downloads
  HOME > FAQ 1 (800) 642-6446 or 1 (585) 657-6151 (in NYS)
 
 
 
  Send us your request
 
  Manual slide examples
  Motor driven examples
  I need a manual slide
  I need a motorized slide

 

Search for a word using your browser's Find feature (Control + F)
or try the Quick Search box to the left.

GO to Motor FAQs

sVXM control

Manual FAQ  Also see Engineering Information.


How long will it take to make it?

Adapter plates and brackets and rotary devices are usually in stock. Linear UniSlides are made to your exact specifications. Please call Velmex for a precise lead time. See also our in stock listing.

Can I buy replacement parts?

Yes, from Velmex.

Do you have OEM or educational discounts?

No, however, we do offer quantity discounts.

 


What are your positioners made of?

Velmex positioners are made of hard-alloy aluminum (6000 Series), the slider bearings are thin pads of filled Teflon material sliding on the aluminum base. Show Components. The lead screws are either 303 stainless steel or nickel plated steel depending on pitch. The UniSlide lead screw drive nut is Delrin or Delrin AF.

All BiSlide and XSlide assemblies bases have a hard coat finish and are dyed black.

Optionally, the UniSlide base can also be hard coat anodized or nickel plated. With optional hard coat anodized finish, corrosion resistance is similar to stainless steel. Lead screw, nut, and bearing material substitutions are available. See Engineering Information.for substitutions.

Can you make it from stainless steel?

No, they cannot be made from stainless steel. Our products are precision machined for accuracy. Machining stainless steel is very difficult because of the hardness of the material.

However, we can anodize or plate the units so that you have the characteristics of a stainless steel finish such as surface hardness, abrasion, corrosion or chemical resistance. And they are lighter in weight. Tell me more.


What is the smallest Slide you make?

A small unit, with 2.05" length and 0.25 inch travel can be made. The smallest standard Series A1500 UniSlide has 1.5 inch Travel and is 3.3 inches long, 1.5 inches wide, 0.56 inches high.

What is the longest travel Slide you make?

The longest UniSlide has 88 inches Travel. BiSlides are available up to 80". For longer travel, see MiniTec linear system which can traverse 19 feet (5.8 meters.)

Can you re-thread the mounting holes for metric screws?

Yes. Here are the details.

Where can I find a dimensional drawing for a Series?
At the top of each Series, just below the title, there is an end view drawing. Click it to see a general drawing in PDF.

How can I access the mounting holes in the base of A15 Series UniSlide?

Download this page for instructions on disassembly.

top of page

Where are UniSlides used?

UniSlides have successfully been used in environments like, clean rooms, outdoors, underwater, in vacuum, attached to aircraft, on naval ships, and in outer space. See Motor Driven Examples or Manual UniSlide examples

In Instruments and Laboratory Equipment

Testing machines, dimensional quality control testers, compression and tension testing machines, X-ray and MRI positioning, air and fluid positive displacement systems, probe and transducer positioning, wind tunnel testing, air entraining concrete test equipment, plant and animal tissue measurements, shellfish, and tree ring non-contact measurements, soil mechanics test apparatus, ring engraving machines, ophthalmic instruments, chemical sampling and handling equipment, microscope and telescope positioning, viscometer apparatus, counting gnats on figs in Kenya.

Electro-Optics Field

Laser positioning, optical scanning, holographic imaging, light source and optical element positioning, spectrometer and spectroscopic equipment, photo transducers testing, CRT illumination and magnetic field measuring, LCD, LED, VFD, illumination testing, optical fiber locating, lens and mirror polishing equipment, video camera positioning, photometer and radiometer positioning, film imaging alignment equipment, motion picture special effects.

Electronics Production and Testing

Wafer handling, inspection equipment automated machinery, component pick and place, crystal growing equipment, antenna positioning, training devices and simulators, cleaving equipment.

Metal, Glass, Rubber, Plastic and Wood Fabrication

Drilling fixtures, engraving machines, soft material slitting and sawing machines, rubber and plastic dipping, adhesive disposition, gauging and measurement, punch press backstop adjustments, welding head positioning, furniture routers, small parts grinding machinery, packaging machinery, glass and tube machinery, tire manufacturing machinery.
top of page


Which direction do you call the 'X' axis, the 'Y' axis, or 'Z' axis?

As a standard we use the machine tool coordinate designations where 'X' is the bottom horizontal axis, 'Y' crosses the 'X' at 90 degrees and is also in the horizontal plane, and the 'Z' is vertical attached to the 'Y' axis.

Motor FAQ

 


I want to use my computer to control two axes.
What do I need?

You will need the following items, they come from Velmex as a complete system ready to plug-in and run: two UniSlide or BiSlide Assemblies, UniSlide XY Adapter Plate or BiSlide cleats, two step motors and a Velmex VXM Step Motor Controller.

top of page
When should I use a step motor?

  • For incremental positioning or scanning when computer controlled motion is desired
  • For complex motion requirements of more than one distances and/or speeds; fast or slow starts/stops, and fast reversing
  • When accurate speeds are required
  • For speed range requirements as high as 1 to 8000 steps/sec
  • When a brushless motor is required


Will the motor miss/lose steps occasionally?

Step motors, when controlled with Velmex Controllers, do not miss or lose steps. Step motors run synchronously to their phase switching speed. When an external motor load exceeds the running torque of the motor, the motor will stall and totally lose position much greater than one step. Velmex VXM step motor controllers eliminate the problems of low speed motor resonance by utilizing half-stepping and current control. The VXM switches the motor drive amplifiers directly, eliminating the sensitive pulse to motor translator link.


How do I insure the motor will not stall?

Proper motor sizing and operating the motor in a range that provides a torque reserve will ensure reliable operation. Applying the load and increasing motor speed until a stall occurs will determine the actual marginal torque required. Use the motor speed/torque curves to determine the maximum reliable operating speed. We can help you right-size your motor.


If the motor stalls, will it damage the motor?

If the motor stalls, (loses synchronism) motor output torque drops very low, and the motor current drops slightly. There are no mechanical parts slipping, only magnetic slippage. The step motor is a good motor for torque limiting applications.


What is the normal sound the motor should make?

A Step motor makes an audible sound at a frequency that varies with stepping rate of the motor. Click to play normal step motor indexing sound.

Normal Motor


top of page
What sound does the motor make when it has stalled?

The motor produces a notably louder sound. There are four conditions that can cause the motor to stall:

1. The motor is overloaded, or the mechanism it is driving jams. Click here to play motor overloaded sound.

Overloaded Motor

2. The motor is commanded to accelerate at too high a rate. Click here to play too much acceleration sound.

Excess Acceleration

3. The motor is commanded to run at very high speed where the motor produces inadequate torque to operate. Click here to play motor too fast sound.

Excess Speed

4. Broken motor cable, or faulty motor amplifier. If there is only one bad motor connection a lightly loaded motor may appear to run normally at speeds over 600 steps/sec. At 400 steps/sec. erratic directional changes of the motor shaft will occur.

Click here to play a normal motor at 400 steps/sec

Click here to play the motor at 400 steps/sec. with one broken connection


Why don't you offer more servo motors/systems for your UniSlide assemblies?

Closed loop servo systems have more complexity and cost without significant benefits when used with Velmex assemblies. Servo motors have more torque at RPMs over 1000. However, the Velmex lead screw/drive nut assembly has limited applications at speeds over 1000 RPM. Mini step/micro step controllers provide smoothness typical of servos, but at less cost.


Why do step motors work well on UniSlides and not as well on other devices?

Step motors work better when there is some frictional load to dampen them. Velmex assemblies have residual friction, and a polymer lead screw drive nut which absorbs step vibration. Velmex lead screws have low inertia relative to motor inertia, making very fast accelerations and decelerations possible. Step motors reach full torque in just one step.

Variable loads and friction have a negligible effect on positional accuracy.


top of page
My slide seems to be binding. What could be wrong?

  • Your mounting screws in the slider may be too long and may be hitting the lead screw. (UniSlide only)
  • Uneven tension of base mounting screws or mounting to irregular surfaces will distort the base.
  • Lead screw nut or slider gib adjustment over-adjusted by maintenance personnel.
  • Lead screw drive or ways damaged by debris or overheating.

  • To measure for binding on step motor driven systems, check if the lead screw can be turned by hand. Remove any large load and disconnect the motor controller, grip the screw threads with both hands, use a rag or gloves to prevent damage to your skin, you should be able to rotate the screw slightly.


Do I need to lubricate my slide?

Lubrication is most important for motor driven systems or wherever you want maximum life and the lowest friction. See the user guide that came with your unit for details.


How do I lubricate the worm drive on the 4800 Series rotary tables?

Normally, the worm/worm gear drive of the 4800 rotary tables does not need any servicing. However, under severe conditions replenishing the grease will prolong the life of the gears. Unscrew the red plug that is in the access hole located on the top surface of the 4800 table. Rotate the table under motor control until the worm can be seen in the access hole. Squeeze in a small amount of Lubriplate GR-132 grease and replace the red plug.


How do I lubricate the worm drive on the 5990 rotary table?

Normally the worm/worm gear drive of the 5990 rotary table does not need any servicing. However, under severe conditions replenishing the grease will increase the life of the gears. Unscrew the button-head screw located closest to the motor that attaches the motor plate, squeeze in a small amount of Lubriplate GR-132 grease into the screw hole and replace the button-head screw.
top of page