ORCATM Series Smart Linear Motors
What is a smart linear motor?
Iris Dynamics' smart linear motors integrate drivers, controllers, and sensors. They also feature simplified wiring and mechanical mounting points. This design makes traditionally challenging tasks—such as retrofitting pneumatic cylinders, remotely linking controls, and collecting and managing force and motion data—much simpler.
ORCA Smart Linear Motors utilize patented cog-less magnetic construction, giving customers a significant advantage in both time to market and machine performance with every use of the ORCA motors.
Can I customize my ORCA motor from a scripting standpoint?
Yes, ORCA motors can be customized through scripting, supported by various programming and scripting interfaces, including MATLAB, LabVIEW, and custom software via Modbus RTU. The IrisSDK for Windows offers an API written in C++ to simplify Modbus communications, facilitating integration with custom-developed applications. This allows you to script and automate motor control, position targeting, force control, and more
What is kinematic mode VS position mode?
Position mode with the IO SmartHub allows streaming positions through an analog signal, allowing full customization of position profiles. Kinematic mode, a built-in feature, allows the simple creation of motion profiles directly on the motor itself. These motion profiles typically follow sinusoidal paths to connect positions. Essentially, kinematic profiles can be triggered with digital signals, and position mode is through analog signals.
Do you offer shaft customization?
Yes, the shaft length of the ORCA motors can be customized. You can specify the shaft length anywhere from 10 to 40 inches in whole-inch increments. This customization allows you to tailor the shaft length to your specific application’s needs.
What is the life expectancy of an ORCA Motor?
ORCA motors are designed and built to last the lifespan of most applications, the only life-limited components in ORCA motors are their bushings. The plastic bushings are located on either end of the stator and can attain over 50 million cycles when operating under very low side loads. We have compiled a comprehensive guide on full bushing life cycle analysis to help you easily identify when a replacement is necessary.
Do you offer SDK for Linux?
Standard Modbus libraries can be used to communicate with motors through various coding or program platforms. The USB<>422 cables included in the starter kit have Linux support. As for sending and receiving communication over the USB cable, refer to our ORCA Series Modbus User Guide.
How silent are ORCA Motors?
ORCA motors are as silent as 20 dB, which is comparable to the noise level of a whisper. The motor may exceed 20 dB at the inaudible frequency of 24 kHz due to motor switching noises. This will be picked up by microphones as a sharp spike in sound at 24 kHz, but the spectrum is very narrow.
What is meant by voltage being included in the part number?
The voltage indicated in the part name/number represents the general voltage at which the maximum stall force is available. Essentially, the 48 V specification requires a higher voltage to achieve the maximum stall force, allowing for greater stall forces. This voltage serves as the recommended range for the motor.
What type of power supply is recommended?
Any power supply with adequate power and no over-voltage protection can be used to power ORCA motors. To determine the minimum power required, an assessment of the necessary forces in relation to the motor constant is needed. For a comprehensive guide, refer to our article on selecting the right power supply for your linear actuator.
READ MORE: How To Select the Right Power Supply For Your Linear Actuator
Do ORCA motors require specialized software?
The motor has fully integrated control, and technically everything can be set over Modbus without ever using another program. Iris Dynamics offers a windows program called “Iris Controls” which provides a GUI for configuring the motor.
What are the benefits of moving the supplied power from 24V to 60V for the ORCA-6-24V?
Increasing the voltage reduces the current required to achieve the same force, while the maximum force remains unchanged. The primary benefit of switching from 24 V to 60 V is the increase in maximum speed, although other factors remain similar. For more details, please refer to the datasheet sections 'ORCA-6-24V Force, Power, and Speed' and 'ORCA-6-48V Force, Power, and Speed' for information on the impact of the 48 V configuration.
IO SmartHub
Who is the IO SmartHub for?
It is for Orca Series motor customers that want to control the motor and receive feedback using digital and analog signals instead of serial messages.
It is useful when Orca Series motors are used in industrial settings that already have traditional PLC infrastructure and in projects and products where simple microcontrollers are used to control motion and force.
It is especially suited for replacing pneumatic actuators with Orca Series electric motors as most of the time it allows the Orca to be swapped in without much downtime!
When is the IO SmartHub not recommended?
The IO SmartHub uses a high speed Modbus serial connection to the motor and prevents users from sending serial messages when in use. Therefore, anyone that wants to take advantage of the numerous configuration and control options that are available using serial messages should not use the IO SmartHub.
What are the typical applications of the IO SmartHub?
The IO SmartHub provides a simple and robust way to directly control the position target, force output, or trigger pre-configured paths from the Orca motor making it an ideal tool to support the following applications: pneumatic replacement, polishing or grinding, automated windows and doors, valve control, packaging, warehouse automation, testing and quality control, and assembly machines.
Can I use the IrisControls GUI and the IO SmartHub at the same time?
Yes! In fact we recommend this during development as the GUI provides a lot of useful information and configuration options.
What kind of data can the IO SmartHub provide?
There are two analog outputs which provide Motor Position and Motor Force. There is also a digital output used for error reporting.
What can be controlled through the IO SmartHub?
There is an analog input which can be used to control the Motor Force, or the Motor Position. There are also digital inputs that can be used to trigger Pre-Programmed Motions.
Which Orca Series motor Modes of Operation does the IO SmartHub support?
Force Mode, Position Mode, and Kinematic Mode.
How many motors can the IO SmartHub control?
Each IO SmartHub connects to a single Orca Series motor.
Raven 6DoF Motion Platform Development Kit
Who should use the Raven-6DoF?
Simulator designers, VR entertainment providers, and other OEMs stand to benefit from this development kit.
Why use the Raven 6DoF?
The Raven-6-DoF is the world's only development kit for custom Stewart platform designers, which provides a flexible, easy-to-use, and cost-effective platform. Compared to the other options for 6DoF motion, this development kit is smaller, easier to power, provides more customization, and solves VR motion sickness more effectively.
What support does Iris Dynamics provide when integrating this solution?
We are here to support you throughout the full course of commercialization and fundamentally measure our success alongside yours.
Evaluation: Our software development kit contains examples and demonstrations to get the Raven-6DoF moving without any additional software. The reference design and bill of materials provide a good starting point for a generic single-seat platform, and our engineers can offer advice and support when implementing it or a derivative.
Adoption: During software integration, our documentation, SDK, and engineers will assist with implementing the API and using the various safety and control features built into the controller. Our mechanical engineers are available to advise on custom platform geometries and methods to ensure a rigid and safe structure.
Post-Deployment: Our software can log performance statistics that you can analyze either alone or with our team to identify issues with the incoming commands or the device’s performance.
What do platform designers provide?
The development kit affords customization and the opportunity to be creative. The specific design, manufacturing, and assembly of the completed kit are not provided. A completed kit may deviate as much or as little from the reference design as required for a particular application, leaving plenty of room for smart designers to set themselves apart in their market.
What safety features are in place?
Several limiting parameters exist to tailor the experience as applications demand. Maximum travel, speeds, accelerations, forces, and temperatures can all be configured, along with several other parameters.
How silent is the Raven 6-DoF Platform Kit?
Made with ORCA motors, which are as silent as 20 dB (comparable to the noise level of a whisper). The motor may exceed 20 dB at the inaudible frequency of 24 kHz due to motor switching noises. This will be picked up by microphones as a sharp spike in sound at 24 kHz, but the spectrum is very narrow.
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