XPlanar: "flying motion"

Intelligent, non-contact handling - now possible thanks to Beckhoff’s Xplanar. The system makes it possible to levitate object movers along independent, freely modular paths by means of electromagnetic fluctuation, eliminating friction and wear and tear problems to achieve unprecedented levels of dynamics, versatility and efficiency.

Just as XTS marked a milestone in motion technology, Beckhoff’s Xplanar platform represents the new frontier of intelligent handling. The concept on which the XPlanar is based is similar, i.e. moving “n” mover independently. However, the new system eliminates any physical contact with guides or supports, which is a source of friction, inefficiency, wear and mechanical contamination.

An XY reference plane formed by a series of freely modular electronic tiles develops a field of electromagnetic forces that are used by the system to levitate the movers at a short distance from the zero level. The electromagnetic fluctuation allows the XPlanar to reach very high levels of efficiency and offer excellent dynamics, as friction is zero. The movers can be moved in the two X-Y sizes with speeds of up to 4 m/s and accelerations of 2 g, with a positioning repeatability of 50 µm.

In addition to the movement along the X-Y plane, the movers can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction (Z) by 5 mm, tilted 5° and rotated completely on themselves (360): truly amazing.

Although the XPlanar needs a reference X-Y plane, the movers are not bound by any fixed routing or material structure, whether they are rails on the X-Y plane or tracks embedded in the same. In fact, movers are free to proceed on alternative routes depending on the ‘traffic’ of the moment, and their route is dynamically reconfigured by the motion controller, who only needs to know that an object must be transported from point A to another point B.

Available configurations

Currently XPlanar offers different types of planar movers: the smallest 95×95 mm mover support loads up to 0.4 kg; the intermediate size (155×155 mm and 155×275 mm) allows to move loads from 1.5 kg to 3 kg while the 275 x 275 mm size reaches a load capacity of up to 6 kg.

XPlanar is available in several construction options: glass, stainless steel and plastic film: due to its features, it is ideal in a wide range of applications, including packaging, assembly, intralogistics, as well as in classified environments, such as clean rooms, aseptic food production departments and pharmaceutical workshops.