- Common Motion Problems & How To Fix Them, Parts I, II & III Part I HTML Part II HTML Part III HTML
Everyone working in motion control has a war story; be it the machine that stopped working mysteriously or the motor that wouldn't stop vibrating. Common problems, fortunately, often also have common solutions. Parts I, II and II of this deep dive provide ammunition to fight the good battle and get your machine back on track!
- Regenerative Braking, Part II HTML
Part II of the Regenerative Braking deep-dive will continue the discussion that took place in Part I (linked below), by creating a theoretical model to prove the existence of steady state regeneration as well as gain insight into estimating the energy recovered during regenerative conditions of an electrical vehicle.In this deep dive we will investigate the conditions at which battery regeneration can occur. The emphasis of this article will be on the analysis of a battery powered vehicle operating at steady state.
- Regenerative Braking, Part I: Steady State Analysis HTML
In this deep dive we will investigate the conditions at which battery regeneration can occur. The emphasis of this article will be on the analysis of a battery powered vehicle operating at steady state.
- Motion Controller Design Deep Dive: See the forest through the trees with this overview of motion controller design architectures
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In this deep dive article we provide a detailed look at design choices for building a machine controller that provides precision motion control. We will answer questions such as whether it is best to build or buy motion control hardware and software, and what aspects of your application are most important for determining the architecture of your machine controller.
- Servo Tuning Deep Dive: Black art, rocket science, or walk in the park?
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In this deep dive we provide an overview of PID (proportional, integral, derivative) based servo tuning, and introduce two standard manual tuning methods that work well for a large variety of systems. We also show that ‘optimal’ parameters vary by application and performance goals, even for the exact same motor and amplifier setup!
- Torque Feedforward: Sometimes Getting The Most Out Of Your Motion Controller Means Feeding It More Information
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Many motion applications require high accuracy both during, and at the end of, the move. Even if you are using perfectly optimized PID (proportional, integral, derivative) values to control position, the compensation loop is never perfect because it must manage the influence of a wide range of system forces.
Can we improve performance by adding control elements outside of the PID loop? The answer is yes, and in this deep dive we will look at torque control and the related subject of torque feedfoward, which can make your system run smoother, and deliver better accuracy.
- Synchronized Motion Deep Dive: New Techniques Complement The Tried And True To Precisely Synchronize Axes Motion
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Many motion applications require precise synchronization of one or more motion axes. In this deep dive we will run through some of the important approaches toward motion synchronization and have some fun with a video from the PMD lab that shows motion synchronization in action.
- Position Encoder Deep Dive: New Measurement Techniques Drive New Formats
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With positioning motion control applications, one position feedback device has been king of the hill for a long time - the incremental optical encoder with quadrature output. Having very low cost, good-enough resolution and good-enough ruggedness, this encoder dominates the market in many applications.
But, as it often happens, what was once 'good enough' for some applications is - no longer. And, in other applications, the incremental optical encoder never was good enough for environmental or performance reasons. This deep dive will provide a survey of encoder types and the just-as-important subject of data formats that are used to carry and encode position information.
- Field Oriented Control Deep Dive
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DC Brush, Brushless DC (BLDC) and step motors are the three most commonly used motor types for positioning and velocity motion control applications. Of these, BLDC and step motors are 'multi-phase', meaning they require some type of external coil excitation to keep the motor moving.
This deep dive article will examine the most popular techniques for multi-phase motor control, with an eye toward determining what control techniques work best for a given application in positioning and high-speed spinning applications.
- S-Curve Profiles Deep Dive
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S-curves motion profiles add 'smoothing' segments to the traditional 3-phase trapezoidal profile (accelerate, coast, decelerate). Why is this better? To a first degree, the answer is beyond the motor, at the load itself.
For machines that do not use a direct drive approach, the load is 'somewhere out there' and the feedback sensor is on the motor. Beyond the motor, there may be a lead screw, a rack and pinion mechanism, bearings, linkages, and more. These mechanisms, inevitably, do not track the motor's motion perfectly, so, as you start to drive the load at high speed, the load's actual motion will take on a life of its own.
S-curve is a profile that recognizes that the motor profile needs, not only, to control the motor, but to minimize the amount of vibrational energy injected into the load. Read more to take the deep-dive into PMD's lab!
- Tech Advances Impact Motion Control HTML
Recent developments in amplifier size reduction and high speed network architectures
have made it possible to build the 'holy grail' of motion controllers: the 100% digital network
that allows the control elements to be located anywhere.
What does this fascinating development mean for modern motions? Are the electronics
destined to reside in the motor, or will they stay in the control box? If the electronics
are keep shrinking, does it matter where they are located?
This article will take a brief look at this issue and provide some thought provoking
answers!
- Intelligent Controllers HTML
A relatively new category of chip-based products is a true standout in the motor control device market. Intelligent Motor Controllers (IMC) are low-cost ICs that provide advanced control of multi-phase motors, most commonly brushless DC and three-phase induction motors.
- Just What the Doctor Ordered - Motion Control Configuration HTML
Motion control technology has advanced significantly in the last several years with the advent of faster, cheaper microprocessors, and the availability of ultra-efficient MOSFET-based amplifiers. Some motion-related costs have not decreased however, particularly connectors and cabling.
And in relation to medical equipment design, the need for high reliability and easy servicing is more acute than ever.
How can a motion control system be built to address these trends? We examine that question in this article by looking at several motion design approaches, with a particular eye toward the needs of the medical equipment market.
- Top 10 Tips - Things to Know About Motion Controllers PDF | HTML
Motion controllers are complex animals, no doubt about it. But with a few tips from the experts
about proper specification, location, and how to avoid mishaps, choosing the right controller
for the job is as easy as one, two, three.
- Motion Performance Trace PDF | HTML
The question facing the designer is: how do you go about making these improvements? How do you optimize the various motion controller variables such as profile parameters, servo gains, and commutation, to arrive at the best overall machine performance?
- Motoring to Success PDF | HTML
In this article we will look at the issues
concerning the selection of the right type of motor in positioning
control applications.
- Tuning Servomotors PDF | HTML
This article provides an overview of PID (proportional, integral, derivative) based servo loops, and introduces two standard manual tuning methods that work well for a large variety of systems.
- Mathematics of Motion Control Profiles PDF | HTML
Reviews the mathematics of motion profiles, discusses which profiles work best for which applications, and provides insights into how to 'tune' your profile for maximum performance.
- Motion Control Architectures PDF | HTML
This article will examine some of these trends, and detail the four major motion control architectures in use today, two of which can be traced back to earlier motion control approaches, and two of which are more recent additions.
- Motion Control Has A Field Day PDF | HTML
This article will examine some of these trends, and detail the
four major motion control architectures in use today, two of which can be traced back to earlier motion control approaches,
and two of which are more recent additions.
- Motion Control Networks PDF | HTML
The cost savings and flexibility offered by motion networks can be substantial, but the key is knowing what kind of solution will work best in your control application.
- Motion ICs Make Their Move PDF | HTML
This article will discuss choices in motion control electronics with a focus on cost savings that can result in integrating functions that were previously separated. Emphasis will be placed on recent developments in motion ICs that have made these new architectures possible.
- New Developments in Commutation and Motor Control Techniques PDF | HTML
A look at the latest trends in advanced current control techniques, including a comparison of various commutation techniques.
- Mathematics of Electronic Motor Control PDF | HTML
In the past few years several trends have been at work to drive the use of sophisticated, complex motor control algorithms. The most important trend is the desire for lower energy consumption and the need for higher performance. In this article Chuck Lewin addresses the trends and introduces the major techniques used to control multi-phase motors, both brushless DC and AC induction.
- Performance Motion Devices featured in Machine Design PDF
- Performance Motion Devices featured on Project Mechatronics HTML
- Performance Motion Devices article featured in TMD ARTICLE | TMD.
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Performance Motion Devices featured in PD&D.
Performance Motion Devices
featured in TMD.
Performance Motion Devices featured in Motion System Design.
Performance Motion Devices featured in Machine Design.
Performance Motion Devices featured on Project Mechatronics.
Performance Motion Devices
article
featured in TMD.
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