HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SERVO DRIVE FOR YOUR MODEL? 5 KEY PARAMETERS TO CONSIDER!

by Simon Hopes Author

Choosing the right servo drive requires analyzing many of its parameters in relation to the needs of the machine drive, of which it will be part. Your one wrong decision can affect the overall performance of the machine and can result in problems such as overheating or lack of full control over the machine’s actions. To save you from all the hazards, here we tell you how to choose the right servo drive for your model and what are the key parameters you should consider. Have a look!

1. Type of Engine

The right selection of the servo drive starts with the selection of the type of engine you may want. Know that there are three types of engines available.

I. The standard motor: The standard motor is a DC commutator motor. It is equipped with a metal core and is divided into sections on which the winding is superimposed, which together will create an anchor with magnets placed on different sides of it. The role of the anchor lies in the fact that it does not allow the engine to rapidly gain momentum and also stop abruptly. In addition, it oscillates every time as soon as one of the sections of the core passes by the magnet.Note that there are two types of cores: 3-pole and 5-pole. The latter provides a higher moment and ride.

II. Coreless engines: The coreless engines are also of the collector type; however, they do not have a core in their design. Instead, a central magnet is installed, around which the winding rotates. There are no sections in the structure of this type of engine, and therefore it has less weight, more dynamics, and works without jerks. When choosing a servo type with a coreless motor, remember that although they cost more, they provide high accuracy, power, and speed.

III. Brushless motors:The type of servos with Brushless motor appeared relatively recently. Among the advantages, we distinguish the absence of brushes, and, as a result, a longer service life, a high moment of force and rotation speed with low current consumption.

So, know each type and make an informed decision of what exactly do you need.

2. Load, Voltage, and Current

After you have selected the type of engine you require, be sure to know the load, output voltage and current specifications of your model. Here again the compatibility of servo drive’ output voltage and output current with your model is necessary. With this examine how much load youwish your servo drive to hold.

3. Power supply voltage

Do you know the required power supply voltage for your servo drive? If not, determine its operating frequency and ensure that line supply voltage and frequency, both are attuned with the servo drive characteristics (power supply, DC Bus).

4. Speed and Speed Signals

Another important factor is speed. This includes knowing how far and how fast the load should travel. So, finding out the motion profile and knowing the inertia of the system helps determine the required speed, acceleration, and torque. When determining the speed signals, make sure that these are compatible with the transducer type mounted on the motor (e.g., resolver, encoder).

5. Torque

Once the type and speed are known, calculate the required torque values. This can be determined from the motor curve speed limiters. Calculations must be made to determine the required continuous torque, peak torque, and maximum engine speed. The required amount of continuous torque must fall within the continuous operating area of the system speed torque curve. The required amount of maximum torque must also fall into the servo system of the intermittent operating area of the system speed torque curve.

Perhaps that’s all. We have highlighted the main points to consider when choosing the right servo drive for your model. We add only that some models may have additional options, for example, a moisture-proof design, bearings, etc. If you are a fan of driving off-road or do not want to risk your model in wet weather, look at the sealed devices. Or carry out the sealing procedure yourself.

On the shelves of the Rozum Robotics, there are a huge number of different types of servo. To see, hit the link. You can buy any device, taking into account the requirements of your model and personal wishes.