Baldor's ready-engineered linear stepper X-Y positioning base is capable of dramatically increasing productivity in a wide range of machinery applications. A novel industrial honeycomb-structured composite material used on the base greatly reduces the cost of applying advanced linear motor technology — providing machinery builders with a highly competitive alternative to traditional solutions such as rotary motors and ballscrews or belts.

Designated the HoneyComb Series, Baldor's new X-Y bases are available in a choice of seven standard sizes with square or rectangular working areas ranging from 375 x 375 to 750 x 1500 mm. This range supports a wide variety of applications in markets including design prototyping, semiconductor fabrication, electronics manufacturing and biomed sample handling.

The new X-Y bases offer very high levels of positioning performance. They are capable of move speeds of up to 1.5 metres/second at resolutions to 2.5 microns and with a repeatability of better than 2 microns. They also offer friction-free mechanics with zero-backlash and no wind-up — for a major performance improvement over traditional mechanical transmission design technologies, as well as maintenance savings.

The base's moving element, the forcer, floats on an air suppliers of bearing and integrates two linear stepper motors mounted at right angles to each other to provide X and Y directional thrust. The forcer is available in six sizes and in two- or four-phase configurations, depending on the application’s force and resolution requirements. The maximum static holding force is up to 134 N.