generating electromagnetic fields, the coils float and propel the mover above the surface. And then, by varying these electromagnetic fields, we’re able create free 2D motion, which allows for six degrees of freedom, enabling the mover to travel in any direction we want.” — Jeff Johnson, Beckhoff Automation

Adaptive Manufacturing Gets Real with New Materials Handling Tech

The ability to easily create custom products requires new technologies to move beyond mass production. Beckhoff’s XPlanar enables lot size one production as well as positioning for labeling, inspection, and other production and packaging operations.

How Can New Material Handling Technologies Support Adaptive Manufacturing Concepts?

In this episode, we connect with Jeff Johnson, U.S. mechatronics product manager at Beckhoff, to learn more about how Beckhoff's XPlanar material handling system uses levitation to move parts and products for assembly and/or packaging applications.

Cables and hoses are routed in conduit around the robot to protect them against the robot’s movements and application environment.

Cable Design Considerations for Dynamic Applications

Answers to questions about the types of industrial cables used in a variety of automation applications.

Advances in Conveyance Technology

Take Five Video: An assortment of flexible conveyance options available on the market today can allow manufacturers to more precisely position products, achieve energy efficiency gains, and improve overall equipment effectiveness.

More in Motion

Flexible feeding system using vision, motion, and robotics technologies developed by Armo Tool in conjunction with Omron Automation and Taylor Fluid Systems.

The Rise of Flexible Feeding System Technology

Why flexible feeding systems, which incorporate robotics, vision, and motion technologies are beginning to replace the vibratory bowl feeders that have long been used sort small parts for assembly and packaging.

Beckhoff Highlights Material Handling and Machine Vision Updates

Beckhoff’s press conference at Hannover Messe focused on new functionalities for its XTS, XPlanar, and TwinCAT Vision products.

Digital twins can be used to help optimize production lines, including motor and drive configurations.

Motors and Drives Come Together for Motion Efficiency, Performance, Reliability

Beyond the advances made to both motors and drives in terms of energy efficiency, safety, cleanability, and more, suppliers emphasize the importance of how they work together in a complete motion system.

Compact, All-in-one PCB-mountable intelligent drives

Performance Motion Devices: Ultra-Compact Motion Controller

ION®/CME N-Series Digital Drives are compact, PCB-mountable intelligent motion control amplifiers that feature full programmability, 1 KW output capacity, support for quadrature, sin/cos and BiSS-C encoders, and more.

General purpose inverter duty rated motors from Siemens.

Motor Selection Insights

A look at the factors that come into play when deciding between general purpose and inverter duty-rated motors for industrial applications.

What's the Difference Between Standard and Inverter Duty Motors?

In this episode, we connect with Brent Kooiman, senior project engineer and design manager at Interstates, to learn about the differences between general purpose and inverter duty motors and the types of industrial applications each are best suited for.

XPlanar eliminates the need to move the plasma jet; instead, a floating planar mover carries the workpiece into position for precise surface treatment. Source: Plasmatreat

OEM Redesigns Equipment to Incorporate XPlanar Floating Movers

The levitating material handling technology from Beckhoff is being used by Plasmatreat in its equipment to position materials beneath spray nozzles for plasma pre-treatment and coating.

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Motion Industries Acquires Motion Control and Automation Company

Kinetix 5100 servo drive from Rockwell Automation

Integrated Motion Technologies

A trio of new servo drive products highlight the integration of multiple motion control components to provide more compact size, higher power, and ease of installation.

The well-known trunk-and-spur configuration will serve as the general topology for Ethernet-APL. Source: Profibus & Profinet International.

OPC Foundation Joins APL Project; Announces OPC UA Motion

Highlighting its role in the development of new industrial process and discrete communications, the OPC Foundation has joined the advanced physical layer for industrial Ethernet project group and is working with ODVA and Sercos on a new motion technology.

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High-Efficiency IE5 Motor and VFD

Nord Gear showcases its newest high-efficiency motor and variable frequency drive combination to deliver operating cost savings regardless of the motor's speed and load.

When the Drive Becomes the Controller

Determining when to use intelligent variable frequency drives without an external programmable logic controller is a matter of balancing costs, utility, and practicality.