Additive manufacturing and 3D printing are altering multiple areas of technology and manufacturing. The dispensing of compounds and coatings requires a 3D motion system to move either the printing head or the substrate with up to six degrees of freedom. Overall system accuracy and throughput are vitally important to creating complex structures with a commercially viable process.

Aerotech offers a full range of additive manufacturing motion systems and components to fit any application. The company manufactures motors, drives and motion controllers that can be used to develop your own system. The selection includes linear, rotary, lift and Z-axis stages and goniometers that complement the company’s drives and controls. Aerotech also manufactures a variety of linear motor gantry systems that are available with all electronics and machine bases that are ready to produce immediately upon installation. Custom systems engineered to your specifications are also available.

Whether you require the speed and accuracy of a ball-screw or linear-motor solution, you can find the right choice for your particular application. Controllers are available in both stand-alone and software-only versions with from 1 to 32 axes of synchronized control. Also available are mechanical and air-bearing stages, motors (brush, brushless, torque, linear or rotary), and steel or granite machine bases.

• Components include linear, rotary, lift and Z-axis stages, goniometers, motion controls, drives and motors

• Custom systems include multi-axis, gantry, air-bearing, cleanroom and vacuum-prepped

• Minimum step size to 1 nm, in-position stabilities are to <1 nm, and accuracies are to 250 nm

• Custom systems and components already tested in real-life applications

• High dynamic performance

Aerotech has more than 40 years experience building high-performance motion control components and systems. The company has been involved with additive manufacturing applications and equipment from the industry’s inception.