CARY, NC - Produced through an industry synergy, a new generation closed-loop control system offers a more compact package at lower total cost while cutting response time to half that of other industrial closed-loop systems.

The Temposonics S Series ServoSensor™ capitalizes on smaller, more powerful microprocessors and advances in surface-mount technology to eliminate the need for an external controller. The servocontroller, drive module and sensor electronics fit into the sensor head (approximately 1.75 inches in diameter by 4 inches long). The design also shaves control cabinet panel space, reduces mounting hardware and runs on a single 24Vdc power supply. As a result, ServoSensors are well suited for many applications that require high accuracy and fast response.

The ServoSensor was co-developed by closed-loop motion control engineering firm Paw-Taw-John Services, Inc. and MTS System Corporation's Sensors Group. The platform for the unique design is an MTS Temposonics III magnetostrictive linear position sensor.

"Temposonics offers fast displacement measurements, high resolution and
a rugged housing, and because it is routinely installed in servoactuators, our product is a good fit for this application," said Dennis Moffow, Temposonics Director of Marketing and Sales. "The Temposonics sensor also contains a proprietary microprocessor with a 4 gHz counter that permits high resolution with just a single inteffogation of the sensor. In the past, slower clock speeds required multiple interrogations to obtain high resolution position information."

The Temposonics S Series ServoSensor handles position and error information efficiently by integrating MTS Temposonics sensing algorithms directly into the servocontroller. 'Me unit's physical layout is also a factor in its efficiency. Processing of data is now accomplished in the sensor head and the ServoSensor typically mounts inside an actuator with a short driver cable (one foot or less) running from the sensor to servovalve.

Temposonics S Series ServoSensors store PID and operational software and are programmed with PC's, PLC's or "smart" hand-held devices. The user defines servo-loop dynamics, including gains and zero adjustments, as well as operating parameters such as velocity, acceleration, dwell time, travel limits, sensor resolution and emergency stops.

The improvements allow Temposonics S Series ServoSensors to close the loop in I millisecond or less. Conventional systems have typical response times of 2 milliseconds. ServoSensors have run successfully with servo-loop times of 500 microseconds at resolutions of 0.0005 inches.

"These sensors are suitable for any system that demands high-speed, closed-loop motion control from a package that is smaller and less expensive than more traditional systems. They are currently being used in wood product applications but other applications exist in the machine tool, aerospace, steel, plastic and food products industries," added Jerry Johnson and Glenn Beusch/Paw-Taw-John Services, co-inventors.

About MTS Systems Corporation, Sensors Group, MTS Systems Corporation, formed in 1966, is a Minneapolis-based corporation that manufactures testing and automation products for manufacturing processes. MTS Sensors Group, with offices in Cary, North Carolina; Ludenscheid, Germany; and Tokyo, Japan; is a leader in maintenance-free, magnetostrictive linear position sensors for a wide variety of industrial automation applications ranging from injection and blow molding and die casting to forest products industry machinery. MTS also makes Level Plus liquid level gauges for process control.

For more information on Temposonics position sensors, please contact: Dennis Morrow, Director of Sales and Marketing, MTS Sensors Division, 3001 Sheldon Drive, Cary, NC 27513. Tel: (800) 633-7609, Fax: (919) 677-0200, or Email: info@temposonics.com and say, “I saw it in MotionShop.com!” or visit our Weg site at: http://www.temposonics.com.

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