Like other SmartMotors, the Animatics SM2315 is a controller, amplifier and encoder built into a true brushless DC servomotor, but at a one-off cost of just $499

Rather than competing with other Servos, the SM2315 is actually priced competitively with many stepper motor systems. At the heart of the SM2315 is the Animatics motion control chip, a single microcontroller that handles all processing functions of the SmartMotor, including the PID loop, the trajectory generator, the user program execution, I/O control and all communications over as many as three high-speed serial channels simultaneously.

This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 17 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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A machine-wound stator and molded, high-energy magnet add to the savings as does a completely die-cast aluminum housing assembly.

The SM2315 was designed for high volume applications and is already being manufactured in the thousands.

The SM2315 does nearly everything its predecessors do.
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The motor can be programmed to stand-alone or operate as part of an RS-232 or RS-485 network.

Delivering up to 30oz-in of continuous torque and driving as fast as 10,000 rev/min, it also has a subnetwork to link in peripherals like LCDs, OPTO-22 I/O, digital joysticks, and much more.

The 7bit of onboard I/O can be used as dedicated inputs, programmable inputs, outputs or even 10bit analogue inputs.

A family of adapters dedicate different I/O points as 24V isolated I/O.

The adapters occupy half of the mating connector's backshell, with a small screw terminal also inside the backshell for fast and easy connection.

The SM2315 also has a bonus for OEM customers and a first for SmartMotors.

Like a computer, it has an expansion slot for additional or custom electronics.

This is a space in the back of the motor next to the connection bus loaded with Power and I/O, even more than is available outside the motor.

Expansion cards already exist to regulate and control power to an optional external brake.

Board layout information and signal specifications are available to OEM customers as are custom solutions engineered and implemented by Animatics.

The point is, however, that no matter how customised the final product may be, the motor itself remains low cost.

It still fully enjoys the economies of scale arising from the many thousands manufactured each year, even if it serves a custom purpose by virtue if its add-in card.

With all of this, the total motion control system still falls in at a mere 2.3in in length.

It is 2.25in wide and fully conforms to NEMA-23 stepper motor frame and shaft dimension standards.

It even takes step and direction signals as a form of input.

The SM2315's price and physical design makes it an excellent choice for replacing both a stepper motor and its driver.

This can benefit applications wanting greater throughput, quieter or smoother operation or simply closed-loop reliability.