Introduction

SmarAct’s exchangeable drive units (EDUs) are specifically designed for high availability applications in industry and science.
The stick-slip piezo drive is housed in a robust drive unit that you can easily replace yourself. To do so, neither the payload has to be removed from the stage nor or the stage itself from the setup of the positioning system.
With SmarAct’s EDUs, service intervals of piezo actuators can be planned and downtime for piezo motor replacement is reduced to a few minutes. The unique and patented drive units are available for linear stages of the CLS series, CGO goniometer stages and for CHS high load stages. Complete positioning systems, from serial multi-axis systems up to highly complex parallel kinematics like the hexapod-like SMARPOD can also be equipped with SmarAct’s EDUs.
SmarAct’s exchangeable drive units are developed to provide you with direct benefits in different ways:

Serviceable On-Site

The exchangeable drive units are factory tested and preset. To replace the unit, only two screws have to be removed. The thoughtful design of the EDUs makes replacement a very simple task that can be performed without the need for a service technician.

Upgradeable and Futureproof

The concept of Exchangeable Drive-Units also allows to adapt stages to new usage scenarios or new drive technologies. This enables users to tune their positioning systems by exchanging the core components that defines speed, strength and accuracy whenever requirements change.

Planable Service Intervals

Due to the simplicity of EDU’s the mounting process, their exchange can be planned and synchronized with other maintenance tasks on the components of the machine or assembly line. Since the EDUs are supplied in sealed and stockable packaging, they can be stored safely until the next scheduled maintenance.

Reduced Downtime

Stages equipped with EDUs do not have to be removed from the positioning system when replacing a drive unit becomes neccessary.
Therefore, taught poses, stored positions and calibration data remain valid even when replacing the core component of a stage.

One for Many

SmarAct’s exchangeable drive units are interchangeable across compatible product series. This allows users to stock EDUs to have the very same spare part ready for different products when they are needed.

Cost-Effective Solution

Compared to the purchase cost of complete stages as spare parts, the EDUs incur only a fraction of the cost.

Compatibility

EDUs are currently available in SmartAct’s product series of CLS linear stages, CGO goniometer stages and CHS high load stages. As part of SmarAct’s modular system they share connecting elements, mounting hole patterns and external dimensions with many other products. EDU-equipped stages are fully compatible with all SmarAct control systems, ensuring easy integration into existing positioning systems and control infrastructures.

Application Example

Complex positioning systems like the depicted SMARPOD CLS-32 (a parallel kinematic with 6 DoF) that are being used for many positioning tasks in science and industry benefit the most from exchangeable drive units as their axis arrangement remains unchanged and they do not require reteaching of poses after exchangeing the a drive unit.

Products CLS Series

CLS-3232 - Linear Stage with EDU

The smallest of the CLS-32 linear stages offers a footprint of only 32 x 32 mm and a travel range of 21 mm. It is able to handle payloads of up to 30 N.
CLS-3232 - Linear Stage with EDU

CLS-3252 - Linear Stage with EDU

The middle size stage of the CLS-32 series offers a travel range of 31 mm while maintainig a footprint of only 32 x 52 mm. It is able to handle payloads of up to 30 N.
CLS-3252 - Linear Stage with EDU

CLS-3282 - Linear Stage with EDU

The longest stage of the CLS-32 series offers a travel range of 51 mm while maintainig a footprint of only 32 x 82 mm. It is able to handle payloads of up to 30 N.
CLS-3282 - Linear Stage with EDU

CLS-5252 - Linear Stage with EDU

The smallest one of the CLS-52 linear stages offers a footprint of 52 x 52 mm, a travel range of 31 mm and an aperture of 9 mm in diameter. Furthermore, it is able to handle payloads of up to 20 N.
CLS-5252 - Linear Stage with EDU

CLS-5282 - Linear Stage with EDU

The larger one of the CLS-52 linear stages offers a footprint of 52 x 82 mm, a travel range of 51 mm and an aperture of 9 mm in diameter. Furthermore it is able to handle payloads of up to 20 N.
CLS-5282 - Linear Stage with EDU

CLS-92152 - Linear Stage with EDU

The larger CLS-92 linear stage has a footprint of 152 x 92 mm and a travel range of 103 mm. Furthermore it is able to handle payloads of up to 20 N.
CLS-92152 - Linear Stage with EDU

CLS-9292 - Linear Stage with EDU

The smaller one of the CLS-92 linear stages offers a footprint of 92 x 92 mm and a travel range of 63 mm. Furthermore it is able to handle payloads of up to 20 N.
CLS-9292 - Linear Stage with EDU

SMARPOD CLS-32 with Exchangeable Drive-Units

The SMARPOD CLS-32 is a mid-size system and is equipped with Exchangeable Drive Units, thus perfectly suited for high availability applications.
SMARPOD CLS-32 with Exchangeable Drive-Units

Products CGO Series

CGO-60.5 - Goniometer Stage

The CGO-60.5 goniometer stage can be easily stacked on top of the CGO-77.5 stage to form an Eulerian cradle with a common center of rotation 60.5 mm above the working platform.
CGO-60.5 - Goniometer Stage

CGO-77.5 - Goniometer Stage

The precise and compact goniometer stage CGO-77.5 can be directly mounted on top of CLS-52 linear stages or act as a base for an Eulerian cradle when combined with a CGO-60.5 stage.
CGO-77.5 - Goniometer Stage

Products CHS Series

CHS-3232 - High Load Stage

A very compact high load stage equipped with an exchangeable drive unit, offering a vertical travel range of 5 mm and the capability to handle payloads of up to 5 N.
CHS-3232 - High Load Stage

CHS-5237 - High Load Stage

A high load stage equipped with an exchangeable drive unit, offering 10 mm of vertical travel and the handling of payloads up to 10 N.
CHS-5237 - High Load Stage