Guidance on use of VCSMs

It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the production and handling of UHV components. The successful application of vacuum stepper motors requires an appreciation of their thermal as well as their mechanical properties. Compared to motors operated in air, the available cooling means for motors in vacuum are much less effective.

Apart from extending the run time, operation at low temperature improves the outgassing performance of motors. Therefore, minimum running times and motor currents should always be pursued. Selection of the largest motor possible for the application will result in longer running times, lower motor temperature and lowest outgassing.

Design mechanisms with balanced loads whenever possible or arrange that either the static friction in the system or the motor detent torque will hold position without the necessity of maintaining phase currents to produce a holding torque. The IH command may be used to reduce the phase currents and produce a holding torque which is intermediate between the pull-out torque and the detent torque. Refer to section 8.6 for a full description of power reduction techniques.

Many applications that appear to require continuous running, for example, substrate rotation for ensuring uniformity of deposition or implantation, can be equally well performed by intermittent short periods of stepping at low duty cycle. Stepper motors should not be disassembled as this partially demagnetises the permanent magnet in the rotor and permanently reduces the torque.

Operating temperature and run times

Outgassing and bakeout

Resonances

Load inertia, friction and drive characteristics

Control of resonance

Mechanisms for use with VCSMs

The following section is an introduction to this topic and is intended to indicate the major mechanical and vacuum considerations for various types of mechanisms. A working knowledge of mechanics and vacuum construction techniques is assumed. AML supply a range of standard mechanisms which can be customised, as well as designing custom mechanisms and components.

Rotation (Position control)

Rotation (Speed control)

Translation

Linear guides

Reduction gearing

Bearings

Magnetic fields near motor

Low power techniques

Techniques applicable to all applications

Techniques where step rates less than 100 Hz

Possible causes of damage to VCSMs

Vacuum motors must be de-magnetised before disassembly and re-magnetised and cleaned after repair. For these reasons most will need to be returned to AML for repair. The notes below offer guidance on the avoidance of the most common problems and diagnostic advice.

Bearing damage

The ceramic balls in the bearings are very strong but more brittle than steel balls. Dropping the motor on its end will probably break some balls. The damage is occasionally visible and any roughness felt when rotating the shaft manually will indicate that this has happened.

Debris inside the motor

Foreign material can enter the motor via the pumping holes and gaps in the bearings. Particles of magnetic materials are particularly likely to be attracted through the pumping holes and they eventually migrate into the gap between the rotor and stator. They usually cause the rotor to stick at one or more points per revolution and can often only be felt when rotating in a specific direction. Fortunately, the larger motors have enough torque to grind them into a dust.

The main cause of this type of problem has been users modifying shafts. This can be avoided by sealing the motor inside a cleaned polyethylene bag and supervising the machining closely. Clean the projecting shaft and remove magnetic particles with a magnet before opening the bag. Remove the motor or similarly seal it if any filing or drilling of nearby components is done.

Overheating

Motors which have been heated to 230 °C will produce a much greater gas load thereafter, although their electromechanical performance may not be affected. In extreme cases, the insulating material will ablate and deposit itself as a yellow powder inside the motor case and on any cool surfaces in line with the pumping holes.

Motors can overheat very quickly in vacuum. This is very unlikely to happen with a properly connected SMD3 drive. Never use a drive capable of providing more than 1 amp of phase current and ensure that the drive current is removed as soon as the indicated temperature exceeds 190 °C. This is performed automatically by the SMD3.