Product Change Notifications
March 2023
Product Change Notification Letter: MDrive and MForce 360 PCBA Boards
Affected Products: All MDrive and MForce products that utilize the 360 PCBA Board. Affected products are included in the part number configurations:
| Product Family | Description | Part Number |
| MDM-23 | MDrive – 23 – Pulse/Direction – Rotary | MDMxxSx23x7-xx, |
| MLM-23 | MDrive – 23 – Pulse/Direction – Linear | MLMxxSx23x7-xx |
| MCM-23 | MDrive – 23 – Pulse/Direction – Custom | MCMxxSx23x7-xx |
*Variations to the base model part numbers shown are also applicable.
Effective Date: 📅 Q3, 2023
Description & Purpose:
To reduce consumption of critical components, we are switching to a new PCBA board design to be used in certain MDrive Plus and MForce products. The affected boards use technology with integrated flash memory that is obsolete. The replacement design utilizes functionally equivalent flash memory chips and relocates the flash memory location to the PCA board. Additionally, the new design also utilizes a more efficient bridge. The alternative flash memory and bridge design has already been implemented on other PCA boards used in the Novanta IMS Product Portfolio and has proven reliable. The new PCBA has been designed and validated to be a form, fit, and function solution for the current design. However, it is each customer’s responsibility to determine if further validation testing is required for their specific application. Supplies of components to support the old PCBA design are limited and will be available until August 31st.
Recommended Action: If your application requires validation testing, you will need to notify your regional sales manager with the specific part number and quantities needed for testing. Samples will be available in limited quantities. Purchase orders for samples for validation testing will need be submitted to Novanta IMS customer service by March 31st (please include a note on the PO “samples for validation testing”).
Inquiry: Please contact Novanta IMS at (860) 295-6102 with any questions or concerns.
Product Change Notification Letter: XIM483H Motion Controller Products
Affected Products: XIM483H Motion Controller Affected products are included in the part number configurations
| Product Family | Description | Part Number |
| XIM483H | PCB Mounted Pulse/Direction Drive – 48V, 3A | XIM483H |
*Variations to the base model part numbers shown are also applicable.
Effective Date: 📅 Q3, 2023
Description & Purpose: To reduce consumption of critical components, we are switching to an alternative PCBA board design to be utilized in the XIM483H. The affected boards use technology with integrated flash memory that is obsolete. The replacement design utilizes functionally equivalent flash memory chips and relocates the flash memory location to the PCA board. Additionally, the new design also utilizes a higher-performance bridge. This PCBA design has already been utilized in other product lines and has proven reliable. The replacement PCBA has been designed and validated to be a form, fit, and function solution for the current design. However, it is each customer’s responsibility to determine if further validation testing is required for their specific application. Supplies of components to support the old PCBA design are limited and will be available until June 30th.
Recommended Action: If your application requires validation testing, you will need to notify your regional sales manager with the specific part number and quantities needed for testing. Samples will be available in limited quantities. Purchase orders for samples for validation testing will need be submitted to Novanta IMS customer service by March 31st (please include a note on the PO “samples for validation testing”).
Inquiry: Please contact Novanta IMS at (860) 295-6102 with any questions or concerns.
Product Change Notification Letter: MDrive and MForce Indexer Products
Affected Products: All MDrive and MForce indexer products.. Affected products are included in the part number configurations:
| Product Family | Description | Part Number |
| MDI-17 | MDrive – 17 – Motion Control – Rotary | MDIxxxx17x4-xx |
| MLI-17 | MDrive – 17 – Motion Control – Linear | MLIxxxx17x4-xx |
| MFI-17 | MForce – 17(Micro) – Motion Control – Drive Only (no motor) | MFIxxxx17x4-xx |
| MCI-17 | MDrive – 17 – Motion Control – Custom | MCIxxxx17x4-xx |
*Variations to the base model part numbers shown are also applicable.
Effective Date: 📅 Q2, 2023
Description & Purpose: To reduce consumption of critical components, we are switching to a new PCBA board design to be utilized in certain MDrive Plus and MForce products. The affected boards use technology with integrated flash memory that is obsolete. The replacement design utilizes functionally equivalent flash memory chips and relocates the flash memory location to the PCA board. Additionally, the new design also utilizes a more efficient bridge. The alternative flash memory and bridge design have already been implemented on other PCA boards utilized in the Novanta IMS Product Portfolio and have proven reliable. The new PCBA has been designed and validated to be a form, fit, and function solution for the current design. However, it is each customer’s responsibility to determine if further validation testing is required for their specific application. Supplies of components to support the old PCBA design are limited and will be available until June 30th.
Recommended Action: If your application requires validation testing, you will need to notify your regional sales manager with the specific part number and quantities needed for testing. Samples will be available in limited quantities. Purchase orders for samples for validation testing will need be submitted to Novanta IMS customer service by March 31st (please include a note on the PO “samples for validation testing”).
Inquiry: Please contact Novanta IMS at (860) 295-6102 with any questions or concerns.
June 2022
Product End-of-Life Notification Letter: Legacy MDrive Plus 240 VAC NEMA 34
Affected Products: See PDF
Effective Date: 📅 June 30, 2022
Device Identification: All legacy MDrive Plus 240 VAC NEMA 34 products. A list of product part numbers is included at the end of this notification letter, however, not every affected part number is detailed. Please direct specific part number inquiries to your Regional Sales Manager.
Description & Purpose: End of life for critical components for use with the 240 VAC version of the MDrive NEMA 34 AC products has resulted in the decision to discontinue the product itself.
Recommended Action:Please review any applications which may be using one of the affected products, and direct specific part number inquiries to your Regional Sales Manager for answers or replacement product recommendations. Again, a product part number list is included at the end of this notification letter, but not every affected part number is detailed. Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to contact us with any additional questions.
Inquiry: Please contact IMS at (860) 295-6102 with any questions or concerns.
June 2020
Product Change Notification Letter
Affected Products:
Ethernet-based Liberty* MDrive (LMD) rotary and linear, regular and high-torque motor products.
Affected products are included in the part number configurations:
• LMDxE42x **
• LM*xE57x **
• LMDxE85x **
**Variations to the base model part numbers shown are also applicable.
Liberty* MDrive support software:
• Liberty* Software Suite – REV. 1.0.1.8
Liberty* MDrive firmware:
• REV. 2.4.0.6
Effective Date: 📅 June 30, 2020
Device Identification: Ethernet-based LMD products programmed and shipped with ‘Cybersecurity Enabled’ are clearly marked with [CSE]visible in a black rectangle with white lettering on each product’s data matrix label.
Description & Purpose: Novanta follows local regulations and uses additional industry established frameworks to conform to
cybersecurity standards. Novanta also takes an active part in the evolution of today’s industrial cybersecurity standards, contributing to these standards and frameworks. In accordance with US California Senate Bill No. 327, and
under direct guidance from Novanta, IMS has implemented a level of cyber-secure
protection in the Ethernet based Liberty* MDrive product line in order to protect these products from outside cyberattacks.
Ethernet-based Liberty* MDrive products shipped after June 30, 2020, will include cybersecurity protection that requires
additional configuration on setup with IMS’ Liberty* Software Suite, specifically the Liberty*
MDrive Ethernet interface utility.
Recommended Action:Additional reference materials are available at: https://novantaims.com/
Materials include application note, instructional video, user manuals, software, firmware.
Inquiry: Please contact IMS at (860) 295-6102 with any questions or concerns.
*Previously Lexium
April 2020
Product End-of-Life Notification Letter
Affected Products: See PDF
Effective Date: 📅 June 30, 2020
Device Identification: All legacy MDrivePlus Ethernet-based integrated rotary and linear motors including standard, Hybrid (Accustep), and custom. Also, MDrivePlus Ethernet Gateway products. A comprehensive product part number list is included at the end of this notification letter, however, not every affected part number is detailed. Please direct specific part number inquiries to your Regional Sales Manager.
Description & Purpose: New CyberSecurity requirements put into law from “US California Senate Bill No. 327 Information Privacy: Connected Devices” impact all legacy MDrivePlus Ethernet-based products, which has resulted in the decision to discontinue them.
Recommended Action: Please review any applications where you may be using one of the affected products. Again, a comprehensive product part number list is included at the end of this notification letter, however, not every affected part number is detailed. Please direct specific part number inquiries to your Regional Sales Manager. They can assist you by providing answers and, in many cases, recommending replacement products.
Customers have the opportunity to place significant last-time-buys (LTB). However, IMS is unable to deliver product shipments after June 30, 2020 due to the new CyberSecurity Law now in effect, and the non-conformance of these specific products to that law.
Inquiry: Please contact IMS at (860) 295-6102 with any questions or concerns.
July 2019
Liberty* MDrive, Programmable Motion and Ethernet, Firmware Update
Affected Products: See PDF
Effective Date: 📅 July 31, 2019
Device Identification: Products with serial numbers containing 212 or lower as the first three characters and 19 as the fourth and fifth character. Additionally, any affected products with the numbers 18 or lower as the fourth and fifth character. Example: 36419XXXX is not affected by this notice, while 01519XXXX and 30018XXXX are affected.
Description & Purpose: Novanta IMS (IMS) has issued an update to open loop and closed loop Programmable Motion and Ethernet Liberty* MDrive products utilizing firmware version 6.012. This change includes general updates and bug fixes. There is no known impact to product’s form, fit, or function; however, users should evaluate these changes in their systems. IMS recommends any units currently in the field be updated to the latest revision of the firmware.
Version Change 6.012 6.013
Recommended Action: Please visit our website to download and install updated firmware: Firmware Downloads.
Inquiry: Please contact IMS at (860) 295-6102 with any questions or concerns.
*Previously Lexium
January 2019
Absolute MDrive Firmware Update from V7.001 to V7.002
Affected Products: LMDAEXXX, LMDAEXXXC, LMDAMXXX, LMDAMXXXC, LMHAEXXX, LMHAEXXXC,LMHAMXXX, LMHAMXXXC
Effective Date: 📅 December 6, 2018
Recommended Action: Please visit our website to download and install updated firmware: Firmware Downloads
Inquiry: Please contact your IMS Regional Sales Manager for questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to contact us with any additional questions.
Device Identification: Affected products with serial numbers containing 340 or lower as the first three digits. Example: 36418XXXX is not affected while 30018XXXX is affected.
Description & Purpose: Novanta IMS (IMS) has issued an update to Absolute MDrive products utilizing firmware version 7.001. This change was implemented to improve manufacturability of the product and there is no known impact to field operation of the product. This change will not affect the product’s form, fit, or function. IMS recommends any units currently in the field be updated to the latest revision of the firmware.
May 2018
