NSK is launching a drive for its Megatorque precision positioning motors which supports the 100 Mb/s Mechatrolink-III network that can operate 11 axes synchronously at a transfer rate of 250μs. The drive will allow on-the-fly changes between position, velocity and torque modes while a motor is rotating, with no need to pause to switch modes.

The drives will support high-speed synchronised operation of several motors, and will provide precision torque control and positioning. It will also be possible to combine the high-speed synchronised operations with linear movements to produce complex curved and spiral trajectories.

NSK says that the new drives will improve productivity and reduce start-up times. And because the synchronisation signal wiring is integrated into the communications wiring, less wiring will be needed and motion control communications will be more secure, improving system reliability and production quality.

NSK predicts that the new drives will generate sales worth around £3.9m by 2014.