This section provides an overview for servo amplifiers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 14 servo amplifier manufacturers and their company rankings.
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A servo amplifier is a control device that controls a servomotor. A servo motor is a motor with a built-in encoder that detects the angle of rotation. The encoder feeds back displacement to the servo amplifier.
The control by the servo amplifier and the high-accuracy rotational motion of the servomotor enable FA equipment from various manufacturers to achieve advanced drive control. A servo amplifier is also called a servo driver, depending on the manufacturer.
Servo amplifiers are widely used as FA equipment to drive servo motors. They are widely used in a wide range of manufacturing processes for transportation equipment, industrial equipment, electronic components, and plastic parts.
The following are examples of industrial applications:
As for home appliances, they may be used in robot vacuum cleaners, etc.
The basic principle of a servo amplifier is similar to that of an inverter. First, the AC power received is converted to DC. PWM control is often used.
The biggest difference from an inverter is that it receives the displacement of a paired servo motor. Most servomotors, except for large-capacity ones, are permanent magnet synchronous motors. The current in the stator coil is transformed into a magnetic field, which rotates a rotor with permanent magnets.
Servo motors are equipped with an encoder, which feeds back the rotation angle and speed of the motor to the servo amplifier. Upon receiving the motor position information, the servo amplifier controls the motor in real time to stop it at a predetermined position. Control methods are broadly classified into two types: "open-loop control" and "closed-loop control. Servo amplifiers are devices that use closed-loop control.
It refers to the control that has no feedback loop and is open to response to a command value. A typical example is a stepping motor, which can be controlled without feedback on the actual rotation angle and speed signal of the rotor.
A closed loop is a type of control method with feedback. The output signal from the control unit feeds back data such as the travel of the machine to be controlled to the control unit, which constantly compares the input and output values and adjusts the overall operating volume to match both.
Since there are various types of servo amplifiers available from different manufacturers, it is necessary to select a set of servo amplifiers and servo motors that match the operating environment and equipment specification requirements.
Servo amplifiers have the concept of an origin. The origin is the displacement point at which the rotation angle of the servo motor becomes zero. Based on the origin, the servo motor's travel distance and rotation angle are calculated and output. The servo amplifier may set the origin as an absolute position or the origin may be determined on a case-by-case basis.
In the case of the absolute position, the servo amplifier remembers the origin position of the servo motor internally even when the power is turned off. The servo amplifier will operate as before when the power is turned back on, thus saving the time and effort of re-setting the origin. However, if the load slips against the motor shaft or if the motor is replaced, the origin will be out of alignment, so it is necessary to set the origin again.
If the origin is re-set each time, the origin must always be found and set before the machine is operated. While a preliminary operation is required before the operation, the origin can be easily set when replacing parts.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Founded in New York in 1916, Kollmorgen designs and manufactures motion system, drives, motors, actuators, gear heads, automated guided vehicle (AVG) systems, and accessories across a number of implementations and industries. These include aerospace, AGV, food&beverage, machine tools, metal forming, medical automation and imaging, energy, packaging, pharmaceutical, postal sorting, printing, robotics, smart warehouses, and tire and rubber production. Kollmorgen assists customers both in custom designs and in allowing customers to design their own devices based on individual needs.
ONExia Inc is based in Exton, Pennsylvania and is a robotics integrator, custom machine builder, and industrial distributor. ONExia specializing in manual process automation and assists manufacturers of all sizes increase throughput with cutting edge technology. ONExia works with customers to develop turnkey custom machines including 2D & 3D vision system integration, software design & development, and machine safety services. ONExia uses robotics to automate line packaging. ONExia also offers robot palletizers that are compatible with new or existing packaging lines.
Applied Power Systems, Inc. (APS) was founded in 196 and headquartered in Hicksville, New York. Applied Power Systems is a power electronics company specializing in power conversion systems and thermal management of high power semiconductors. APS offers a large selection of high power thermal management products. These products include standard and custom aluminum extrusion heat sinks for natural convection and forced air-cooling. Cast and machined copper chill plates for liquid cooling. State of the art clamps for flat pack or hockey puck semiconductors. APS also offers driver circuit boards to drive SCR, IGBT and MOSFET devices.
H2W Technologies, Inc. is based in Santa Clarita, California. H2W serves aerospace, amusement rides, medical, meteorology, photonics, and other industries as a distributor of motion control products. H2W has 3 product segments: linear motors, rotary motors, and linear stages. Linear motors includes voice coil actuators, brushless linear motors, brush linear motors, single axis linear stepper motors, dual axis linear stepper motors, linear induction motors, and polynoids. Rotary motors include rotary voice coil actuators, limited angle torque motors, and brushless rotary motors. Linear stages include voice coil stages, linear stepper stages, single rail stages, dual rail stages, crossed roller stages, air bearing stages, belt stages, and lead screw/ball screw stages.
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