Application and Selection Guide of Servo Drive in Industrial Automation

Servo drive is a core component in industrial automation systems, used to precisely control the speed, position, and torque of motors. Their excellent performance makes them widely used in automation equipment such as AGV/AMR mobile robots, industrial robots, CNC machine tools, etc. This article will explore the core functions and technical characteristics of servo drives, compare them with other drives, analyze the selection considerations of servo drives in detail, introduce their applications in different industries and application scenarios, and look forward to future development trends.

Core Functions of Servo Drives

The servo drive uses a closed-loop control system to precisely adjust the output to achieve precise control of the motor. It has the following functions:

1. High-Precision Positioning: Through feedback devices such as encoders, extremely high positioning accuracy can be achieved, suitable for applications requiring high precision.
2. Dynamic Responsiveness : Quickly respond to load changes to ensure stable system operation.
3. Programmability : It has flexible programming capabilities and can adapt to a variety of application scenarios.
4. Protection Function : Built-in overload, overheating, short circuit and other protection functions to ensure safe operation of the equipment.

Comparison with Other Drivers

Technical Characteristics of Servo Drive

The technical characteristics of servo drives are reflected in their efficient feedback system, multi-mode control and high efficiency energy saving.

1. Feedback System : Using high-resolution encoder, the position accuracy can reach ±0.01°, and the response time is usually within 1-2 ms.
2. Multi-mode Control : supports speed, position and torque control, and can perform more than 10,000 feedback processes per second.
3. High Efficiency and Low Noise : The efficiency can reach more than 90%, and the operating noise is less than 50 dB, which is suitable for occasions with strict requirements on noise.

Application Scenarios and Industries of Servo Drives

Specific applications of servo drives in different fields include:

• Manufacturing and Assembly Industry : used in CNC machine tools, drilling equipment and automated assembly lines to provide precise control and efficient operation to meet the needs of high-precision parts processing.
• Logistics and Warehousing : In automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and automated storage and retrieval systems, servo drives help achieve fast, precise movement and positioning, improving warehousing operation efficiency.
• Packaging and Printing : Servo drives are used for precise motion control of packaging equipment, paper transport and positioning of printing presses, ensuring consistency and quality of product processing.
• Automobile Manufacturing : Applied to spraying robots, welding robotic arms and assembly lines in automobile production to improve manufacturing speed and product precision.
• Medical Equipment : used in medical automation equipment, such as CT scanning beds and automatic conveying equipment, to provide precise movement and positioning.
• Semiconductor Manufacturing : High-precision and high-speed operation are particularly important in semiconductor production. Servo drives are used in equipment such as wafer processing and lithography machines.

Considerations for Selecting Servo Drives

When selecting a model, pay attention to the following points:

1. Power and Current Capacity
   • Match Motor Power : Select a drive that matches the motor's rated power to ensure proper operation.
   • Starting and Peak Current : Consider the peak current the drive can provide, typically 3 times the rated current, to handle short-term load changes.
   • Continuous and Maximum Current : Select a driver that meets the needs of long-term stable operation and avoid overload.
2. Control Accuracy
   • Feedback System Resolution : High-resolution encoders (e.g., 24-bit or higher) can improve control accuracy and are suitable for applications requiring micron-level accuracy.
   • Speed Fluctuation Rate : Select a driver with a speed fluctuation rate less than 0.1% to ensure stable speed.
3. Communication Protocols and Interfaces
   • Protocol Compatibility : Support common industrial protocols (such as CANopen, EtherCAT) to ensure seamless communication with other devices.
   • Multi-axis Synchronous Control : used for multi-axis systems that require synchronous operation.
   • I/O Interface : Choose a drive with enough input/output ports for easy integration.
4. Environmental Adaptability
   • Temperature and Humidity : Ensure that the drive can operate stably within the appropriate ambient temperature and humidity range.
   • Protection Level : When used in an industrial environment, select a driver with IP65 or higher protection level.
   • Anti-Vibration and Shock : Choose products with anti-vibration structure design in places where vibration is frequent.
5. Integration and Compatibility
   • Supply Voltage : Make sure the voltage level matches the application requirements.
   • Size and Installation Space : Select a drive of appropriate size based on the equipment space.
   • System Integration Capability : Select drivers that can seamlessly connect to existing PLC and control systems.
6. Other Features
   • Safety functions : such as safe torque off (STO) function, improve operational safety.
   • Auto-tuning : quickly and easily set parameters and optimize performance.
   • Diagnosis and Monitoring : Supports real-time monitoring and diagnosis to reduce downtime.

Future Development Trends

The future development trend of servo drives focuses on the following aspects:

1. Intelligent and Adaptive Control : Integrate AI technology to achieve self-learning and adaptive control, analyze system data and automatically adjust parameters to optimize performance and reduce manual intervention.
2. High-efficiency and Energy-saving Design : Higher energy efficiency ratio and power feedback technology will be widely used to reduce energy consumption and meet environmental protection needs.
3. Miniaturization and Integration : Future drives will be more compact, and integrated design will reduce the difficulty of system wiring and maintenance.
4. High-speed and High-precision Control : Faster response speed and bandwidth support higher dynamic performance to meet the precision requirements in manufacturing and processing.
5. Networking and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity : In line with Industry 4.0, future drives will be more networked, supporting remote monitoring and fault diagnosis, and achieving more efficient production management.
6. Multi-axis Synchronization and Coordinated Control : meet the synchronization requirements of complex applications and improve system coordination and production efficiency.
7. Enhanced Safety Features : Built-in more comprehensive safety features, such as safe torque off and safe limited speed, ensure the safety of equipment operation.

Conclusion

Servo drives play a key role in industrial automation with their high precision and multifunctional control. Reasonable selection and application optimization can improve production efficiency, reduce energy consumption and enhance corporate competitiveness. With the advancement of technology, servo drives will be more widely used and play an important role in promoting the development of Industry 4.0.