TSN Plays Role in Network Technology Expansion for Servo Drives
The capabilities of servos are advancing at an accelerating pace, driving the rapid growth of next-level motion control systems. These devices can enable innovative industrial automation applications and processes thanks to cutting-edge hardware, software and, most importantly, communications technologies that support data-intensive operations.
Tom Burke, global strategic advisor at CLPA, looks at the enabling solutions that are driving servo performance.
Today’s servo drives are truly a thing of engineering beauty. They are able to meet exacting requirements for accuracy, precision and dynamism by offering fast cycle times in the microsecond scale and the ability to synchronize hundreds of axes. As a result, machines can move faster, in a highly repeatable manner, increasing productivity and throughput. Mitsubishi Electric’s servos, in particular, are known for their advanced encoders, with high resolutions to detect vibrations and harmonics, as well as algorithms to dampen them.
Advanced servos also offer key tools, such as auto-tuning, to easily and efficiently set up complex machines while also optimizing drive operations. In effect, it is possible to reduce the settling time, control overshoot as well as suppress vibration and resonance via servo gain adjustment functions. As a result, users can benefit from quieter servo axes that consistently operate at their best cycle times and at peak performance while reducing energy usage, downtime and maintenance activities.
Moving into the realm of business intelligence, competitive and future-oriented servos can benefit from condition monitoring and predictive maintenance using artificial intelligence (AI). More precisely, sensors on servo amplifiers and motors can generate accurate, real-time data on the status of internal components and mechanical devices linked to the drives. This information is then fed to machine learning (ML) algorithms to enable predictive maintenance recommendations, identify anomalies and flag potential issues ahead of time. Thanks to the application of AI, it is therefore possible to fix any wear and tear only when it is needed, preventing failures from occurring and optimizing maintenance schedules.
Combining bandwidth and TSN to futureproof servos