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Mclennan releases new 23 and 34 frame, high-torque stepper motors
21st November 2007

Stepper motors fitted with flying leads often require elaborate and costly modification to adapt the wiring into applications, particularly where EMC, environmental protection or smart appearance is of importance. To address the problem, Mclennan Servo Supplies Ltd, the Surrey based mechatronics solutions provider has commissioned the Japanese manufacturer Tamagawa Seiki to produce a new range of NEMA 23 and 34 frame hybrid stepper motors complete with a terminal block and a choice of cable gland or metal ring connectors.

The 23 frame stepper motor with metal ring connector, designated the 23HT18C, is available in single, 2-, 3- and 4-stack versions. The sealed aluminium terminal block adds around 32 mm to the length of the motor with an internal 6-way screw terminal strip connector for unipolar, bipolar parallel or series wiring. The metal ring connector is a Souriau UT series, size 12 bayonet type which is suited to best-practise electrical shielding and offers IP67 protection as standard or IP68 on request. The durable and rugged connector can be used in environmentally demanding applications or where a neat and aesthetic machine design is of high importance. Mating connectors are supplied and complete lead sets can be included if required.

The alternative cable gland option uses a standard M18 industrial grade gland with a neoprene cable sealing insert and an O-ring seal on the external thread, typically offering IP68 protection up to 5 bar. Mclennan can deliver motors wired with cables to length or cables and components supplied separately.  The 200 steps/rev motor is available in current ratings of 1A, 2A and 3A per phase (5A/phase for the 4-stack version), and thanks to its neodymium magnet system will deliver a holding torque from 0.39Nm to 2Nm with usable speeds up to 10000 steps per second.  The 34 frame variant, the 34HT18C is available in single, 2- and 3-stack versions for a holding torque to 7.35Nm.

Using its own in-house design and manufacturing capability, Mclennan are able to provide complete mechatronic solutions based around the new 23HT18C range that include custom mechanics, gearboxes and power train components. A wide selection of stepper drives and motion controls are also available and the scope of supply can include full EMC testing using the Company's own onsite test facilities.

Tamagawa Hybrid stepper motors Email - or

Tamagawa Hybrid stepper motors introduced
6th November 2007

Tamagawa's TS3218 series flat hybrid stepper motors can provide powerful miniature positioning in a very restricted space. They measure 13mm in length and 46mm in diameter, and deliver a 5Ncm holding torque. Available from Mclennan Servo Supplies, the 200/400 step/rev motors are supplied in 5 V and 12 V versions for unipolar and bipolar drive connection, with current ratings from 0.165 to 0.25 A/phase.

The 2-phase TS3218 series is manufactured in high volumes for the pan and tilt security camera industry, but is now being widely used in other cost-sensitive and space restricted applications in the medical device, scientific instrument and business equipment markets.

Mclennan are able to engineer the TS3218 stepper motor into the customers application with drive pinions, pulleys or gearboxes from its extensive range. Spur and planetary gearbox ratios are available from 5:1 to 15000:1 in precision or commercial accuracy grades and specialised output shafts, customised mechanics, adapter plates, and other power train components are readily available.

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Fibre optic gyro sensor introduced
5th September 2007

Tamagawa have launched a new low-cost attitude measurement system for dynamic pitch, yaw and roll, angular rate and acceleration performance testing on vehicles and motion simulation systems.

Available from Tamagawa's UK distributors Mclennan Servo Supplies, the high performance system comprises the robust TA7546 fibre optic gyro sensor unit connected via a dedicated serial port to the separate TA7576 controller unit, which features twelve +/- 5V analogue outputs with a 200 kHz refresh rate, a time/mark signal input, car speed input and angle reset input.

The analogue outputs provide attitude angle measurement in pitch to +/- 90º and roll/yaw to +/- 180º with accuracy to +/- 0.5º. X,Y, Z angular rate is measured to +/- 100º per second, and X,Y,Z acceleration up to 49 m/sec² - all within a 0.2% full-scale accuracy.

Although aimed predominantly at the dynamic road vehicle testing industry, the attitude measurement system will also be of interest to other test and calibration applications in motion simulation, wind tunnel testing, and the amusement ride markets. The fibre optic gyro sensor unit has also been used on a remotely piloted helicopter application specifically designed for use in hazardous earthquake and geological studies.

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Integrated stepper motor introduced
23rd July 2007

Mechatronics solutions provider Mclennan Servo Supplies Ltd has introduced a new integrated "closed-loop" stepper motor and drive from Tamagawa. The low cost i-Stepmotor combines a choice of NEMA 11, 17 or 23 size stepper motors fitted with a 200-line encoder plus a dedicated stepper drive requiring a simple pulse and direction input. The complete system offers smooth microstepping speed performance with zero position loss and as the encoder feedback system does not rely upon conventional servo technology, there is no need to set gain adjustment and no tendency for the motor to hunt at standstill.

The i-Stepmotor system is aimed at both new and retrofitted positioning applications requiring the simplicity of conventional stepper motor pulse train control but where motor stalling and its subsequent position loss results in excessive manufacturing cost, unwarranted production downtime or is otherwise deemed intolerable.

The chassis mounted microstepping drive requires a 24V dc supply and is fitted with connectors for direct connection to matching motor and encoder cables or for connection to optional cable extensions in convenient lengths up to 10m. The drive has eight dip-switch selectable resolutions from 200 steps/rev to 25600 steps/rev. A second dip-switch is used to set the maximum and standby motor current ratings ranging from 0.1 A to 3.0 A. The drive also includes a comprehensive array of outputs for move completion and alarms such as over-current and over-voltage conditions, inputs for drive enable, standby current reduction and alarm reset as well as repeated encoder outputs for connection to counters or other equipment.

All motors have a smooth speed capability of up to 4000 rpm with maximum holding torque from 0.12Nm to 1.05Nm. The size 11 and 17 motor/encoders are available in a single length and the 23-frame motor/encoder is available in a choice of two stack lengths. Motor/encoder assemblies include 300 mm long cables with connectors fitted.

The i-Stepmotor is easy to set-up and integrate into precision positioning applications as a standalone motion solution with the customer providing pulse and direction or CW/CCW outputs from his own controller. Alternatively, using its own design and manufacturing capability, Mclennan are able to provide complete mechatronic solutions based around the motor and drive system with a wide selection of multi axis motion controls and custom designed mechanics including spur or planetary gearboxes and other power train components.

Enhanced performance h3 series Stepper Motors from Portescap Email - or

Enhanced performance h3 series Stepper Motors available
19th June 2007

Mclennan Servo Supplies Ltd, a motion component distributor and manufacturer of mechatronics solutions, has added the new Portescap h3 series enhanced performance hybrid stepper motor to its range of motion control products.

Thanks to its neodymium high energy rotor magnets, Sigmax enhanced flux focusing stator and high heat-loss aluminium housing, the NEMA 17, 23 and 34 frame sized motors deliver a 15% to 40% higher output torque with 10% lower power consumption when compared to other high-performance hybrid stepper motors.

The h3 series also features larger diameter, sealed ball race bearings with an improved bearing retainer and O-ring design, to provide higher axial and radial shaft loading, prevent bearing spinout, eliminate axial play and reduce motor noise.

Available in a choice of stack lengths with unipolar and bipolar windings, the 200 step/rev h3 range can provide improved speed/torque performance with higher throughput and duty cycle capability as a form-fit replacement for existing stepper motor applications; or can offer the motion system designer space savings for high performance precision motion in a range of automation applications - including medical/biotech, textiles, packaging, electronics, office automation and vending.

Manufactured in Portescaps ISO 9002 certified Malaysian production facility, the range has a competitive pricing structure and is available with customised windings, connectors, pinions and shaft modifications in relatively small volumes.