FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1024-axis Stepper Motor Controller Distributed control system reduces cost of motor and controller to less than $50, each. 4/4/01 -- DIVA delivers 1024-axis motion controller          The first known instance of a 1024-axis motor controller has been delivered to Modern Techniques, Inc., of Ringgold, GA, for use in a carpet tufting machine. Over one thousand stepper motors will replace the traditional pneumatic cylinders that select between multiple pile heights.  In addition to reducing assembly costs and time, the motors add the capability of specifying any pile height for any needle across the width of a 4-meter-wide carpet, with unlimited pattern length. The motors are also expected to reduce maintenance costs, compared with the 2-3 valves with individual cylinders and yards of tubing each motor replaces.          Key to the economic feasibility of such an advance is the reduction in overall cost associated with the distributed control concept implemented by DIVA Automation.  A PC-resident system controller communicates with four sets of 16 distributed microcontrollers through RS-422 serial links operating at 1 MHz.  Each distributed controller stores pattern information in the form of speed selections for 16 motors, and updates the speed of each motor 1000-2000 times per second.  Drivers for the motors are mounted in sets of 8 on a driver board mounted near the motors.  Two such boards are controlled by each distributed controller.  The total surface area of the controller/driver set is approximately equal to the footprint of the size 17 motor being controlled.          Each motor supplies one thread of yarn to the array of 1024 needles on a tenth-inch grid.  By varying the speed, the length of yarn supplied for each stitch can be controlled, resulting in either monocolor yarn with height sculpturing or multicolor patterns.  As the main motor raises and lowers the needles through the carpet backing, the position of the needles is sensed by the system controller, which updates the speed selection tables for each motor up to 1000 times per second.          It is expected that the advantages offered by such systems will lead quickly to their adoption in similar applications that have heretofore used pneumatic controls for economic reasons. For more information contact: Telephone +1-800-984-3482 FAX +1-877-471-3437 Electronic mail   General Information: sales@TheMotionStore.com Sales: sales@TheMotionStore.com Customer Support: sales@TheMotionStore.com

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 Last modified: 7th August 2007