Servodrive control

Cover story: Smaller, faster, higher accuracy, and easier to use are among servodrive control advances. Servodrive controls offer high accuracy and repeatability for precise applications, as shown in the cover application video and in the articles, explanations, and examples about each.

By Control Engineering February 12, 2013

Advances in servodrive control include open architecture digital permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) controls for a milling machine axis control system, using real-time open architecture on a PXI platform.

Servo technologies and techniques can improve manufacturing productivity and energy efficiency. Smaller, more compact energy-efficient servos have faster response time speeds, higher accuracy and dynamic intelligence, along with advanced capabilities.

Servomotor technology also contributes to productivity, as improved computing power helps advance servo motor applications. Fast processors in multi-core PC controllers enable updates to multiple servo control loops while handling machine control logic.

Servodrive control improvements augment machine tool performance, as applied in an upgraded series of vertical honing machines with higher accuracy and safety, decreased cycle time, and expanded processing options.

Advanced servodrive controls can support up to 128 axes with onboard Ethernet among other new features.

In this February 2012 Control Engineering cover story, in the print and digital edition, the articles below were edited for the monthly issue, but appear below, linked online, in full length.

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, Control Engineering, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

Servodrive control: Laser cutter provides precise power 

Video: Mitsubishi 2512HV-20CF laser cutter at Atlas Tool & Die Works Inc. has repeatability accuracy of +/- 0.000197 in. and uses three servos by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. The controls can operate up to 6 axes, if needed. Latest machine offers more capabilities. Also see photos, cutting speed table.

February 2013 Control Engineering cover video and related cutting photos are by Peter Welander, content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media. This is the first digital edition cover video from Control Engineering.

Open architecture digital PMSM servodrive control

Milling machine axis control system uses real-time open architecture and digital permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) control, based on a high-performance PXI platform. Updated with reader comment Feb. 5.

Servodrive control: AC servo technologies, techniques can improve manufacturing productivity, energy efficiency 

Smaller, more compact energy-efficient servos have faster response time speeds, higher accuracy and dynamic intelligence, along with advanced capabilities. Four enabling technologies are at work.

Servomotor technology contributes to productivity 

Servo drive control: Improved computing power advances servo motor technology. Fast processors in PC-based controllers (especially multi-core PCs) enable updates to multiple servo control loops while handling machine control logic.

Servodrive control improvements augment machine tool performance

Applied automation: Upgraded vertical honing machines introduce new capabilities, higher accuracy/safety, and new model designations. New servo technology for spindle, stroker, and tool-feed add new capabilities to reduce cycle time and expand processing options.

Trends in servo drives: productivity, speed, performance

Increased performance, support for up to 128 axes, and onboard Ethernet are among features in today’s advanced servodrives.