Unlike stepper motors, which rely on even pulses of current to turn the motor in discreet steps, servo motors operate with continuous current to reach a specified position, velocity, or torque. The precise amount of current to be delivered to the motor is determined by the servo controller, based on information supplied by an encoder […]
How does closed-loop stepper control work? (And why not just use a servo?)
Stepper motors are inherently open-loop devices. They don’t require feedback because each pulse of current delivered by the drive equals one step of the motor (or a fraction of a step, in the case of microstepping). And with small step sizes, or step angles, the motor’s position can be determined very precisely without the need […]
New piezo driver with 1,200 W of power for fast switching applications
PI (Physik Instrumente) has released the new model E-619, a high-power piezo amplifier designed to drive high-capacitance multilayer piezo actuators with rapid rise times or high frequencies. As a special form of electro-ceramics, piezo materials are the gold standard when it comes to speed, force, and precision in a small package. Providing sink/source currents up […]
How does the number of stator phases affect stepper motor performance?
Stepper motors move in discrete steps when current is applied to coils in the stator. The size of the step is determined, in part, by the number of phases in the stator. In general, the more stator phases, the smaller the basic step angle and the higher the motor’s resolution. Stepper motors come in three basic types […]
When is resolution important for linear systems?
Accuracy and repeatability are standard specifications that describe how a linear motion system behaves along its travel and how closely it reaches the intended position. Resolution, on the other hand, is less often included in performance data for linear motion systems, but it can be equally important as accuracy and repeatability in some applications. In […]
New wireless RF remote control for actuators from Accu Tech USA
Accu Tech USA has released a new wireless key fob controller for their linear actuator product line. The plug-and-play radio frequency (RF) remote control kit includes a 2-button remote control and a remote receiver to efficiently convert a standard rod-style actuator to an actuator automated by remote control. This system is small in size and […]
What is microstepping?
Microstepping is a method of controlling stepper motors, typically used to achieve higher resolution or smoother motion at low speeds. Stepper motors move in discrete steps, or fractions of a revolution. For example, a stepper motor with a 1.8 degree step angle will make 200 steps for every full revolution of the motor (360 ÷ […]
PID design using frequency-domain methods
With motion control applications, a PID or proportional + integral + derivative controller is often implemented using tuning or by a trial-and-error process on the shop floor. But modeling of the motion control system allows analytical derivation of the PID controller terms. By Tom Radigan | Advanced Motion Concepts Inc. Modeling a motion control system […]
PI intros compact 6-axis motion controller for high-precision positioning
PI (Physik Instrumente) has released a new 6-axis servo motor controller, the C-884 DC. Most modern precision motion systems are driven by servo motors, because they provide high torque, fast acceleration, smooth motion with a wide dynamic speed range, and fast start stop performance. PI’s compact C-884 DC motion controller can run brushless servo motors […]
Defining the compliance of electromechanical linear actuators
Modern motion controllers with built-in frequency analyzers allow direct identification of electromechanical actuators … under load … subject to real-word conditions. That in turn may help designers improve stiffness and actuator performance — even to the point of getting higher servo bandwidth. By Leonid Gannel, Ph.D. • Servo engineer • Jabil Shemer Motion Frequency analyzers […]
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