Product Name: SHA Integrated Actuator Series

Manufacturer: Harmonic Drive LLC

Product Category: Motion Control Components

Supporting Documentation (if available)

SHA Integrated Series (20, 25, 32) IDT versions with EtherCAT
Product Overview
The SHA Integrated Series is a family of compact, high performance rotary servo actuators engineered to deliver exceptional torque density, positioning accuracy, and repeatability in a single, integrated solution. By combining zero backlash Harmonic Drive® gearing, a brushless servo motor, dual absolute magnetic encoders, and an integrated servo drive, the Integrated Series redefines simplicity and performance in motion control.
Available with CANopen® or EtherCAT® communication, and optional integrated braking, this revolutionary actuator family eliminates the need for an external drive, dramatically reducing system complexity, cabinet space, and installation time—without compromising precision, torque density, torsional stiffness, or reliability.
Market Challenge
Modern automation, robotics, and process control systems demand higher precision, faster communication, and reduced system complexity, all within increasingly compact footprints. Traditional actuator architectures require external drives, complex cabling, and centralized control cabinets, leading to higher system costs, longer commissioning times, and increased points of failure.
The SHA Integrated Series directly addresses these challenges by bringing intelligence and control to the source of motion, enabling distributed control architectures that are simpler, lighter, and more scalable.
Innovation & Differentiation
The SHA Integrated Series stands apart through its true system level integration:
• High precision Harmonic Drive® gearing delivers zero backlash, high torsional stiffness, and exceptional repeatability.
• A fully integrated servo drive removes the need for an external hard drive and cabinet space to accommodate it.
• Dual absolute encoders provide precise, reliable position feedback of the motor input position and gear output position.
• Certified CANopen® and EtherCAT® conformance ensures seamless integration into modern industrial networks.
• The product is the first Beckhoff EtherCAT Conformance Certified integrated actuator listed in the Beckoff EtherCAT Technology Group Product Guide.
• With EtherCAT offering approximately 10–20× faster motion control communication than CANopen, the Integrated Series enables high speed, synchronized motion in demanding applications.
Product Capabilities & System Benefits
The SHA Integrated Series delivers measurable system level advantages:
• Reduced hardware requirements, minimizing cabinet space and overall system weight
• Simplified integration, significantly shortening installation and commissioning time
• Distributed control at the source of motion, improving system responsiveness and scalability
• Simplified cable management, reducing wiring complexity and potential failure points
• Compact, high torque design, maximizing performance within constrained spaces
• Standard hollow bore, allowing cables, tubes or similar to pass through the center
By consolidating multiple motion control components into a single, compact housing, the Integrated Series enables cleaner designs, lower total system cost, and higher overall reliability.
Applications & Industry Impact
The versatility of the SHA Integrated Series makes it well suited for a broad range of industrial and manufacturing applications, including:
• Automation: Enhancing performance and efficiency in packaging machinery, assembly lines, and material handling systems
• Robotics: Improving precision and responsiveness in end of arm tooling and robotic material handling
• Process Control: Supporting precise flow regulation and motion control in oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and chemical manufacturing environments
• Semiconductor Manufacturing: enables higher accuracy, faster response, and simplified system architectures
Across these applications, the SHA Integrated Series enables higher accuracy, faster response, and simplified system architectures, directly contributing to improved productivity and operational efficiency.
Why the SHA Integrated Series Deserves Recognition
The SHA Integrated Series represents a significant advancement in motion control design, delivering high precision performance traditionally associated with complex systems—now available in a compact, fully integrated actuator. By eliminating external drives, simplifying cabling, and enabling high speed industrial communication, it provides tangible value to machine builders and system integrators seeking performance without complexity.
This combination of technical innovation, practical system benefits, and broad application impact makes the SHA Integrated Series a standout solution deserving of industry recognition.