Aerotech A3200 - Chapter 1: Introduction

Introduction HEXRCHardware Manual
Chapter 1: Introduction
Aerotech’s HEXRC is a high-performance, 6-axis motion controller ideal for controlling robotic systems like
hexapods. The HEXRC is 4U high, rack-mountable, and compatible with the Automation 3200 motion
platform.
The HEXRC features 6-axes of drives capable of controlling any combination of brush, brushless, or
stepper motors. The HEXRC performs both current loop and servo loop closures digitally to ensure the
highest level of positioning accuracy and performance. With the A3200 distributed control architecture, the
HEXRC can connect and control up to 26 additional axes of servo, stepper, or piezo-driven stages.
In environments such as beamlines, the HEXRC can interface with a host control platform and receive
control commands via an ASCII command interface over TCP/IP. Alternatively, the HEXRC can act as a
master controller and control other A3200 external drives via the FireWire interface.
The HEXRC can accept amplified-sine or digital encoders. With on-board encoder multiplication up to 4096
high-resolution positioning is realized in a cost-effective, high-performance package.
An optional 6-axis jog pendant can be added for manual control of the positioning system. In safety critical
applications, an emergency stop option with redundant safety relays is available.
ON
OFF

AEROTECH.
COM
0
A
HEX RC
Powered by
3
2
0
USB
MOTOR / FEEDBACK
DIGITAL / ANALOG IO MPGA
DVI
USB2 USB3 ETHERNET FIREWIRE
ESTOP
1 2
1 2
3 4 5 6
ESTOP
DVI
Motor / Feedback
Digital / Analog I/O
MPGA
Power Switch / Circuit Breaker
USB
Firewire
AC Power Input
USB Ethernet
Figure 1-1: Chassis Layout
www.aerotech.com Chapter 1 1