JULY 18--National Instruments (NI; Austin, TX; ni.com) has announced a cooperative effort with manufacturers of industrial positioning products to speed development of computer-based motion-control systems through a new level of software and hardware integration. The streamlined product integration is the result of work conducted through the NI Motion Partners Program (MPP), whose members include experts in the field of motion hardware. Current members include ALIO Industries, MICOS, Anorad (a subsidiary of Rockwell Automation), National Aperture, Bayside Motion Group, Polytec PI, Danaher Precision Systems, Primatics, and Suruga Seiki.
These vendors offer a wide range of positioning stages and systems that often widely differ in how they interface and communicate with motion controllers, creating integration challenges for engineers. Now, through their involvement with the MPP, members thoroughly test their products to ensure they work seamlessly with NI PC-based motion-control software and hardware. With this certified interoperability, engineers now can spend more time focusing on their applications and less time worrying over time-consuming and costly compatibility issues.
Engineers and scientists can match NI software and hardware with the positioning hardware of their choice from MPP vendors by visiting a new product-configuration advisor on ni.com. The on-line tool, known as Stage Advisor, generates lists of recommended motion hardware products that meet engineers' individual requirements and are certified to work with NI software and hardware. Using ni.com, engineers can order products on-line or directly contact any one of the MPP members.
