Home >> Motion Controllers >> Nmark™ SSaM (Synchronized Scanner and Motion)

Another Industry First From Aerotech
Aerotech’s Nmark™ SSaM synchronized scanner and motion module for the Automation 3200 motion platform directly synchronizes scanner and servo motion for marking parts of unlimited size and complexity.

Seamless Field Of View Expansion
Scanners have been used with servo axes to mark objects that exceed the operating envelope of the scanner. Applications were previously implemented using a move and expose sequence where the scanner would mark the part and the servo would reposition the part for a subsequent marking operation. This approach has limitations when a feature being marked exceeds the field of view of the scanner. Small angular and linear offsets in the servo axes produce discontinuities in the features that cross the boundary between adjacent marking fields. By combining the servo and scanner control into a single platform, it is now possible to mark large features by combining continuous motion of the servo axis with simultaneous marking by the scanner.

Making the Difficult Easy
Direct, coordinated control of scanner and servo axes eliminates the programming overhead associated with gluing together two separate control systems, resulting in reduced implementation time and increased marking efficiency. Scanner motion can be combined with rotary axis motion to mark on the face or edge of cylindrical profiles. Rectangular bitmaps that exceed the scanner field of view width can be marked in one continuous operation. Complex operations comprised of many small features distributed across a large area can be marked in a continuous fashion with a significant reduction in processing time.

Full Featured I/O
Nmark™ SSaM has support for CO₂ and YAG lasers with specialized functions such as first-pulse suppression and tickle frequency outputs. Control signals can be configured as sinking or sourcing, 5-24 VDC, allowing for easy interface to many different laser manufacturers. General purpose analog and digital I/O is also provided for control or monitoring functions such as laser power, door interlocks, pump operation, and material handling. Two high speed encoder inputs are available for synchronization with moving material applications (marking on the fly).