Two long-time motion trends have recently accelerated to bring new opportunities and challenges to machine designers. These trends are the continual reduction of the size of the motion amplifier, and the advent of low cost, very high-speed digital networks. Both of these trends are serving to 'de-locate' the machine controls, giving machine designers new choices in locating the control function, the amplifier function, and the interconnect function of their machine's control system.

For more information, see the ECN article "Tech Advances Impact Motion Control".

Using advanced MOSFETs and surface mount technology, ION provides very high power density in a rugged, flexible form factor. Built around PMD's Magellan Motion IC, IONs are often used by chip customers to reduce time to market by providing a platform to prove out designs and develop software before a production circuit board is available. ION drives are available with CANBus or serial communications and are ideal for medical, scientific, semiconductor, automation, industrial and robotic applications.

For more information on PMD's ION Digital Drive, click here.